Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Hack The Box
> Reference: https://www.hackthebox.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/hack-the-box · captured 2026-09-22 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Hack The Box — 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 Hack The Box: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Hack The Box'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
- Hack The Box (hackthebox.com): Education marketing website, dark, colorful.
- 11 sections: Hero → Features → Content → Features → Content → Call to action → Footer.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈648px).
- Hero headline: 10 words — a full sentence; keep yours to one thought.
- Type: one family (Neue haas unica). Imagery: mostly photography, some typography with little or no imagery.
## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)
### 1. Hero — state what the product is and for whom in one glance, and offer the primary action.
- Layout: headline-led stack: eyebrow → H1 → supporting line → actions, with a visual beside or below. Half to one screen (719px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 162 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); form with 13 fields, 8 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions), 117 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Eyebrow / announcement pill (optional); H1 (~10 words, like the reference); Supporting line, 1–2 sentences; Primary + secondary action; Hero visual (see image plan).
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “One plan, complete cyber training: meet the new HTB PRO”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/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. About one full screen (776px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 5 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); primary + secondary button; 3 headings → ~2 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Validate Your Readiness”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/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. Compact band (179px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Section title (~5 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Cybersecurity skills proven in practice”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/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. Half to one screen (494px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 6 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 3 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Section title; 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-04.webp) · imagery: slot 3
### 5. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (430px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; no images (type-led); one primary button.
- Slots: Heading (~9 words, like the reference); Body copy; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Hack The Box launches the world's first AI Range”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-05.webp)
### 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. Half to one screen (648px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~14 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Hack The Box named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™ for Cybersecurity Skills and…”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-06.webp) · imagery: slot 4
### 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 (387px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 2 image/graphics; primary + secondary button.
- Slots: Section title (~11 words, like the reference); 2 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Hack The Box Acquires LetsDefend: Shaping the future of cyber readiness”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-07.webp) · imagery: slot 5
### 8. 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 (703px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 6 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); primary + secondary button; 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; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Blue Teams”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-08.webp) · imagery: slot 6
### 9. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (496px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 8 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 4 text links instead of buttons.
- Slots: Heading; Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Text link action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-09.webp) · imagery: slot 7
### 10. Call to action — close the page with one clear next step.
- Layout: short headline + one primary action on a contrasting band. About one full screen (1141px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 4 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); form with 18 fields.
- Slots: Headline (~7 words, like the reference); One sentence of support; Primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Get a full demo with our team”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-10.webp) · imagery: slot 8
### 11. Footer — navigation, legal and contact — the page's index.
- Layout: multi-column link groups, brand line, legal row. About one full screen (918px at 1440), own dark band #0f1623; 23 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); one primary button, 132 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): “Teams”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-11.webp)
Inner pages also captured (Pricing, Product, About, Sign up, Blog, Enterprise, Contact, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/hack-the-box?view=pages
## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#aced2c` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#0f1623` | body text, headings | 12.9:1 |
| accent | `#5865f2` | primary buttons, links, highlights — sparingly | 3.3:1 (large text / UI only) |
| surface | `#f4f4f4` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 16.5:1 |
| muted | `#8799b5` | secondary text, borders | 2.1:1 — borders / large text only |
Captured palette: `#aced2c` `#242f40` `#8799b5` `#0f1623` `#f4f4f4` `#5865f2`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (dark, natural, earthy) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.
### Tokens
```css
:root {
--background: #aced2c;
--foreground: #0f1623;
--accent: #5865f2;
--surface: #f4f4f4;
--muted: #8799b5;
--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 Neue haas unica. “Neue haas unica” 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 ≈648px tall at 1440 (median; range 179–1141px, 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. 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
On dark, separate layers with 1px borders at ~8–12% white and soft glows instead of drop shadows; 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. Dark-first; for a light mode swap background ↔ foreground, lighten the surface, keep the accent and re-check contrast.
## 6. Imagery plan
Measured from 3 section screenshots: mostly **photography**, some typography with little or no imagery (dark, natural, earthy, Education). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.
### Slot 1 · 1. Hero → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 3:2. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-01.webp)
- **Stock** — “students studying together dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/students-studying-together-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/students%20studying%20together%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/students%20studying%20together%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: students studying together. Composition: wide shot, subject off-centre to one side, generous clean negative space for the headline. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~5 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-02.webp)
- **Stock** — “notebook and laptop on desk dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/notebook-and-laptop-on-desk-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: notebook and laptop on desk. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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, adult, clothing). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~6 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-04.webp)
- **Stock** — “students studying together close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/students-studying-together-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/students%20studying%20together%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/students%20studying%20together%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: students studying together close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~2 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-06.webp)
- **Stock** — “library bookshelf light close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/library-bookshelf-light-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/library%20bookshelf%20light%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/library%20bookshelf%20light%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: library bookshelf light close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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 · 7. Features → photography
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~2 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-07.webp)
- **Stock** — “students studying together wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/students-studying-together-wide-shot-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/students%20studying%20together%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/students%20studying%20together%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: students studying together wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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 6 · 8. Features → photography
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~6 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-08.webp)
- **Stock** — “notebook and laptop on desk wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/notebook-and-laptop-on-desk-wide-shot-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: notebook and laptop on desk wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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 7 · 9. Content → photography
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~8 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-09.webp)
- **Stock** — “library bookshelf light wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/library-bookshelf-light-wide-shot-dark?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/library%20bookshelf%20light%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/library%20bookshelf%20light%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: library bookshelf light wide shot. Composition: simple composition with one focal point. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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 8 · 10. Call to action → photography
- Education references lean on photography. Count: a set of ~4 in one consistent style. Aspect: 21:9 (background). Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/hack-the-box/s-10.webp)
- **Stock** — “students studying together wide shot dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/students-studying-together-wide-shot-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/students%20studying%20together%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/students%20studying%20together%20wide%20shot%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: students studying together wide shot. Composition: low-detail texture so overlaid text stays readable. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Natural, earthy colour grade that sits on #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4. 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.`
- **No imagery (type-led)** — 3. Features, 5. 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** — 11. 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 #5865f2 and #8799b5 on a #aced2c background. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows; natural, earthy 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: students studying together, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #0f1623, #5865f2, #f4f4f4 plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, natural, earthy mood. Aspect ratio 3:2. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.` · stock: [“education flat illustration” on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/education-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/hack-the-box/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/hack-the-box/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "hack-the-box" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "hack-the-box" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/hack-the-box.
