---
title: "Design Tips"
slug: "design-tips"
updated: 2026-10-20T19:32:03Z
published: 2026-10-20T19:32:03Z
canonical: "docs.blackthorn.io/design-tips"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blackthorn.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Design Tips

- **Start with a template, not a blank canvas.** Choose a BT template close to your event type and customize from there, It's faster than building from scratch.
- **Set your brand theme first.** Use Site Settings → Color Scheme → Theme Creator to establish your palette before touching individual components. Components inherit theme tokens automatically.
- **Preview on all three device sizes** (desktop, tablet, mobile) before publishing. Columns stack on mobile by default: check that the stacking order makes sense for your content.
- **Run the accessibility checker** before publishing. It flags contrast failures, missing alt text, and buttons without labels in seconds.
- **Complete your Event record before designing.** Page Designer pulls live data from Salesforce: populate your banner, description, sessions, speakers, and tickets first so you can see real content while you build.
- **After changing theme colors, check your gradients.** Changing a palette color updates elements that use that color, but section and column gradients update only when you switch themes. Update them directly in **Site Settings → Gradients**.
- **Target columns precisely with the Page Structure sidebar.** When you have a multi-column layout (e.g., 33/66 split) and want to add padding to just one column, select it from the Structure tree rather than clicking in the canvas: clicking the canvas can accidentally select the parent section and apply spacing to everything.