Devoured - April 22, 2026
Stitch's DESIGN.md format is now open-source so you can use it across platforms. (1 minute read)

Stitch's DESIGN.md format is now open-source so you can use it across platforms. (1 minute read)

AI designopensource Read original

Google open-sourced DESIGN.md, a format that lets AI design tools understand and apply design system rules across platforms.

What: DESIGN.md is a specification for encoding design system rules—colors, branding guidelines, accessibility requirements—in a portable format that AI design tools like Google's Stitch can read and apply when generating user interfaces.
Why it matters: Makes design systems portable across tools and helps AI agents understand design intent rather than guessing, including the ability to validate choices against WCAG accessibility standards.
Takeaway: Try generating DESIGN.md files in Google's Stitch tool or contribute to the specification on GitHub.
Decoder
  • Stitch: Google Labs' AI-powered design tool that generates user interfaces
  • DESIGN.md: A file format specification for encoding design system rules in a portable, machine-readable format
  • WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities
Original article

DESIGN.md in Stitch lets you export or import your design rules from project to project, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you start a design in Stitch. This way, Stitch understands the reasoning behind your design system and can generate user interfaces that match your brand.

Today, we're open-sourcing the draft specification for DESIGN.md, so it can be used across any single tool or platform. Instead of guessing intent, AI agents can know exactly what a color is for, and can validate their choices against WCAG accessibility rules.

To see this shared visual language in action, Google Labs' David East breaks it down in our latest video.

Watch below, generate your own files in Stitch or contribute on GitHub.