# SEAM Retro Direction

Reference used:
- `branding/references/cli-aesthetic-design-principles.md`

## Goal

Give `seam` a retro-terminal identity that feels:
- memorable
- collectible
- slightly mysterious
- polished enough that people want to try it because it looks cool

This should not feel like a parody of old computers. It should feel like a recovered artifact from a better command line future.

## Visual strategy

Use retro computing as the emotional base, then sharpen it with cleaner geometry and restrained interaction.

Core ingredients:
- dark CRT-like background
- phosphor green as the primary signal color
- amber as a secondary accent for activity and focus
- monospaced/pixel-adjacent composition
- visible seam line as the hero gesture
- subtle scanlines and glow, not heavy distortion

## What makes it memorable

Most retro CLI visuals stop at "green text on black."

SEAM should go further:
- the icon silhouette should still read clearly with no glow at all
- the seam itself should be the brand move, not just the palette
- the motion should suggest activation, indexing, and recall

## Interaction direction

For a GUI shell or website preview, keep interaction minimal:
- on hover, increase phosphor glow slightly
- shift the amber indicator bars by a few pixels
- let a soft scanline sweep pass across the mark
- avoid noisy glitch effects or constant flicker

The effect should feel alive, not chaotic.

## Recommended asset set

1. `seam-mark-retro.svg`
   - primary icon
2. `seam-retro-preview.html`
   - interactive preview board
3. later:
   - monochrome badge
   - tiny terminal favicon/icon
   - lockup with `seam`
