Orbital Feature System
Treat orbit as a storytelling overview, then give users static detail below.
Use
AI platforms, developer tools, automation suites, ecosystem pages, feature overview sections.
Avoid
Avoid when feature labels must be read quickly, when there are more than 6-8 nodes, or when orbiting implies relationships that do not exist.
Safer Alternative
Card Nav ExpandRisk Level
High attention
Timing
Keep loops slow and ambient; use one-shot reveals when the motion is introducing content or explaining a process.
Easing
Use restrained ease-out/ease-in-out curves for UI-adjacent motion; reserve continuous linear motion for flows, orbits, and ambient fields.
Risk
Live Demo
What It Is
Feature nodes, icons, or modules orbit around a central product concept to suggest platform breadth, ecosystem structure, agent orchestration, or multiple capabilities connected to one core.
Decision Guidance
Treat orbit as a storytelling overview, then give users static detail below.
Best For
AI platforms, developer tools, automation suites, ecosystem pages, feature overview sections.
Avoid When
Avoid when feature labels must be read quickly, when there are more than 6-8 nodes, or when orbiting implies relationships that do not exist.
Timing
Keep loops slow and ambient; use one-shot reveals when the motion is introducing content or explaining a process.
Easing
Use restrained ease-out/ease-in-out curves for UI-adjacent motion; reserve continuous linear motion for flows, orbits, and ambient fields.
Risk Tags
✓When to Use
- Product contexts: AI platforms, developer tools, automation suites, ecosystem pages, feature overview sections.
- Choose it when the product intent matches 3D Product Showcase rather than generic decoration.
- Treat orbit as a storytelling overview, then give users static detail below.
✕When NOT to Use
- Avoid when feature labels must be read quickly, when there are more than 6-8 nodes, or when orbiting implies relationships that do not exist.
Configuration Tips
- 01Technical fit: CSS/SVG for simple orbits; Canvas or three.js for many nodes or depth.
- 02Performance: Keep orbit speed slow and constant. Pause offscreen. Avoid many independent timers.
- 03Accessibility: Provide a static feature list with the same content. Do not rely on orbit position for meaning.
- 04Reduced motion: Static radial layout or grouped feature grid.
You've Seen It In
AI Implementation Prompts
Move from a fast scaffold to production details, then tune timing and edge states.
Design a Orbital Feature System for this product context. First explain the product intent, when not to use it, performance budget, accessibility constraints, and reduced-motion fallback. Then propose the simplest implementation family that can express the idea safely.
Code Example (Tailwind CSS)
A focused implementation sketch you can adapt to your product state.
export function MotionDecisionChecklist() {
const steps = [
'Confirm product intent',
'Choose the simplest implementation family',
'Set performance caps and mobile fallback',
'Add reduced-motion behavior',
'Verify accessibility and readable content',
];
return steps;
}Related Effects
Floating Product Object
A 3D or pseudo-3D hero artifact such as a device mockup, dashboard panel, model object, app window, package, or product surface that slowly rotates or drifts. Use it when the product has a recognizable object and the hero needs to make that product tangible.
Particle Network Field
Connected points suggest collaboration, intelligence, distributed systems, or data relationships. It can be ambient or interactive, but should remain subtle.
Animated Knowledge Graph
Nodes and links reveal relationships among documents, concepts, users, agents, or recommendations. It is most useful when relationships are the product value.