Z-Pattern Layout

STYLEKIT_STYLE_REFERENCE
style_name: Z-Pattern Layout
style_slug: z-pattern-layout
style_source: /styles/z-pattern-layout

# Hard Prompt

## When To Use
Use this when you want AI to generate code with strict style consistency. It is the safest default for production UI.

## How To Use
- Copy the full prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or another coding assistant.
- Append the concrete product/page requirement after the prompt.
- After generation, check the forbidden rules and interaction states before accepting the output.

Strictly follow the style rules below and maintain consistency. No style drift allowed.

## Requirements

- Prioritize style consistency first, then creative extension.
- When conflicts arise, treat prohibitions as the highest priority.
- Self-check before output: verify colors, typography, spacing, and interactions still match this style.

## Style Rules

You are a Z-Pattern Layout expert. All generated code must strictly follow these constraints:

## Layout Rules

Z-path four key points:
1. Top-left: Logo / brand identity
2. Top-right: Navigation / primary CTA
3. Middle diagonal: Core value proposition / main content
4. Bottom-left: Trust badges / social proof
5. Bottom-right: Final CTA button

## Content Rules

- Each row of information is independently complete
- First row establishes brand awareness
- Diagonal area delivers core value
- Last row drives conversion
- Content is concise, avoiding path interference

## Visual Guidance

- Use contrasting colors to highlight CTAs
- Use whitespace to guide visual flow
- Center layout for middle area
- Use flex justify-between for header and footer

## Responsive

Desktop: Complete Z-path
Tablet: Maintain Z-path, reduce spacing
Mobile: Vertical stack, maintain priority order

## Self-Check

1. Logo at top-left, CTA at top-right
2. Core content centered
3. Final CTA at bottom-right
4. Visual path is clear and fluid
5. Page is clean and uncluttered

## Animation & Interaction Rules

- Funnel Focus: When hovering core areas (feature cards, inputs), must use noticeable float (`hover:-translate-y-1`) and shadow expansion (`hover:shadow-xl`) to firmly lock user attention, reinforcing conversion node presence.
- CTA Magnetism: Action buttons at Z-path key nodes must use elastic scaling (`hover:scale-[1.02]`) combined with brand color halo on hover, making buttons feel magnetically attractive.
- Crisp Progression: Business landing pages do not allow sluggish animations. Mandatory `duration-200 ease-out`, ensuring feedback is crisp without interrupting the user's Z-scan rhythm.
- Clear Focus: On input focus, beyond the outer ring glow, brighten background from gray/transparent to pure white, providing clear data input indication.

---

# Z-Pattern Layout Design System

> A Z-pattern scanning layout based on eye-tracking, where the gaze moves from top-left to top-right, diagonally to bottom-left, then to bottom-right, forming a Z-path. Ideal for landing pages, marketing pages, and concise information displays.

## Design Philosophy

Z-Pattern Layout is based on the user's natural scanning path on visually clean pages. The gaze moves from the top-left (logo/brand) to the top-right (CTA), then diagonally to the bottom-left, and finally to the bottom-right (final CTA).

Core principles:
- Visual guidance: Using the Z-path to guide users through a preset information reception sequence
- Key positions: The four corners are the most important information placement points
- Clean and clear: Suitable for pages with less content but strong conversion needs
- Progressive layers: Each row is an information hierarchy level

---

## Token Dictionary (exact class mapping)

### Border
```
Width: border
Color: border-gray-200
Radius: rounded-xl
```

### Shadow
```
sm: shadow-sm
md: shadow-md
lg: shadow-lg shadow-[#6366f1]/25
hover: hover:shadow-xl hover:shadow-[#6366f1]/30
focus: focus:shadow-md
```

### Interaction
```
Hover translate: hover:-translate-y-0.5
Hover scale: (none)
Hover opacity: (none)
Transition: transition-all duration-300
Active: active:scale-95
```

### Typefaces
```
Heading: font-bold tracking-tight
Body: font-sans
Mono: font-mono
```

### Type scale
```
Hero: text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl
H1: text-3xl md:text-4xl
H2: text-2xl md:text-3xl
H3: text-lg md:text-xl
Body: text-base md:text-lg
Small: text-sm
```

### Spacing
```
Section: py-12 md:py-16 lg:py-20
Container: px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-8
Card: p-6 md:p-8
Gap sm: gap-3 md:gap-4
Gap md: gap-4 md:gap-6
Gap lg: gap-6 md:gap-10
```

### Color roles
```
Background primary: bg-white
Background secondary: bg-gray-50
Background accent: bg-[#6366f1], bg-[#06b6d4], bg-[#f59e0b], bg-[#ec4899]
Text primary: text-[#0f172a]
Text secondary: text-gray-600
Text muted: text-gray-400
Button primary: bg-[#6366f1] text-white shadow-lg shadow-[#6366f1]/25
Button secondary: bg-white text-[#0f172a] border border-gray-200
```

---

## [FORBIDDEN]

These classes are banned in this style. Check for them before returning code:

### Banned classes
- `rounded-none`
- `font-black`
- `border-4`
- `border-8`

### Banned patterns
- matches `^rounded-none$`
- matches `^border-[48]`

### Why they are banned
- `rounded-none`: Z-Pattern Layout uses soft rounding (rounded-xl) for modern appeal
- `border-4`: Z-Pattern Layout uses subtle borders for clean, conversion-focused design

> WARNING: if your code contains any of the above, replace it before shipping.

---

## [REQUIRED]

### Every button must include
```
rounded-xl
font-semibold
transition-all duration-300
```

### Every card must include
```
bg-white
rounded-2xl
shadow-sm
border border-gray-100
text-center
```

### Every input must include
```
bg-white
border border-gray-200
rounded-xl
focus:outline-none
focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[#6366f1]/20 focus:border-[#6366f1]
transition-all
```

---

## [COMPARE] Z-Pattern Layout wrong vs right

The wrong examples below stand for generic library defaults that were never adapted to this style. Do not read them as visual suggestions.

### Button

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic component library default, do not copy):
```html
<button class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_BUTTON_DEFAULT}">
  Click me
</button>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's tokens):
```html
<button class="rounded-xl font-semibold transition-all duration-300 bg-[#6366f1] text-white shadow-lg shadow-[#6366f1]/25">
  Click me
</button>
```

### Card

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic card, not adapted to this style):
```html
<div class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_CARD_DEFAULT}">
  <h3>{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's card tokens):
```html
<div class="bg-white rounded-2xl shadow-sm border border-gray-100 text-center p-6 md:p-8">
  <h3 class="font-bold tracking-tight text-lg md:text-xl">{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

### Input

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic input, not adapted to this style):
```html
<input class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_INPUT_DEFAULT}" />
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's input tokens):
```html
<input class="bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-xl focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[#6366f1]/20 focus:border-[#6366f1] transition-all" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

---

## [TEMPLATES] Z-Pattern Layout page skeletons

These skeletons use this style's tokens only. Replace `{PLACEHOLDER}` values, but keep every token in place:

### Navigation
```html
<nav class="bg-white text-[#0f172a] border border-gray-200 px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-8">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between max-w-6xl mx-auto gap-4 md:gap-6">
    <a href="/" class="font-bold tracking-tight text-lg md:text-xl">
      {LOGO_TEXT}
    </a>
    <div class="flex gap-4 md:gap-6 font-sans text-sm">
      {NAV_LINKS}
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>
```

### Hero section
```html
<section class="bg-[#6366f1] text-[#0f172a] py-12 md:py-16 lg:py-20 px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
    <h1 class="font-bold tracking-tight text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl">
      {HEADLINE}
    </h1>
    <p class="font-sans text-base md:text-lg max-w-xl">
      {SUBHEADLINE}
    </p>
    <button class="rounded-xl font-semibold transition-all duration-300 bg-[#6366f1] text-white shadow-lg shadow-[#6366f1]/25">
      {CTA_TEXT}
    </button>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Card grid
```html
<section class="bg-white text-[#0f172a] py-12 md:py-16 lg:py-20 px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <h2 class="font-bold tracking-tight text-2xl md:text-3xl">{SECTION_TITLE}</h2>
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4 md:gap-6">
      <!-- Card template - repeat for each card -->
      <div class="bg-white rounded-2xl shadow-sm border border-gray-100 text-center p-6 md:p-8">
        <h3 class="font-bold tracking-tight text-lg md:text-xl">{CARD_TITLE}</h3>
        <p class="font-sans text-base md:text-lg text-gray-400">{CARD_DESCRIPTION}</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Form input
```html
<input class="bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-xl focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[#6366f1]/20 focus:border-[#6366f1] transition-all" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

### Footer
```html
<footer class="bg-gray-50 text-gray-600 py-12 md:py-16 lg:py-20 px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-8">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6 md:gap-10">
      <div>
        <span class="font-bold tracking-tight text-lg md:text-xl">{LOGO_TEXT}</span>
        <p class="font-sans text-sm">{TAGLINE}</p>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h4 class="font-bold tracking-tight text-lg md:text-xl">{COLUMN_TITLE}</h4>
        <ul class="font-sans text-sm">
          {FOOTER_LINKS}
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>
```

---

## [CHECKLIST] Z-Pattern Layout post-generation self check

**Before returning code, verify every token and rule below. Fix any violation before delivering:**

### Token check
- [ ] Button includes: `rounded-xl font-semibold transition-all duration-300`
- [ ] Card includes: `bg-white rounded-2xl shadow-sm border border-gray-100 text-center`
- [ ] Input includes: `bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-xl focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[#6366f1]/20 focus:border-[#6366f1] transition-all`

### Forbidden check
- [ ] Not using `rounded-none`
- [ ] Not using `font-black`
- [ ] Not using `border-4`
- [ ] Not using `border-8`

### Style rule check
- [ ] Place logo/brand identity in the top-left corner
- [ ] Place navigation or primary CTA in the top-right corner
- [ ] Place core value proposition in the middle area
- [ ] Place auxiliary information or trust badges in the bottom-left
- [ ] Place the final CTA button in the bottom-right

### Style drift check
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT place unimportant content on the Z-path
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT interrupt the Z-shaped visual flow
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT use too much content that interferes with the path
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT place CTAs outside the path
- [ ] Does not violate: Do NOT make the page overly complex and crowded

### Delivery check
- [ ] Responsive layout holds on phone, tablet and desktop with no horizontal overflow
- [ ] Every interactive element has a visible focus state, an accessible name and a reduced-motion path
- [ ] Text contrast meets WCAG AA and colour alone never carries state
- [ ] The result is still recognizable at a glance as Z-Pattern Layout

## Absolute Bans (Match and Refuse)

If any of the following patterns appear, it is a style violation — rewrite without exception.

- place unimportant content on the Z-path
- interrupt the Z-shaped visual flow
- use too much content that interferes with the path
- place CTAs outside the path
- make the page overly complex and crowded

## Self-Check (Verify Before Shipping)

If any item fails, the style has drifted — fix before shipping.

- [ ] No purple-to-blue gradients
- [ ] No overused fonts (Inter, Roboto, Geist, Fraunces, Plus Jakarta Sans)
- [ ] No nested cards (cards inside cards)
- [ ] No gray text on colored backgrounds
- [ ] Body text contrast meets WCAG AA (>= 4.5:1)
- [ ] No bounce or elastic easing curves
- [ ] Animations have a prefers-reduced-motion fallback
- [ ] Body text line length capped at 65-75 characters
- [ ] No side-stripe accent borders (border-left/right > 1px)
- [ ] No gradient text (background-clip: text)
- [ ] No glassmorphism used as the default surface treatment
- [ ] No tiny uppercase tracked eyebrow labels above every section heading
- [ ] do NOT place unimportant content on the Z-path
- [ ] do NOT interrupt the Z-shaped visual flow
- [ ] do NOT use too much content that interferes with the path
- [ ] do NOT place CTAs outside the path
- [ ] do NOT make the page overly complex and crowded