Why We Built Launchpad: A Ghost Theme for SaaS Teams
The story behind Launchpad — a Ghost theme built specifically for SaaS companies, with dark mode, pricing pages, and conversion-first design.
When we started looking for a Ghost theme for our SaaS product's website, we couldn't find one that met our needs. Every theme was either designed for personal blogs, magazines, or portfolios. None were built from the ground up for SaaS companies. So we built Launchpad.
What SaaS Themes Need to Do Differently
Conversion-First Design
A SaaS website has one primary job: convert visitors into users. Every design decision in Launchpad — from the hero CTA placement to the pricing page layout — is optimized for conversion. This is fundamentally different from a blog theme, which is optimized for reading time.
Dark Mode by Default
Developer tools and SaaS products overwhelmingly use dark interfaces. Launchpad's dark theme with glass-morphism effects and gradient accents feels native to the tech ecosystem your users live in.
Product-Specific Pages
Launchpad includes templates you won't find in generic themes:
- Pricing page with monthly/yearly toggle and tier comparison
- Changelog with timeline layout for product updates
- Signup/signin pages that integrate with Ghost Portal
- Components showcase for design system documentation
Technical Decisions
Typography
We chose Space Grotesk for headings (geometric, modern, techy) and Inter for body text (highly readable at all sizes). This combination says "we're a tech company" without sacrificing readability.
Glass-Morphism Header
The frosted glass navigation bar uses backdrop-filter: blur() with a subtle border, creating a floating effect that stays readable over any content. It's a visual pattern users associate with modern, premium software.
Gradient Accents
Instead of flat accent colors, Launchpad uses indigo-to-purple gradients for CTAs, links, and highlights. Gradients catch the eye better than solid colors and create a sense of energy and forward motion.
Built for Ghost 5+
Launchpad uses Ghost's latest features: custom settings, card assets, membership gating, and the Content API. It's designed to work perfectly with Ghost's direction — not fight against it.