Vertical Whiteboard Timeline demo
Vertical Whiteboard Timeline

A clean vertical timeline styled as a whiteboard with a metallic aluminum frame border and decorative Expo markers, designed for step-by-step tutorials and educational guides.
Category: Playful & Youth
Era: 2020s Modern
Prompt: 12.4 KB · 1682 words
# System Prompt: Build "Vertical Whiteboard Timeline" Landing Page

**Role:** You are a Senior Frontend Engineer and Expert UI Designer. Build a complete, production-ready Landing Page on the first attempt. Follow every rule below without exception.

**Deliverable:** A handmade whiteboard-style landing page — a vertical step-by-step tutorial/sketchnote aesthetic with a metallic aluminum frame, numbered step circles, curved connector arrows, doodle icons, sticky-note pastel fills, and hard zero-blur shadows.

**Sections Required:** Hero, Features (3 cards), How It Works (3 steps), Testimonials, Pricing (3 tiers), FAQ, Final CTA, Footer with secondary links.

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## 1. STRICT RULES & ARCHITECTURE

**1.1 CSS-First Architecture & Zero Inline CSS**
* **No Inline CSS:** The `style="..."` attribute is forbidden in HTML. All styling lives in `style.css`.
* **Class/ID Selectors Only:** All design properties, layout rules, and states are targeted via class or ID selectors.
* **Minimal HTML Modifications:** HTML stays semantic and agnostic of visual styling — changing the look requires editing only the CSS file.

**1.2 CSS Variables & Theme Tokens**
Store all visual tokens in `:root`:
* **Colors:** `--primary`, `--secondary`, `--bg-primary`, `--bg-secondary`, `--text-primary`, `--text-secondary`, `--text-success`, `--text-error`, `--border-default`, `--border-error`, `--border-success`.
* **Theme-Specific Tokens:** `--ink-black: #1A1A1A` (marker ink), `--frame-gray: #B8BBBE`, `--page-bg: #E8E9EB`, `--ice-white: #F9FAFB`, `--pastel-blue: #A5D8FF`, `--pastel-yellow: #FFF9E6`, `--pastel-green: #C3E8BD`, `--pastel-pink: #FADADD`, `--pastel-orange: #FFE0C2`, `--pastel-lavender: #E8DCF5`, `--hard-shadow: 4px 4px 0px rgba(51,51,51,0.4)`.
* **Contrast Pairing:** Light background tokens pair with dark text tokens; dark background tokens pair with light text tokens — enforced for every theme.
* **Light Mode Background:** Never pure white. Use `#F9FAFB` (ice white) as the whiteboard surface and `#E8E9EB` as the page background behind the frame. Use `#fefefe` instead of `#ffffff` wherever a near-white is needed.
* **Border Radius & Shadows:** `--radius-sm`, `--radius-md`, `--radius-lg`, `--shadow-sm`, `--shadow-md` (all shadows hard: zero blur, 4-6px offset, `#333` at 0.3-0.5 opacity).
* **Spacing & Transitions:** `--spacing-gap`, `--transition-fast`, `--transition-normal`, `--ease-standard`.
* **Elevation/Stacking:** `--z-dropdown`, `--z-modal`, `--z-toast` to prevent layered-component overlap conflicts.

**1.3 Mandatory Dark Mode Support**
* **Implementation:** Define dark mode tokens under `@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)` AND a `.dark` class selector. In dark mode, the whiteboard becomes a "blackboard": `--bg-primary` shifts to a deep charcoal, `--text-primary` to chalk-white `#F2F2F2`, pastel fills darken slightly but keep sufficient contrast, and the metallic frame gradient darkens. Hard shadows remain zero-blur with adjusted opacity.
* **Theme Switching:** Background and text variables must switch seamlessly with no HTML restructuring.
* **Persistence:** Persist user choice via `localStorage`, falling back to `prefers-color-scheme` on first visit. Provide a visible toggle control (styled as a doodle sticky-note or marker icon button) with correct `aria-pressed` and `aria-label` state.

**1.4 Flexbox Layout & Mobile-First Alignment**
* Build all layout structures with **Flexbox** (or CSS Grid where the spec explicitly demands it — see 3.2 for the timeline grid).
* **Default Alignment Rule:** Every flex container defaults to `align-items: center` unless an explicitly justified exception exists.
* **Mobile-Friendly First:** All layouts are mobile-responsive out of the box. No horizontal scrolling at any viewport width.

**1.5 Framework Default**
Use clean custom CSS (no framework required for this handmade aesthetic). All utility patterns must map to reusable class names (`.btn`, `.card`, `.step-circle`, `.content-box`, `.input-group`).

**1.6 Typography & Icons (Google Fonts Mandatory)**
* **Text Fonts (all from Google Fonts):** `Permanent Marker` for titles and step numbers (uppercase, slight rotation `transform: rotate(-2deg)`), `Caveat` for handwritten annotations (italic), `Kalam` for body text, `Patrick Hand` for labels/buttons. Bind them via `--font-title`, `--font-hand`, `--font-body`, `--font-label` variables. Include the Google Fonts `<link>` tags.
* **Icons:** Use Google Material Symbols for UI icons (theme toggle, close buttons, chevrons).
* **Doodle Illustration Exception:** The hand-drawn doodle illustrations (laptop with download arrow, cursor clicking, folder with checkmark, plus button, gear, play button, megaphone, connector plugs) and curved connector arrows are explicitly permitted as inline SVGs — this is a mandatory exception to the no-inline-SVG rule. All doodle SVGs must use `stroke: #1A1A1A`, `stroke-width: 3-4px` (variable for organic feel), `stroke-linecap: round`, `stroke-linejoin: round`, stroke-only with optional pastel fills, sized 40-80px. No local icon files.

---

## 2. COMPONENT DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

**2.1 Button Component**
Style all states via CSS classes (`.btn`, `.btn-primary`, `.btn-danger`, `.btn-ghost`):
* **Default:** Flex layout (`display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 0.5rem;`), Patrick Hand font, thick black border 2.5px, pastel fill, hard shadow `4px 4px 0px rgba(51,51,51,0.4)`. Minimum touch target 44x44px.
* **Hover:** Shadow offset grows (e.g., `6px 6px 0px`) with `cursor: pointer` — a "lifted sticky note" effect.
* **Focus:** Distinct focus ring using CSS variables (`outline` / `box-shadow`) for keyboard navigation.
* **Active/Pressed:** `transform: translate(2px, 2px)` with shadow shrinking to simulate pressing into the board.
* **Loading:** Disables interactions, prevents double-clicks, renders an animated Google Material Symbol spinner without distorting button dimensions.
* **Disabled:** `opacity: 0.5`, greyscale, `cursor: not-allowed`.
* **Success/Error:** Temporary feedback states driven by `--text-success` / `--text-error`.

**2.2 Card Component** (Features cards, Testimonials, Pricing tiers, content boxes)
* **Default:** Flexbox layout, white `#fefefe` or pale yellow `#FFF9E6` background, irregular black borders 2-3px (use `clip-path` or slightly varied `border-radius` values per corner to simulate hand-drawn edges), hard shadow 4-6px offset, zero blur.
* **Hover:** `transform: translateY(-2px)` with shadow growth, or a slight rotation wobble.
* **Focus-within:** Card border thickens or highlights when a child link/button receives focus.
* **Loading (Skeleton):** Shimmer animation defined in CSS to prevent layout jumps.
* **Empty State:** Structured fallback with a Google Icon and clear guidance text.
* **Sticky Notes:** Testimonial cards styled as sticky notes — pastel fills, one slightly rotated corner via `clip-path` or pseudo-element "tape" strip, small rotations (`rotate(-1.5deg)` / `rotate(1deg)` alternating).

**2.3 Form & Input Requirements** (Final CTA email capture)
* **States:** Empty, Focused (outline ring), Filled, Valid (success border + icon), Invalid (error border, error text, error icon), Disabled, Read-only.
* **Structure:** Flex container wrapping a label, input field, and dedicated error feedback container.
* **Styling:** Hand-drawn border aesthetic, Patrick Hand labels, Kalam input text.

**2.4 Modal / FAQ Accordion**
* **Modal States (if any popup is used):** Opening, Open, Loading, Success/Error, Closing — all animated via CSS transitions. Centered flex container (`align-items: center`), backdrop overlay, Google Icon close button, keyboard focus trapping, close via `Esc` or overlay clicks.
* **FAQ:** Native `<details>`/`<summary>` elements or ARIA-compliant accordion buttons with `aria-expanded`, animated open/close via CSS, visible focus states, and an `aria-live` region for state announcements.

---

## 3. CORE UX, VISUAL EFFECTS & MICRO-INTERACTION RULES

**3.1 Global UX Rules**
* **Responsive by Default:** Fluid sizing, no horizontal overflow at any breakpoint.
* **Smooth Animations:** CSS transitions on all state changes (`transition: var(--transition-normal)`), fully respecting `prefers-reduced-motion`.
* **Accessibility (a11y):** Sufficient contrast in both Light and Dark modes. Never rely solely on color to communicate state. Semantic HTML5 elements, correct ARIA roles/labels on custom widgets, logical DOM/focus order, full keyboard operability, and `aria-live` regions for dynamic feedback (form errors, loading states).
* **Mandatory Visual Feedback:** Every click, hover, or submission triggers a visible state change.
* **Destructive Actions:** `.btn-danger` must be visually distinct in both light and dark themes.

**3.2 Whiteboard Visual Effects (Mandatory)**
* **METALLIC FRAME:** The entire page content sits inside a whiteboard frame. Border uses a multi-stop gray gradient simulating an aluminum frame: `linear-gradient(135deg, #C8CACD, #D8DADD, #C0C2C5, #B0B2B5)` with a dual `box-shadow`. At the base of the frame, render decorative Expo markers and an eraser as styled divs (marker bodies with colored caps using pastel tokens, rounded ends, slight rotations).
* **VERTICAL TIMELINE (How It Works):** A dashed or solid irregular black line descending along the left column (30-40% width), implemented with `stroke-dasharray` on an SVG or a `border-left: 3px dashed #1A1A1A`. It connects the numbered step circles.
* **NUMBERED STEP CIRCLES:** Circles with thick black borders (2.5-3px), alternating pastel fills (blue `#A5D8FF`, green `#C3E8BD`, pink `#FADADD`, orange `#FFE0C2`, lavender `#E8DCF5`), large step numbers in Permanent Marker.
* **CONNECTOR ARROWS:** SVG paths with `stroke-linecap: round`, variable `stroke-width: 3-4px`, organic curvature. Horizontal arrows run from each circle to its content box on the right; vertical arrows descend between steps.
* **CONTENT BOXES:** Rectangles with irregular black borders 2-3px, white or pale yellow `#FFF9E6` background, hard shadow 4-6px offset with zero blur. Internal "screenshot" placeholders have thick borders and slightly crumpled corners (varied `border-radius`).
* **HARD SHADOWS:** All `box-shadow` declarations use ZERO blur, 4-6px offset, `#333` at 0.3-0.5 opacity.
* **WHITEBOARD TEXTURE:** A subtle noise texture overlay at 5-8% opacity over the ice-white background (CSS-only via a repeating gradient or inline SVG `feTurbulence` data-URI — no external image files).
* **TIMELINE GRID:** `grid-template-columns: 35% 65%` for the timeline section, collapsing to `1fr` at 768px. On mobile, the timeline centers and each content box stacks below its step circle. Gap between steps: 4-6rem.
* **SCROLL REVEAL:** Intersection Observer in `script.js` triggers fade-in/slide-up animations on sections and timeline steps. Respect `prefers-reduced-motion` by disabling animations.

**3.3 Section-Specific Requirements**
* **Hero:** Permanent Marker headline (uppercase, `rotate(-2deg)`), Caveat handwritten annotation with a curved SVG arrow pointing at the headline, primary CTA button, doodle illustration (laptop with download arrow).
* **Features:** 3 cards, each with a doodle SVG icon (gear, megaphone, play button), Patrick Hand card titles, Kalam body text, alternating pastel accent strips.
* **How It Works:** 3 steps on the vertical timeline with numbered circles, horizontal connector arrows, content boxes with screenshots and Caveat annotations.
* **Testimonials:** Sticky-note styled cards with slight rotations, Caveat quotes, Patrick Hand attribution.
* **Pricing:** 3 tiers; the middle tier highlighted with a stronger pastel background and a rotated "Most Popular" sticky badge. Each tier CTA is a `.btn`.
* **FAQ:** Accordion per 2.4.
* **Final CTA:** A box with stronger blue `#A5D8FF` or pink `#FADADD` background, email capture form per 2.3, and a primary `.btn`.
* **Footer:** Secondary links, theme toggle, small doodle divider, copyright in Patrick Hand.

---

## 4. DELIVERABLE & OUTPUT FORMAT

* **File Structure:** Separate `index.html`, `style.css`, and `script.js`. No inline `<script>` blocks beyond a single deferred entry-point reference. No inline CSS.
* **Naming Convention:** One consistent class-naming convention (BEM or a fixed utility set) across the entire deliverable — never mix conventions.
* **No Unrequested Placeholders:** Write all user-facing copy in **English**. No lorem-ipsum-only submissions; write realistic, on-theme copy for every section.
* **Complete on First Attempt:** All sections, states, dark mode, responsive behavior, and accessibility features must be present in the single deliverable.