Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of 99% Invisible
> Reference: https://99percentinvisible.org · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/99-invisible · captured 2026-09-23 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as 99% Invisible — same structure, rhythm and polish, entirely new identity and content.
## 2. Originality rules
- Build an ORIGINAL design for the user's own brand in the same *taste* as 99% Invisible: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse 99% Invisible's logo, name, product imagery, illustrations, icons, screenshots or copy. Write new copy for the user's product.
- If the user hasn't said what their product is, ask first (or use clearly marked placeholders like [Brand], [Product], [Audience]).
- Reference screenshots are for looking at, not for embedding or tracing.
## 3. The taste, in short
- 99% Invisible (99percentinvisible.org): Entertainment marketing website, dark.
- 6 sections: Content → Logo cloud → Features.
- Spacing: short, dense bands (median section ≈310px).
- Type: Slabo 13px headings over Open Sans body. Imagery: mostly photography, some typography with little or no imagery.
## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)
### 1. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Compact band (186px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; 2 image/graphics; inline form (1 field, e.g. email capture), primary + secondary button, 37 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Heading; Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Primary + secondary action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-01.webp)
### 2. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Compact band (300px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; 6 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 5 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “The Rocky Statue”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-02.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 3. Logo cloud — borrow trust from recognisable customers or partners.
- Layout: a single row or wall of monochrome marks with a one-line lead-in. Compact band (225px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: One-line lead-in (e.g. “Trusted by…”); 6–10 monochrome customer/partner marks (your own, with permission).
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-03.webp)
### 4. Features — explain the key benefits, grouped so each can be scanned in seconds.
- Layout: section title over a grid or alternating rows of benefit items. Tall, ≈1.9 screens (1700px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; 81 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); 60 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 105 links (link lists / navigation); 6 headings → ~5 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~5 words, like the reference); 5 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “100 Objects #18: Hair Relaxer”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-04.webp) · imagery: slot 2
### 5. Features — explain the key benefits, grouped so each can be scanned in seconds.
- Layout: section title over a grid or alternating rows of benefit items. Half to one screen (522px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; 81 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); 60 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 105 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Section title; 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 3
### 6. Features — explain the key benefits, grouped so each can be scanned in seconds.
- Layout: section title over a grid or alternating rows of benefit items. Compact band (310px at 1440), own light band #ffffff; 8 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 8 text links instead of buttons.
- Slots: Section title; 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Text link action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-06.webp) · imagery: slot 4
Inner pages also captured (About, Blog): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/99-invisible?view=pages
## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#231f20` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#ffffff` | body text, headings | 16.3:1 |
| accent | `#ffd300` | primary buttons, links, highlights — sparingly | 11.3:1 |
| surface | `#4d4d4d` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 8.5:1 |
| muted | `#ffffff` | secondary text, borders | 16.3:1 |
Captured palette: `#231f20` `#ffffff` `#ffd300` `#4d4d4d`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (dark, warm) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.
### Tokens
```css
:root {
--background: #231f20;
--foreground: #ffffff;
--accent: #ffd300;
--surface: #4d4d4d;
--muted: #ffffff;
--font-heading: "Inter", ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
--font-body: "Open Sans", ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
--radius: 12px; /* calibrate from the screenshot */
}
/* Tailwind v4 — in globals.css after @import "tailwindcss"; */
@theme {
--color-background: var(--background);
--color-foreground: var(--foreground);
--color-accent: var(--accent);
--color-surface: var(--surface);
--color-muted: var(--muted);
--font-heading: var(--font-heading);
--font-sans: var(--font-body);
}
```
### Typography
- Headings: **Inter** (Google Fonts) — reference uses Slabo 13px. “Slabo 13px” is likely a custom or licensed face. Inter is a neutral stand-in — pick a closer free match by eye from the screenshot.
- Body: **Open Sans** (Google Fonts) — reference uses Open Sans. Free to use — load it directly.
- Scale (starting point, sizes weren't measured — calibrate against the 1440px screenshot): display clamp(2.5rem, 5vw, 4.25rem), h2 clamp(1.75rem, 3vw, 2.5rem), h3 1.25rem, body 1rem–1.125rem / 1.6, small 0.875rem. Headings: tight tracking (-0.02em), line-height 1.05–1.15.
### Spacing & rhythm
Sections run ≈310px tall at 1440 (median; range 186–1700px, captures cap at 1700px) — short, dense bands. Start with 64–80px vertical padding per section on desktop and about two-thirds of that on mobile. One continuous background — separate sections with space and type, not colour bands. 8px spacing grid, 1200–1280px max content width, 24px (mobile) / 32–48px (desktop) gutters.
### Shape, depth & theme
Radii and shadows weren't measured. Read exact corner radius, border and shadow treatment from the screenshots. Dark-first; for a light mode swap background ↔ foreground, lighten the surface, keep the accent and re-check contrast.
## 6. Imagery plan
Measured from 4 section screenshots: mostly **photography**, some typography with little or no imagery (dark, warm, Entertainment). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.
### Slot 1 · 2. Content → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (art, statue). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~6 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-02.webp)
- **Stock** — “vinyl record player dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/vinyl-record-player-dark?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20dark/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20dark/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: vinyl record player. Composition: simple composition with one focal point. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #ffd300, #4d4d4d. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 4:5. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
### Slot 2 · 4. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people, adult). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-04.webp)
- **Stock** — “concert stage lights crowd close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/concert-stage-lights-crowd-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/concert%20stage%20lights%20crowd%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/concert%20stage%20lights%20crowd%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: concert stage lights crowd close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #ffd300, #4d4d4d. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 4:3. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
### Slot 3 · 5. Features → photography (uncertain)
- Entertainment references lean on photography; 81 elements suggests icons/thumbnails mixed in. Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-05.webp)
- **Stock** — “vinyl record player close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/vinyl-record-player-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: vinyl record player close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #ffd300, #4d4d4d. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 4:3. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
### Slot 4 · 6. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (art, illustrations). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~8 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/99-invisible/s-06.webp)
- **Stock** — “cinema seats lighting close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/cinema-seats-lighting-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: cinema seats lighting close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #ffd300, #4d4d4d. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 4:3. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
- **No imagery (type-led)** — 1. Content: No imagery needed — type, spacing and colour do the work. If the screenshot shows a background graphic, rebuild it in CSS (gradient, grid, noise) or a short muted video, not a stock photo.
- **Logos** — 3. Logo cloud: Never generate or stock-source logos. Use your real customers'/partners' marks with permission (monochrome, equal height), or neutral wordmark placeholders until you have them. Integration icons: each tool's official brand kit (Simple Icons is a quick start; trademarks still apply).
### If the screenshots show a different style
Open the refs first and name what you actually see (photo / product UI / illustration / abstract gradient or 3D / type only). If it differs from the guess, switch routes — UI is built in code, type-only needs no image, otherwise:
- **abstract 3D / gradient** — generate `Abstract 3D render: soft, glossy glass-like shapes and a smooth gradient in #ffd300 and #ffffff on a #231f20 background. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows; warm tone. Minimal and calm, generous negative space on one side for text. Aspect ratio 3:2. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.` · stock: [“abstract dark gradient 3d” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/abstract-dark-gradient-3d?orientation=landscape) (same query works on Pexels/Pixabay)
- **illustration** — generate `Flat vector illustration: concert stage lights crowd, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #ffffff, #ffd300, #4d4d4d plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, warm mood. Aspect ratio 3:2. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.` · stock: [“music flat illustration” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/music-flat-illustration?orientation=landscape) (same query works on Pexels/Pixabay)
- **Licences:** Unsplash and Pexels images are free for commercial use under their own licences; Pixabay under the Pixabay Content License. Check each image's page before use, credit the photographer when asked (good practice anyway), and skip images showing logos, trademarks, branded products or identifiable people without a release.
- **AI generation:** the prompts work with any image model (GPT Image, Imagen, Flux, Midjourney, Firefly, SDXL…) — check its commercial-use terms. Never put the reference brand's name or “in the style of <brand>” in a prompt.
- **Never** download, trace or re-host the reference's own images, illustrations, product shots or logos.
## 7. Build steps
1. Confirm brand, product, audience and the primary action with the user.
2. Set up the tokens (CSS variables / Tailwind @theme) and load the fonts.
3. Build the sections in order, mobile-first, with each reference screenshot open.
4. Write original copy for every slot — match length and tone, never the words.
5. Source every image via the imagery plan (stock or generated); compress it and record credits.
6. Run the checklist at 390 / 768 / 1440px and fix what fails.
## 8. Acceptance checklist
- [ ] Responsive at 390px, 768px and 1440px — no horizontal scroll, tap targets ≥ 44px on mobile.
- [ ] Colour contrast WCAG AA: 4.5:1 body text, 3:1 large text and UI; visible focus states; full keyboard navigation.
- [ ] Semantic HTML: one <h1>, ordered headings, landmarks (header/nav/main/footer), labelled form fields, alt text on meaningful images.
- [ ] Performance: modern image formats with width/height set, lazy-load below the fold, ≤ 2 font families with font-display: swap, LCP < 2.5s.
- [ ] prefers-reduced-motion respected; animations under ~300ms and never blocking content.
- [ ] Originality: no copied logos, images, illustrations or copy from the reference; every image licensed or generated; credits recorded.
## 9. If you use Next.js + Tailwind
Paste the @theme block into globals.css, load fonts with next/font/google, make each section a server component in components/sections/, use next/image with explicit sizes, and keep client components for interactive bits only (menus, toggles, accordions).
---
More: tokens https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/99-invisible/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/99-invisible/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "99-invisible" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "99-invisible" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/99-invisible.
