What Are Hallmark's 14 Navigation Archetypes and When to Use Them

Hallmark provides 14 macrostructure archetypes, with Index‑First being the dedicated navigation archetype for pure link‑list pages that prioritize discoverability over visual storytelling.

The Hallmark open‑source design system organizes page layouts into predefined macrostructures. Each macrostructure represents a distinct architectural pattern for information hierarchy. Understanding these 14 archetypes—and specifically when to apply the navigation‑focused Index‑First pattern—lets you select the optimal layout for any redesign project.

The Complete List of Hallmark Macrostructure Archetypes

All 14 macrostructures are catalogued in [skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures.md). The navigation archetype appears as item 13, labeled Index‑First.

While the source analysis focuses on the navigation archetype specifically, Hallmark's complete macrostructure system covers diverse layout patterns from hero‑driven immersive experiences to dense information hierarchies. The full enumeration includes:

• Marquee‑Hero variants for visual storytelling
• Long‑Document for narrative content
• Index‑First (item 13) for pure navigation
• Additional specialized patterns for dashboards, galleries, and structured data

What Is the Index‑First Navigation Archetype

The Index‑First macrostructure treats the entire page as a navigation hub. As defined in [skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures/13-index-first.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures/13-index-first.md), this archetype follows one core principle:

"The page IS a list of links. No hero image, no narrative flow. Pure navigation as design."

This macrostructure eliminates visual ornamentation in favor of scanning efficiency. Every design decision serves the single goal of getting users to their destination with minimal friction.

When to Use the Index‑First Navigation Archetype

Select this archetype when your project matches these decision factors:

Factor	Indicator for Index‑First
Primary goal	Fast discoverability across many pages
Content structure	Numerous peer pages with flat hierarchy
Brief keywords	"navigation", "site map", "catalog", "index", "link list"
Design constraints	Limited space or budget for imagery
User behavior	Need for rapid target acquisition and jump‑to navigation

Avoid Index‑First when the brief calls for immersive experiences, emotional engagement, or hero‑driven storytelling. In those cases, select Marquee‑Hero or Long‑Document macrostructures instead.

How to Apply the Navigation Archetype in Hallmark

Command‑Line Invocation

Use the --macrostructure flag with the numeric identifier 13:

# Redesign using Index‑First navigation archetype

hallmark redesign <target> --macrostructure=13

# Audit existing site against navigation pattern

hallmark audit <target> --expect-macrostructure=13

Skill File Configuration

Pin the macrostructure permanently in your [SKILL.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/SKILL.md) header:

---
macrostructure: 13   # Index‑First (pure navigation)

---

Key Source Files for Navigation Archetypes

File	Purpose
[macrostructures.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures.md)	Master catalog of all 14 archetypes
[13-index-first.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures/13-index-first.md)	Complete Index‑First specification
[SKILL.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/SKILL.md)	Core rule‑set with macrostructure field
[README.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/README.md)	General Hallmark usage overview

Summary

• Hallmark defines 14 macrostructure archetypes for page layout decisions
• Index‑First (item 13) is the dedicated navigation archetype for pure link‑list designs
• Apply it when discoverability, speed, and flat hierarchy outweigh visual storytelling needs
• Configure via --macrostructure=13 CLI flag or macrostructure: 13 in SKILL.md
• Reference [13-index-first.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures/13-index-first.md) for authoritative specification

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see all 14 Hallmark navigation archetypes in one place?

The complete catalog lives in [skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures.md). This file enumerates every macrostructure with its numeric identifier and categorization. For implementation details on any specific archetype, drill into the numbered markdown files in the macrostructures/ subdirectory.

Can I combine the Index‑First archetype with hero images?

No—the Index‑First definition explicitly excludes hero imagery. The archetype's purpose is "pure navigation as design." If you need both navigation links and visual impact, select a different macrostructure like Marquee‑Hero and add navigation elements as components within that structure.

What number do I use for the navigation archetype in CLI commands?

Always use 13 as the macrostructure identifier. Hallmark's internal catalog assigns sequential numbers to archetypes, and Index‑First occupies position 13. Both --macrostructure=13 and macrostructure: 13 in YAML reference this specific navigation pattern.

How does Hallmark audit know if my page matches the navigation archetype?

The hallmark audit command with --expect-macrostructure=13 evaluates your target against the Index‑First specification in [13-index-first.md](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/macrostructures/13-index-first.md). It checks for absence of hero imagery, presence of dominant link lists, and flat information hierarchy—flagging deviations from the pure navigation pattern.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}