Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Atlas Obscura
> Reference: https://www.atlasobscura.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/atlas-obscura · captured 2026-09-22 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/full.png) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Atlas Obscura — 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 Atlas Obscura: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Atlas Obscura'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
- Atlas Obscura (atlasobscura.com): Travel marketing website, light, minimal.
- 7 sections: Blog → Features → Content → Footer.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈519px).
- Type: one family (Platform). Imagery: mostly photography, some typography with little or no imagery.
## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)
### 1. Blog — signal an active, credible team through recent writing.
- Layout: 3-up card grid: image, title, meta. Half to one screen (501px at 1440), page background; 3 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Title + “All posts” link; 3 post cards: cover image, title, date/author.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Montmartre Funicular”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-01.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 2. 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 (388px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; form with 8 fields, 5 text links instead of buttons; 4 headings → ~3 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “America Obscura”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-02.webp) · imagery: slot 2
### 3. 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, ≈1.4 screens (1259px at 1440), page background; 11 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 8 text links instead of buttons; 6 headings → ~5 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 5 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Featured Members”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-05.webp)
### 4. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (576px at 1440), page background; 3 image/graphics; 4 text links instead of buttons.
- Slots: Heading (~11 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “More Than 20 Years Later, Cornell's Great Pumpkin Mystery Remains Unsolved”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-07.webp) · imagery: slot 3
### 5. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (519px at 1440), page background; 16 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); primary + secondary button, 19 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Heading; Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Primary + secondary action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-08.webp) · imagery: slot 4
### 6. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Compact band (333px at 1440), own light band #d8e1e1; no images (type-led); 24 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Top Cities”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-10.webp)
### 7. Footer — navigation, legal and contact — the page's index.
- Layout: multi-column link groups, brand line, legal row. Half to one screen (546px at 1440), own dark band #1e1e1e; 20 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); form with 10 fields, one primary button, 38 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Brand mark + one-line description; 3–5 link columns; Newsletter or contact (optional); Legal row + social icons.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-12.webp)
Inner pages also captured (Product, About, Sign up, Log in, Blog, Docs, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/atlas-obscura?view=pages
## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#78726c` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#ffffff` | body text, headings | 4.7:1 |
| accent | `#ffffff` | none captured — monochrome. Primary buttons invert (foreground fill, background text); add your brand colour only for small highlights | — |
| surface | `#78726c` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 4.7:1 |
| muted | `#000000` | secondary text, borders | 4.4:1 — borders / large text only |
Captured palette: `#78726c` `#1c1917` `#292624` `#ffffff` `#1e1e1e` `#000000`. Section bands top→bottom: `#d8e1e1` → `#1e1e1e`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (light, neutral, desaturated) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.
### Tokens
```css
:root {
--background: #78726c;
--foreground: #ffffff;
--accent: #ffffff;
--surface: #78726c;
--muted: #000000;
--font-heading: "Inter", ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
--font-body: "Inter", 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 Platform. “Platform” is likely a custom or licensed face. Inter is a neutral stand-in — pick a closer free match by eye from the screenshot.
- Body: same family — a single-family system; create contrast with size and weight, not a second face.
- 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 ≈519px tall at 1440 (median; range 333–1259px, captures cap at 1700px) — roughly a screen per idea. Start with 96–120px vertical padding per section on desktop and about two-thirds of that on mobile. The background changes 1 time down the page — use band changes to mark chapters. 8px spacing grid, 1200–1280px max content width, 24px (mobile) / 32–48px (desktop) gutters.
### Shape, depth & theme
Flat surfaces, hairline 1px borders in the muted colour, small radii (4–8px), almost no shadow. Read exact corner radius, border and shadow treatment from the screenshots. Light-first; for a dark mode use a near-black (not #000) background, ~90% white text, lift surfaces with lightness not shadow, re-check the accent.
## 6. Imagery plan
Measured from 6 section screenshots: mostly **photography**, some typography with little or no imagery (light, neutral, desaturated, Travel). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.
### Slot 1 · 1. Blog → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (land, grass, fence). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~3 in one consistent style. Aspect: 3:2. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-01.webp)
- **Stock** — “coastal landscape aerial editorial”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/coastal-landscape-aerial-editorial?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/coastal%20landscape%20aerial%20editorial/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/coastal%20landscape%20aerial%20editorial/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: coastal landscape aerial editorial. Composition: editorial crop with one clear focal point. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #78726c, #ffffff. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 3:2. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
### Slot 2 · 2. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (art, illustrations). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~2 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-02.webp)
- **Stock** — “boutique hotel room daylight”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/boutique-hotel-room-daylight?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/boutique%20hotel%20room%20daylight/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/boutique%20hotel%20room%20daylight/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: boutique hotel room daylight. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #78726c, #ffffff. 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 · 4. Content → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (blue sky, pyramid, building). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~3 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-07.webp)
- **Stock** — “coastal landscape aerial close up”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/coastal-landscape-aerial-close-up?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/coastal%20landscape%20aerial%20close%20up/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/coastal%20landscape%20aerial%20close%20up/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: coastal landscape aerial close up. Composition: simple composition with one focal point. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #78726c, #ffffff. 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 4 · 5. Content → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people, adult, plant). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/atlas-obscura/s-08.webp)
- **Stock** — “boutique hotel room daylight close up”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/boutique-hotel-room-daylight-close-up?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/boutique%20hotel%20room%20daylight%20close%20up/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/boutique%20hotel%20room%20daylight%20close%20up/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: boutique hotel room daylight close up. Composition: simple composition with one focal point. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #78726c, #ffffff. 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.`
- **No imagery (type-led)** — 3. Features, 6. 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.
- **Icons** — 7. Footer: Use one open-source icon set at one stroke weight — Lucide, Phosphor or Heroicons (MIT) — tinted with the text or accent token. Social icons: Simple Icons.
### 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, matte clay shapes and a smooth gradient in #000000 on a #78726c background. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key; neutral, desaturated 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 gradient 3d” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/abstract-gradient-3d?orientation=landscape) (same query works on Pexels/Pixabay)
- **illustration** — generate `Flat vector illustration: coastal landscape aerial, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #78726c, #ffffff plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, neutral, desaturated mood. Aspect ratio 3:2. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.` · stock: [“travel flat illustration” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/travel-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/atlas-obscura/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/atlas-obscura/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "atlas-obscura" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "atlas-obscura" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/atlas-obscura.
