# ZABA & ZINGO — Corporate Identity

> **Ratified 2026-07-11 — this is the source of truth.** Everything that carries the
> ZABA & ZINGO name follows this document. Live references (`collection.zabazingo.eu`,
> `discord.zabazingo.eu/typography.html`, `hub2.zabazingo.eu`) are the design source —
> we extract from them, we never re-invent from memory.

---

## 1. The house line

**Motto (the house belief):** `DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING` — set in the display serif, caps.
It is the acronym behind **DBE**.

**Slogan (the promise):** `Reality isn't given. It's chosen.`
Its setting is fixed — see [02-TYPOGRAPHY.md](02-TYPOGRAPHY.md) → *Slogan*.

**Founding mechanic (voice):** three voices — **ZABAZINGO** asks, **ZABA** and **ZINGO**
extend. Copy always goes *world first, then product*. (See the `zabazingo-story` skill.)

---

## 2. The wordmark — one lockup, never improvised

The brand name is **`ZABA & ZINGO`**. Each brand element has **exactly one** setting.

**Hard rules (mechanically guarded — `hooks/guard-zabazingo-wordmark.sh`):**

1. **Always with the ampersand** — the mark is `ZABA & ZINGO`, not `ZABAZINGO`.
2. **Single-colour, always.** The old ZABA-cream / ZINGO-terra split is **wrong**. Accent
   runs through **weight**, never a second colour.
3. **UPPERCASE only** — never lowercase, never mixed-case, never only one half.
4. Set in the **display serif** (Noto Serif Display ExtraCondensed / "Zaba Logo"). The logo
   serif is **for the logo only** — never for body, headlines, titles or profile names.

### The four sanctioned lockups

| # | Lockup | Setting |
|---|--------|---------|
| 01 | `ZABA & ZINGO` (formal) | mantel ExtraLight 200, accent letters **Z & Z** Bold 700, `ls −0.044em`, `lh 1.0`, UPPERCASE |
| 02 | `ZABA ZINGO` (compact) | same rules, ampersand removed from the visual hierarchy |
| 03 | `Z&Z` (compound / stacked) | top `Z&Z` Bold 700 `ls −0.088em` `lh 0.95`, bottom = full name, fitted to bottom width |
| 04 | `ZZ` (monogram) | both Z's Bold 700, uniform weight, `ls −0.2em`, UPPERCASE, **min 24px**, stands alone |

```html
<!-- Lockup 01, canonical -->
<h1 class="zz-wordmark">
  <b>Z</b>ABA&nbsp;<b>&amp;</b>&nbsp;<b>Z</b>INGO
</h1>
```
```css
.zz-wordmark{
  font-family:var(--zz-display); text-transform:uppercase;
  font-weight:200; letter-spacing:-0.044em; line-height:1;
  color:var(--zz-ink);                 /* ONE colour */
}
.zz-wordmark b{ font-weight:700; }     /* accent = weight, never colour */
```

---

## 3. DBE / GFYS family

All four are the **same** typeface (display serif). Only **weight + case** change —
caps + bold = loud, lowercase + extralight = quiet.

| Mark | Weight | Case | Meaning / use |
|------|--------|------|---------------|
| **DBE** | Regular 400 | UPPER | "Don't Believe Everything" — sub-brand labels, tags, footer |
| **dbe** | ExtraLight 200 | lower | quietest form — editorial, captions, body mentions |
| **GFYS** | Bold 700 | UPPER | loudest — statement walls, merch, single-word heroes |
| **gfys** | ExtraLight 200 | lower | editorial annotation, inline reference |

Compression variants (space-constrained): `d'n't blv ev'thn` (medium), `dn't beliv evrythn` (max).
Tracking `−0.05em`, leading `1.0`. Never in another typeface.

---

## 4. Shape & feel

- **Rounded, warm, editorial.** ZZ is a dark cinematic house with a creme daylight side.
- **Never cut-corner / clip-path polygons** — that angular language is **sign.it**, not ZZ.
- **Flat** — no drop shadows anywhere; separation is a 1px hairline.
- Radius scale: `6 / 8 / 10 / 14 / 18 / pill`. (See [04-DESIGN.md](04-DESIGN.md).)

---

## 5. Non-negotiables (BBE HARD-LAW, apply to every ZZ surface)

- **No emojis** anywhere — chat, UI, commits, tickets. Icons are premium SVG only.
- **No native controls** — never raw `select` / `alert` / `confirm` / `prompt`; use CI dropdowns + CI modals.
- **No system/telemetry optics** — functions render in CI, never as HUD / badges / version read-outs.
- **Additive, not destructive** — never delete content/pages/tools without an explicit order.
- **Contrast** — WCAG 2.1 AA in **both** themes (dark + creme), enforced pre-delivery.

---

## 6. Colour in one line

Warm-dark `#22201f` ⇄ creme `#fffada`, cream ink `#f3eee4`, **one** accent: **Terra `#A53A2A`**
(CTA · Live · links). Storefront/editorial second accent **Sand `#c9bfa8`**. Full palette:
[03-COLORS.md](03-COLORS.md).

Fonts: **Noto Serif Display ExtraCondensed** (display) + **PP Neue Montreal** (sans). No third font.
Full system: [02-TYPOGRAPHY.md](02-TYPOGRAPHY.md).