Bandcamp — Discover amazing music and directly support the artists…

# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Bandcamp

> Reference: https://bandcamp.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/bandcamp · captured 2026-09-23 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/preview.mp4)

## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Bandcamp — 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 Bandcamp: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Bandcamp'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
- Bandcamp (bandcamp.com): Entertainment marketing website, dark, minimal.
- 9 sections: Stats → Features → Call to action → Features → Content → Features.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈568px).
- Type: one family (Helvetica Neue). Imagery: mostly photography, some typography with little or no imagery.

## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)

### 1. Stats — prove scale or impact with a few big numbers.
- Layout: 3–4 large numerals with short labels in a row. Compact band (328px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 5 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); no interactive controls.
- Slots: 3–4 numbers with short labels; Source/footnote if claims need it.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Fans have paid artists $1.8 billion using Bandcamp, and yesterday alone bought…”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-01.webp)

### 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. About one full screen (877px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 4 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 4 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 4 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Bandcamp Daily”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-03.webp) · imagery: slot 1

### 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. Half to one screen (677px at 1440), own dark band #222222; 50 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); 26 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 13 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Section title (~4 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Playlists in fan collections”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-04.webp) · imagery: slot 2

### 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. Half to one screen (614px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 20 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); 14 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 20 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Bandcamp Radio”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 3

### 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 (568px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 22 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); 12 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “New and Notable”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-06.webp) · imagery: slot 4

### 6. Call to action — close the page with one clear next step.
- Layout: short headline + one primary action on a contrasting band. Half to one screen (452px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 24 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); inline form (1 field, e.g. email capture), 13 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 21 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Headline (~4 words, like the reference); One sentence of support; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Album of the Day”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-07.webp) · imagery: slot 5

### 7. 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 (288px at 1440), own dark band #222222; 2 image/graphics; primary + secondary button, 49 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Section title (~6 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Discover music by genre and location”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-08.webp)

### 8. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (436px at 1440), own dark band #222222; 4 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 4 text links instead of buttons.
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Discover merch”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-09.webp) · imagery: slot 6

### 9. 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 (716px at 1440), own light band #ecf3f4; 12 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); primary + secondary button, 11 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Section title (~5 words, like the reference); 9 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Listening Parties & Live Streams”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-10.webp) · imagery: slot 7

Inner pages also captured (About, Log in, Careers, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/bandcamp?view=pages

## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#333333` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#ffffff` | body text, headings | 12.6:1 |
| accent | `#ffffff` | none captured — monochrome. Primary buttons invert (foreground fill, background text); add your brand colour only for small highlights | — |
| surface | `#222222` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 15.9:1 |
| muted | `#aaaaaa` | secondary text, borders | 5.4:1 |

Captured palette: `#333333` `#222222` `#ecf3f4` `#ffffff` `#f8f8f8` `#aaaaaa`. Section bands top→bottom: `#ecf3f4` → `#222222`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (dark, neutral, desaturated) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.

### Tokens
```css
:root {
  --background: #333333;
  --foreground: #ffffff;
  --accent: #ffffff;
  --surface: #222222;
  --muted: #aaaaaa;
  --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 Helvetica Neue. “Helvetica Neue” is a licensed face — use Inter (or Hanken Grotesk) as the free stand-in, or license the original.
- 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 ≈568px tall at 1440 (median; range 288–877px, 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 4 times 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. Dark-first; for a light mode swap background ↔ foreground, lighten the surface, keep the accent and re-check contrast.

## 6. Imagery plan

Measured from 5 section screenshots: mostly **photography**, some typography with little or no imagery (dark, neutral, desaturated, Entertainment). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.

### Slot 1 · 2. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~4 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-03.webp)
- **Stock** — “vinyl record player dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/vinyl-record-player-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: vinyl record player. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222. 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 2 · 3. Features → photography (uncertain)
- Entertainment references lean on photography; 50 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/bandcamp/s-04.webp)
- **Stock** — “cinema seats lighting dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/cinema-seats-lighting-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: cinema seats lighting. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #222222, #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. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (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/bandcamp/s-05.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. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222. 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 · 5. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (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/bandcamp/s-06.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. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222. 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 5 · 6. Call to action → photography
- Entertainment references lean on photography. Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 21:9 (background). Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-07.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: low-detail texture so overlaid text stays readable. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 21:9. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`

### Slot 6 · 8. Content → photography
- Entertainment references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~4 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-09.webp)
- **Stock** — “vinyl record player wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/vinyl-record-player-wide-shot-dark?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/vinyl%20record%20player%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: vinyl record player wide shot. Composition: simple composition with one focal point. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #222222, #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 7 · 9. Features → photography
- Entertainment references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~12 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/bandcamp/s-10.webp)
- **Stock** — “cinema seats lighting wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/cinema-seats-lighting-wide-shot-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/cinema%20seats%20lighting%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: cinema seats lighting wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222. 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. Stats, 7. Features: 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.

### 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 #aaaaaa and #222222 on a #333333 background. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows; 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 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 #ecf3f4, #ffffff, #222222 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: [“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/bandcamp/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/bandcamp/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "bandcamp" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "bandcamp" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/bandcamp.