Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Formlabs
> Reference: https://formlabs.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/formlabs · captured 2026-09-22 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Formlabs — 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 Formlabs: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Formlabs'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
- Formlabs (formlabs.com): Technology marketing website, dark.
- 6 sections: Features → Blog → Showcase → Content → Testimonials → Footer.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈765px).
- Type: Supreme headings over Times body. Imagery: mostly product UI screenshots/mockups, some photography.
## 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 (572px at 1440), own dark band #111110; 8 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 4 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 12 links (link lists / navigation); 6 headings → ~5 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~6 words, like the reference); 5 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Tools That Bring Ideas to Life”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-01.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 2. Blog — signal an active, credible team through recent writing.
- Layout: 3-up card grid: image, title, meta. Half to one screen (661px at 1440), own dark band #111110; 5 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 7 text links instead of buttons.
- Slots: Title + “All posts” link; 3 post cards: cover image, title, date/author.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Latest News”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-02.webp) · imagery: slot 2
### 3. Showcase — show the product (or the result) itself as proof.
- Layout: a large framed visual with a short caption or heading. Half to one screen (518px at 1440), own light band #fefdf9; 1 image/graphic; 1 text link 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): “Rapid Prototyping”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-03.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 4. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. About one full screen (790px at 1440), own dark band #111110; 36 image elements (icons, logos, product UI — not 36 photos); 16 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Heading (~4 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Materials for Every Application”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-04.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 5. Testimonials — let real customers make the case in their own words.
- Layout: quote cards or a featured quote with name, role and avatar. About one full screen (765px at 1440), own dark band #111110; 6 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 8 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions); 6 headings → ~5 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title; 5 quotes: 1–3 sentences, name, role, company, avatar; Use real customer quotes only.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Trusted by the World's Leading Companies”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 3
### 6. Footer — navigation, legal and contact — the page's index.
- Layout: multi-column link groups, brand line, legal row. About one full screen (1001px at 1440), page background; 3 image/graphics; inline form (1 field, e.g. email capture), 7 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 65 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Brand mark + one-line description; 3–5 link columns; Newsletter or contact (optional); Legal row + social icons.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “3D Printers”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-06.webp)
Inner pages also captured (Pricing, Product, About, Sign up, Blog, Contact, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/formlabs?view=pages
## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#000000` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#ff5a00` | body text, headings | 6.7:1 |
| accent | `#ff5a00` | none captured — monochrome. Primary buttons invert (foreground fill, background text); add your brand colour only for small highlights | — |
| surface | `#111110` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 6.0:1 |
| muted | `#7d7b78` | secondary text, borders | 5.0:1 |
Captured palette: `#000000` `#111110` `#ff5a00` `#232018` `#7d7b78` `#232221`. Section bands top→bottom: `#111110` → `#fefdf9` → `#000000`. 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: #000000;
--foreground: #ff5a00;
--accent: #ff5a00;
--surface: #111110;
--muted: #7d7b78;
--font-heading: "Supreme", 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: **Supreme** (Fontshare (free for commercial use)) — reference uses Supreme. Free to use — load it from fontshare.com.
- Body: **Inter** (Google Fonts) — reference uses Times. Capture reported the browser default (Times), which usually means the web font did not load during capture. Identify the real face from the screenshot; Inter is a safe neutral start.
- 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 ≈765px tall at 1440 (median; range 518–1001px, 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 3 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
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
Best guess: mostly **product UI screenshots/mockups**, some photography (dark, warm, Technology). 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, 3. Showcase, 4. Content → product UI (uncertain)
- Technology 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/formlabs/s-01.webp) [ref 2](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-03.webp) [ref 3](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-04.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 dark gradient from #000000 to #111110 with a soft #7d7b78 glow behind the centre, subtle floor shadow, empty centre area where a screenshot will be placed. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. 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 · 2. Blog → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~5 in one consistent style. Aspect: 3:2. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-02.webp)
- **Stock** — “3d glass shapes render editorial dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/3d-glass-shapes-render-editorial-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/3d%20glass%20shapes%20render%20editorial%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/3d%20glass%20shapes%20render%20editorial%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: 3d glass shapes render editorial. Composition: editorial crop with one clear focal point. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Warm colour grade that sits on #111110, #ff5a00. 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 3 · 5. Testimonials → portraits
- Portrait photography, seen in the capture. (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~6 in one consistent style. Aspect: 1:1 (avatars) or 4:5 (portraits). Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/formlabs/s-05.webp)
- **Stock** — “portrait headshot natural light”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/portrait-headshot-natural-light?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/portrait%20headshot%20natural%20light/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/portrait%20headshot%20natural%20light/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Natural headshot of a fictional professional, head-and-shoulders, eye level, plain soft background, low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows, background tinted #111110, warm colour grade. Aspect ratio 1:1. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products.`
- Placeholders only: a testimonial needs a real customer, their real photo and consent. Never attach a real quote to a stock or AI face.
- **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:
- **abstract 3D / gradient** — generate `Abstract 3D render: soft, glossy glass-like shapes and a smooth gradient in #7d7b78 and #111110 on a #000000 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: abstract gradient mesh, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #111110, #ff5a00 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: [“technology flat illustration” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/technology-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/formlabs/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/formlabs/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "formlabs" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "formlabs" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/formlabs.
