Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Latham & Watkins
> Reference: https://www.lw.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/latham-and-watkins · captured 2026-09-23 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/full.webp) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Latham & Watkins — 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 Latham & Watkins: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Latham & Watkins'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
- Latham & Watkins (lw.com): Finance marketing website, light.
- 6 sections: Hero → Content → Features → Blog → Footer.
- Spacing: about a screen per idea (median section ≈700px).
- Hero headline: 3 words — short and punchy; keep yours under ~9.
- Type: Avenir Next headings over arial body. Imagery: mostly abstract 3D / gradient art, 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. About one full screen (810px at 1440), page background; 9 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); 6 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Eyebrow / announcement pill (optional); H1 (~3 words, like the reference); Supporting line, 1–2 sentences; Primary + secondary action; Hero visual (see image plan).
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Private Capital Insights”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-01.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 2. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (470px at 1440), page background; 34 image elements (icons, logos, product UI — not 34 photos); primary + secondary button, 16 links (link lists / navigation).
- Slots: Heading (~11 words, like the reference); Body copy; Supporting visual (see image plan); Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Latham Advises Caesars Entertainment in US$17.6 Billion Sale to Fertitta…”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-02.webp) · imagery: slot 2
### 3. Content — supporting content that deepens one idea.
- Layout: text + media block. Half to one screen (489px at 1440), page background; no images (type-led); 7 buttons (tabs, toggles or per-card actions).
- Slots: Heading; Body copy; Primary + secondary action.
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/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 (700px at 1440), page background; 12 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); primary + secondary button, 13 links (link lists / navigation); 6 headings → ~5 items under a title.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 5 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Primary + secondary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Our Stories”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-04.webp) · imagery: slot 3
### 5. Blog — signal an active, credible team through recent writing.
- Layout: 3-up card grid: image, title, meta. About one full screen (804px at 1440), page background; 3 image/graphics; one primary button; 4 headings → ~3 items under a title.
- Slots: Title + “All posts” link; 3 post cards: cover image, title, date/author.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Featured Insights”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/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. Compact band (386px at 1440), own light band #d7d7d7; 6 images/icons (a set of cards or a small gallery); one primary button, 47 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/latham-and-watkins/s-06.webp)
Inner pages also captured (About, Blog, Security): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/latham-and-watkins?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 | `#ac0000` | primary buttons, links, highlights — sparingly | 7.6:1 |
| surface | `#fafafa` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 20.1:1 |
| muted | `#d7d7d7` | secondary text, borders | 1.4:1 — borders / large text only |
Captured palette: `#ffffff` `#000000` `#fafafa` `#d7d7d7` `#3f3f3f` `#ac0000`. Section bands top→bottom: `#ffffff` → `#d7d7d7`. 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: #ac0000;
--surface: #fafafa;
--muted: #d7d7d7;
--font-heading: "Jost", 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: **Jost** (Google Fonts) — reference uses Avenir Next. “Avenir Next” is a licensed face — use Jost (or Outfit) as the free stand-in, or license the original.
- Body: **Inter** (Google Fonts) — reference uses arial. “arial” is likely a custom or licensed face. Inter is a neutral stand-in — pick a closer free match by eye from the screenshot.
- Scale (starting point, sizes weren't measured — calibrate against the 1440px screenshot): display clamp(2.75rem, 6vw, 5rem), 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 ≈700px tall at 1440 (median; range 386–810px, 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
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 3 section screenshots: mostly **abstract 3D / gradient art**, some typography with little or no imagery (light, warm, Finance). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.
### Slot 1 · 1. Hero, 5. Blog → illustration (uncertain)
- Light Finance section with a few graphics — illustration, icon art or a product shot. Count: one consistent treatment across these sections. Aspect: 16:9 full-bleed (or 21:9). Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-01.webp) [ref 2](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-05.webp)
- **Stock** — “finance flat illustration”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/finance-flat-illustration?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/finance%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/finance%20flat%20illustration/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Flat vector illustration: person paying with phone, friendly simplified shapes, limited palette of #ffffff, #ac0000, #fafafa plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, warm mood. Aspect ratio 16:9. 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 2 · 2. Content → abstract 3D / gradient
- Abstract art — gradient, 3D or atmospheric graphics, seen in the capture. (measured from the screenshot) Count: 1–3 key visuals; the rest are icons/avatars. Aspect: 4:5. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-02.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 #ac0000 and #d7d7d7 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 3 · 4. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a set of ~12 in one consistent style. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/latham-and-watkins/s-04.webp)
- **Stock** — “person paying with phone close up”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/person-paying-with-phone-close-up?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/person%20paying%20with%20phone%20close%20up/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/person%20paying%20with%20phone%20close%20up/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: person paying with phone close up. 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, #ac0000, #fafafa. 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)** — 3. 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** — 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.
- **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/latham-and-watkins/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/latham-and-watkins/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "latham-and-watkins" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "latham-and-watkins" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/latham-and-watkins.
