Holocene — Epoch reads the supplier and forwarder emails you already…

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

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

## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Holocene — 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 Holocene: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Holocene'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
- Holocene (holocene.eu): Technology marketing website, light.
- 16 sections: Hero → Statement → Features → Statement → Features → Content → Testimonials → Features.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈578px).
- Hero headline: 9 words — a full sentence; keep yours to one thought.
- Type: Beausiteclassic headings over Aeonik body. 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. Tall, ≈1.4 screens (1275px at 1440), page background; 24 image elements (icons, logos, product UI — not 24 photos); primary + secondary button.
- Slots: Eyebrow / announcement pill (optional); H1 (~9 words, like the reference); Supporting line, 1–2 sentences; Primary + secondary action; Hero visual (see image plan).
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Your inbox is the TMS. Live in 10 minutes.”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-01.webp) · imagery: slot 1

### 2. Statement — a large-type moment that sets tone and pace.
- Layout: oversized typography with lots of space. Compact band (382px at 1440), own light band #f5f4ee; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading; Body copy.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-02.webp)

### 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. About one full screen (909px at 1440), page background; no images (type-led); no interactive controls; 5 headings → ~4 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~14 words, like the reference); 4 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Visibility tells you where your materials are. Meridian tells you what it's…”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-03.webp) · imagery: slot 2

### 4. Statement — a large-type moment that sets tone and pace.
- Layout: oversized typography with lots of space. Compact band (314px at 1440), page background; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading; Body copy.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-04.webp)

### 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. About one full screen (1151px at 1440), page background; 4 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); no interactive controls; 5 headings → ~4 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~5 words, like the reference); 4 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Your inbox. That's the integration.”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 3

### 6. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (578px at 1440), page background; no images (type-led); 1 text link instead of buttons.
- Slots: Heading (~10 words, like the reference); Body copy; Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Your buffer isn't sized against demand. It's sized against doubt.”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-06.webp)

### 7. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Compact band (178px at 1440), page background; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading; Body copy.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-07.webp)

### 8. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. About one full screen (937px at 1440), own dark band #000000; 1 image/graphic; no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan).
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “€2.4M One lane”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-08.webp) · imagery: slot 4

### 9. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. About one full screen (879px at 1440), own light band #f5f4ee; 3 image/graphics; no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan).
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Sign up, free¹”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-09.webp) · imagery: slot 5

### 10. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Tall, ≈1.8 screens (1575px at 1440), page background; 3 image/graphics; primary + secondary button.
- Slots: Heading (~3 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “EPOCH”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-10.webp) · imagery: slot 5

### 11. Testimonials — let real customers make the case in their own words.
- Layout: quote cards or a featured quote with name, role and avatar. Half to one screen (490px at 1440), own dark band #5b492d; 2 image/graphics; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title; 2 quotes: 1–3 sentences, name, role, company, avatar; Use real customer quotes only.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “What teams say about working with Holocene”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-12.webp)

### 12. 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 (203px at 1440), page background; 1 image/graphic; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~12 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “How to Release the Working Capital Trapped in Your Inbound Supply Chain”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-13.webp) · imagery: slot 6

### 13. 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 (235px at 1440), page background; 1 image/graphic; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Visibility That Thinks”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-14.webp) · imagery: slot 7

### 14. 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 (235px at 1440), page background; 1 image/graphic; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~8 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Your Buyer Is Already Living the Case Study”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-15.webp) · imagery: slot 8

### 15. 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 (202px at 1440), page background; 1 image/graphic; one primary button.
- Slots: Section title (~10 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; One primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Closing the Gap from Supply Chain Awareness to Decisive Action”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-16.webp)

### 16. 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 (778px at 1440), own dark band #000000; 9 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); form with 9 fields.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 9 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Answers with structure”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-17.webp)

Inner pages also captured (Customers, About, Sign up, Blog, Contact, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/holocene?view=pages

## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#ffffff` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#000000` | body text, headings | 21.0:1 |
| accent | `#5b492d` | primary buttons, links, highlights — sparingly | 8.6:1 |
| surface | `#f5f4ee` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 19.1:1 |
| muted | `#666666` | secondary text, borders | 5.7:1 |

Captured palette: `#ffffff` `#000000` `#666666` `#f5f4ee` `#5b492d` `#131313`. Section bands top→bottom: `#ffffff` → `#f5f4ee` → `#000000` → `#5b492d`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (light, warm) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.

### Tokens
```css
:root {
  --background: #ffffff;
  --foreground: #000000;
  --accent: #5b492d;
  --surface: #f5f4ee;
  --muted: #666666;
  --font-heading: "Inter", ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-body: "Manrope", 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 Beausiteclassic. “Beausiteclassic” is likely a custom or licensed face. Inter is a neutral stand-in — pick a closer free match by eye from the screenshot.
- Body: **Manrope** (Google Fonts) — reference uses Aeonik. “Aeonik” is a licensed face — use Manrope (or Figtree) as the free stand-in, or license the original.
- 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 ≈578px tall at 1440 (median; range 178–1575px, 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 8 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. 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 8 section screenshots: mostly **photography**, some typography with little or no imagery (light, warm, Technology). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.

### Slot 1 · 1. Hero → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (map, people, adult). (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1–3 key visuals; the rest are icons/avatars. Aspect: 16:9 full-bleed (or 21:9). Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-01.webp)
- **Stock** — “abstract gradient mesh”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/abstract-gradient-mesh?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/abstract%20gradient%20mesh/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/abstract%20gradient%20mesh/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: abstract gradient mesh. Composition: wide shot, subject off-centre to one side, generous clean negative space for the headline. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #5b492d, #f5f4ee. Photorealistic, natural textures, shallow depth of field, 35mm lens. Aspect ratio 16:9. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`

### Slot 2 · 3. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-03.webp)
- **Stock** — “minimal desk with laptop”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/minimal-desk-with-laptop?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/minimal%20desk%20with%20laptop/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/minimal%20desk%20with%20laptop/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: minimal desk with laptop. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #5b492d, #f5f4ee. 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 · 5. Features → product UI (uncertain)
- Technology features with 4 image elements — most likely product UI screenshots/mockups plus icons. Count: a set of ~4 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/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 #f5f4ee with a soft #5b492d 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 4 · 8. Content → abstract 3D / gradient (uncertain)
- Dark Technology section with a few graphics — typically abstract 3D/gradient art or a product shot. Count: 1. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-08.webp)
- **Stock** — “abstract gradient 3d”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/abstract-gradient-3d?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/abstract%20gradient%203d/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/abstract%20gradient%203d/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Abstract 3D render: soft, matte clay shapes and a smooth gradient in #5b492d and #666666 on a #ffffff background. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key; warm tone. Minimal and calm, generous negative space on one side for text. Aspect ratio 4:5. No text, no letters, no logos, no watermarks, no brand marks or trademarked products, no recognisable real people.`

### Slot 5 · 9. Content, 10. Content → illustration (uncertain)
- Light Technology section with a few graphics — illustration, icon art or a product shot. Count: one consistent treatment across these sections. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-09.webp) [ref 2](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-10.webp)
- **Stock** — “technology flat illustration”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/technology-flat-illustration?orientation=portrait) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/technology%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=portrait) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/technology%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=vertical)
- **Generate** — `Flat vector illustration: abstract gradient mesh, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #f5f4ee, #5b492d plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, warm 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.

### Slot 6 · 12. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-13.webp)
- **Stock** — “minimal desk with laptop wide shot”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/minimal-desk-with-laptop-wide-shot?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/minimal%20desk%20with%20laptop%20wide%20shot/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/minimal%20desk%20with%20laptop%20wide%20shot/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: minimal desk with laptop wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #5b492d, #f5f4ee. 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 · 13. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (art, decoration, polka dots). (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-14.webp)
- **Stock** — “abstract gradient mesh wide shot”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/abstract-gradient-mesh-wide-shot?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/abstract%20gradient%20mesh%20wide%20shot/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/abstract%20gradient%20mesh%20wide%20shot/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: abstract gradient mesh wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #5b492d, #f5f4ee. 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 8 · 14. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/holocene/s-15.webp)
- **Stock** — “3d glass shapes render wide shot”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/3d-glass-shapes-render-wide-shot?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/3d%20glass%20shapes%20render%20wide%20shot/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/3d%20glass%20shapes%20render%20wide%20shot/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: 3d glass shapes render wide shot. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: soft natural daylight, airy and high-key. Warm colour grade that sits on #ffffff, #5b492d, #f5f4ee. 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)** — 2. Statement, 4. Statement, 6. Content, 7. Content, 11. Testimonials, 16. 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.
- **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/holocene/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/holocene/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "holocene" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "holocene" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/holocene.