Preview the prompt +
# Build brief — an original marketing website in the taste of Reforge
> Reference: https://www.reforge.com · UIDiscovery: https://uidiscovery.com/sites/reforge · captured 2026-09-22 at a 1440px desktop viewport (+ 390px iPhone shots) · [full page](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/full.png) · [scroll video](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/preview.mp4)
## 1. Goal
Build an original marketing website for **[the user's brand]** that feels as considered as Reforge — 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 Reforge: structure, rhythm, hierarchy, palette mood and type pairing.
- Never reuse Reforge'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
- Reforge (reforge.com): Education marketing website, dark, minimal.
- 7 sections: Call to action → Logo cloud → Statement → Features → Statement.
- Spacing: short, dense bands (median section ≈319px).
- Type: one family (ABC Diatype). Imagery: mostly typography with little or no imagery, some photography.
## 4. Page structure (top to bottom)
### 1. Call to action — close the page with one clear next step.
- Layout: short headline + one primary action on a contrasting band. Compact band (206px at 1440), own dark band #141517; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Headline (~12 words, like the reference); One sentence of support; Primary action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “AI is rewriting product. Learn from operators who are leading the change.”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-01.webp)
### 2. Logo cloud — borrow trust from recognisable customers or partners.
- Layout: a single row or wall of monochrome marks with a one-line lead-in. Compact band (319px at 1440), own dark band #141517; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: One-line lead-in (e.g. “Trusted by…”); 6–10 monochrome customer/partner marks (your own, with permission).
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-02.webp)
### 3. Statement — a large-type moment that sets tone and pace.
- Layout: oversized typography with lots of space. Compact band (379px at 1440), own dark band #141517; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading (~13 words, like the reference); Body copy.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Make your team unstoppable — whether crushing daily tasks or growing key…”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/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. Tall, ≈1.4 screens (1291px at 1440), own dark band #141517; 1 image/graphic; 1 text link instead of buttons.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description; Text link action.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Reforge for Teams”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/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 (1067px at 1440), own dark band #141517; 66 image elements (photo collage/gallery + small graphics); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Vetted operators—not influencers”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-05.webp) · imagery: slot 1
### 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. Compact band (192px at 1440), own dark band #141517; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Section title (~3 words, like the reference); 3 items: icon or visual + short title + 1–2 line description.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Key features”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-06.webp)
### 7. Statement — a large-type moment that sets tone and pace.
- Layout: oversized typography with lots of space. Compact band (192px at 1440), own dark band #141517; no images (type-led); no interactive controls.
- Slots: Heading (~4 words, like the reference); Body copy.
- Topic (tone/length only — never reuse): “Maximize product team performance”
- [Screenshot](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-07.webp)
Inner pages also captured (Pricing, Product, Customers, Sign up, Blog, Docs, Enterprise, Contact): https://uidiscovery.com/sites/reforge?view=pages
## 5. Design system
### Colour
| Role | Hex | Use | Contrast on background |
|---|---|---|---|
| background | `#e1e1e1` | page background | — |
| foreground | `#141517` | body text, headings | 14.0:1 |
| accent | `#141517` | none captured — monochrome. Primary buttons invert (foreground fill, background text); add your brand colour only for small highlights | — |
| surface | `#ffffff` | cards, inputs, alternate bands | text on it 18.3:1 |
| muted | `#888888` | secondary text, borders | 2.7:1 — borders / large text only |
Captured palette: `#e1e1e1` `#141517` `#ffffff` `#888888`. Roles are assigned automatically — sanity-check them against the screenshot. Keep the palette's *mood* (dark, neutral, desaturated) and proportions; swap the accent for the user's brand colour.
### Tokens
```css
:root {
--background: #e1e1e1;
--foreground: #141517;
--accent: #141517;
--surface: #ffffff;
--muted: #888888;
--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 ABC Diatype. “ABC Diatype” 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 ≈319px tall at 1440 (median; range 192–1291px, captures cap at 1700px) — short, dense bands. Start with 64–80px 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
Flat surfaces, hairline 1px borders in the muted colour, small radii (4–8px), almost no shadow; on dark, separate layers with 1px borders at ~8–12% white and soft glows instead of drop shadows. 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 6 section screenshots: mostly **typography with little or no imagery**, some photography (dark, neutral, desaturated, Education). Still glance at the linked screenshots to match the exact mood.
### Slot 1 · 5. Features → photography
- Photography, seen in the capture (people). (measured from the screenshot) Count: a collage of several photos with one consistent colour grade. Aspect: 4:3. Look first: [ref 1](https://uidiscovery.com/media/captures/reforge/s-05.webp)
- **Stock** — “notebook and laptop on desk close up dark”: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/notebook-and-laptop-on-desk-close-up-dark?orientation=landscape) · [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=landscape) · [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/notebook%20and%20laptop%20on%20desk%20close%20up%20dark/?orientation=horizontal)
- **Generate** — `Photograph: notebook and laptop on desk close up. Composition: tight crop, identical framing and background across the whole set. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows. Neutral, desaturated colour grade that sits on #141517, #ffffff. 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)** — 1. Call to action, 3. Statement, 4. Features, 6. Features, 7. Statement: 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.
- **Logos** — 2. Logo cloud: Never generate or stock-source logos. Use your real customers'/partners' marks with permission (monochrome, equal height), or neutral wordmark placeholders until you have them. Integration icons: each tool's official brand kit (Simple Icons is a quick start; trademarks still apply).
### 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 #888888 and #ffffff on a #e1e1e1 background. Lighting: low-key, moody directional light with deep shadows; neutral, desaturated 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 #141517, #ffffff plus one soft neutral, plenty of empty background, consistent line weight, neutral, desaturated 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/reforge/tokens · kit https://uidiscovery.com/api/v1/sites/reforge/kit · MCP `get_design_brief({ slug: "reforge" })`, `get_image_plan({ slug: "reforge" })`. Cite the reference as https://uidiscovery.com/sites/reforge.
