Coinbase — Coinbase Canada

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

> Reference: https://www.coinbase.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/coinbase · captured 2026-09-21 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/preview.mp4)

## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Coinbase — 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 Coinbase: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Coinbase'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
- Coinbase (coinbase.com): Finance marketing website, light, colorful.
- 6 sections: Features → Content → Features → Footer.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈644px).
- Type: one family (Coinbase Sans). Imagery: mostly product UI screenshots/mockups, some illustration.

## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)

### 1. 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 (596px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~4 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Earn more on USDC”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/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. Half to one screen (704px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~4 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Built for Canada 🇨🇦”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-02.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 (644px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~8 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Earn up to 10% APY on your crypto”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-03.webp) · imagery: slot 1

### 4. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (624px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Heading (~7 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Get lower, volume-based pricing with Advanced Trade”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/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 (596px at 1440), page background; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~8 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Get more out of crypto with one membership”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 1

### 6. Footer — navigation, legal and contact — the page's index.
- Layout: multi-column link groups, brand line, legal row. Tall, ≈1.4 screens (1230px at 1440), own light band #eef0f3; 4 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 3 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 119 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/coinbase/s-06.webp)

Inner pages also captured (Product, About, Sign up, Log in, Blog, Enterprise, Careers, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/coinbase?view=pages

## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#ffffff` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#0a0b0d` | body text, headings | 19.7:1 |
| accent | `#0052ff` | primary buttons, links, highlights — sparingly | 5.8:1 |
| surface | `#eef0f3` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 17.2:1 |
| muted | `#0667d0` | secondary text, borders | 5.4:1 |

Captured palette: `#ffffff` `#0a0b0d` `#5b616e` `#eef0f3` `#0052ff` `#0667d0`. Section bands top→bottom: `#ffffff` → `#eef0f3`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (light, cool) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.

### Tokens
```css
:root {
  --background: #ffffff;
  --foreground: #0a0b0d;
  --accent: #0052ff;
  --surface: #eef0f3;
  --muted: #0667d0;
  --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 Coinbase Sans. “Coinbase Sans” 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 ≈644px tall at 1440 (median; range 596–1230px, 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
Confident colour blocks — let full-bleed colour bands and big shapes carry the personality. 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

Best guess: mostly **product UI screenshots/mockups**, some illustration (light, cool, Finance). Inferred from element counts, colours and industry — not from the pixels — so open the linked screenshots and match the real style before sourcing anything.

### Slot 1 · 1. Features, 2. Features, 3. Features, 5. Features → product UI (uncertain)
- Finance sections with many image elements — most likely product UI screenshots/mockups plus icons. Count: one consistent treatment across these sections. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-01.webp) [ref 2](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-02.webp) [ref 3](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-03.webp) [ref 4](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-05.webp)
- **Stock** — “laptop blank screen minimal desk”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/laptop-blank-screen-minimal-desk?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/laptop%20blank%20screen%20minimal%20desk/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/laptop%20blank%20screen%20minimal%20desk/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Product-shot backdrop for a UI screenshot: smooth light gradient from #ffffff to #eef0f3 with a soft #0052ff glow behind the centre, subtle floor shadow, empty centre area where a screenshot will be placed. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Aspect ratio 4:3. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people. No UI elements.`
- Build the UI itself in HTML/CSS with realistic sample data from YOUR product (or screenshot your real app). Don't generate UI as an image and don't reuse the reference's screenshots. Stock/AI is only for the backdrop or device frame.

### Slot 2 · 4. Content → illustration (uncertain)
- Light Finance section with a few graphics — illustration, icon art or a product shot. Count: a set of ~2 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/coinbase/s-04.webp)
- **Stock** — “finance flat illustration”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/finance-flat-illustration?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/finance%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/finance%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Flat vector illustration: person paying with phone, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #ffffff, #0052ff, #eef0f3 plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, cool mood. Aspect ratio 4:5. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`
- Uncertain: this could equally be photography, a product shot or icon art — open the reference screenshots and match what you see.

- **Icons** — 6. 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:
- **photography** — generate `Photograph: person paying with phone. Composition: wide shot, subject off-centre to one side, generous clean negative space for the headline. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Cool colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #0052ff, #eef0f3. 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.` · stock: [“person paying with phone” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/person-paying-with-phone?orientation=landscape) (same query works on Pexels/Pixabay)
- **abstract 3D / gradient** — generate `Abstract 3D render: soft, matte clay shapes and a smooth gradient in #0052ff and #0667d0 on a #ffffff background. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key; cool 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)

- **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).

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More: tokens https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/coinbase/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/coinbase/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "coinbase" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "coinbase" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/coinbase.