I dont know how it is for other designers, but when I start a new project, theres always this moment where I just sit there and stare. Nothing. No idea. Empty.People often think that creativity is some kind of magic that suddenly comes out of nowhere, like a lightning strike from the sky. But I can tell you thats not how it works at least not for me. Ive learned how to hack my creativity. Its no longer random but more like a process. And one part of that process led me to create what we now call the Hero Section.The Birth Of The Hero SectionIf Im being honest, I dont even know exactly how I came up with the name Hero. It felt more like an epiphany than a conscious decision. At the time, I was working on the Brooklyn theme, and Bootstrap was gaining popularity. I wasnt a huge fan of Bootstrap, not because its bad, but because I found it more complicated to work with than writing my own CSS. Ninety-five percent of the CSS and HTML in Brooklyn is custom-written, devoid of any framework.But there was one part of Bootstrap that stuck with me: the Jumbotron class. The name felt a bit odd, but I understood its purpose to create something big and attention-grabbing. That stuck in my mind, and like lightning, the word Hero came to me.Why Hero? A hero is a figure that demands attention. Its bold, strong, and memorable, which is everything I wanted Brooklyns intro section to be. At first, I envisioned a Hero Button. Still, I realized the concept could be much broader: it could encompass the entire intro section, setting the tone for the website and drawing the visitors focus to the most important message.The term Banner was another option, but it felt generic and uninspired. A Hero, on the other hand, is a force to reckon with. So, I committed to the idea.From Banner To Hero SectionBack in 2013, most websites called their intro sections a Banner or Header. At best, youd see a single image with a title, maybe a subtitle, and a button. Sliders were also popular, cycling through multiple banners with different content. But I wanted Brooklyns intro to be more than just a banner it had to make a lasting impression.So, I redefined it:HTML StructureI named the section <section class="hero">. This wasnt just a banner or a slider; it was a Hero Section.CSS CustomizationEverything within the section followed the Hero concept: .hero-slogan, .hero-title, .hero-description, .hero-btn. I coded it all from scratch, making sure it had a cohesive and distinct identity.Marketing LanguageI didnt stop at the code. I used the word Hero everywhere, including Brooklyns documentation, the theme description, the landing page, and the featured images.At the time, Brooklyn was attracting tens of thousands of visitors per day on ThemeForest, which is the storefront I use to make the theme available for sale. It quickly became a top seller, selling like hotcakes. Naturally, people started asking, Whats a Hero Section? It was a new term, and I loved explaining the concept.The Hero Section had become sort of like a hook that made Brooklyn more alluring, and we sold a lot of copies of the theme because of it.What I Didnt Know About The Heros FutureAt the time, I intentionally used the term Hero in Brooklyns code and marketing because I wanted it to stand out. I made sure it was everywhere: in the <section> tags, in class names like .hero-title and .hero-description, and on Brooklyns landing page and product description.But honestly, I didnt realize just how big the term would become. I wasnt thinking about carving it into stone or reserving it as something unique to Brooklyn. That kind of forward-thinking wasnt on my radar back then. All I wanted was to grab attention and make Brooklyn stand out.Over time, we kept adding new variations to the Hero Section. For example, we introduced the Hero Video, allowing users to add video backgrounds to their Heroes something that felt bold and innovative at the time. We also added the Hero Slider, a simple image slider within the Hero Section, giving users more flexibility to create dynamic intros.Brooklyn even had a small Hero Builder integrated directly into the theme something I believe is still unique to this day.Looking back, its clear I missed an opportunity to cement the Hero Section as a signature feature of Brooklyn. Once I saw other authors adopting the term, I stopped emphasizing Brooklyns role in popularizing it. I thought the concept spoke for itself.How The Hero Went MainstreamOne of the most fascinating things about the Hero Section is how quickly the term caught on. Brooklyns popularity gave the Hero Section massive exposure. Designers and developers started noticing it, and soon, other theme authors began adopting the term in their products.Brooklyn wasnt just another theme. It was one of the top sellers on ThemeForest, the worlds largest marketplace for digital goods, with millions of users. And I didnt just use the term Hero once or twice I used it everywhere: descriptions, featured images, and documentation. I made sure people saw it. Before long, I noticed that more and more themes used the term to describe large intro sections in their work.Today, the Hero Section is everywhere. Its a standard in web design recognized by designers and developers worldwide. While I cant say I invented the concept, Im proud to have played a key role in bringing it into the mainstream.Lessons From Building A HeroCreating the Hero Section taught me a lot about design, creativity, and marketing. Here are the key takeaways:Start Simple: The Hero Section started as a simple idea a way to focus attention. You dont need a complex plan to create something impactful.Commit to Your Ideas: Once I decided on the term Hero, I committed to it in the code, the design, and the marketing. Consistency made it stick.Bold Names Matter: Naming the section Hero instead of Banner gave it a personality and purpose. Names can define how users perceive a design.Constantly Evolve: Adding features like the Hero Video and Hero Slider kept the concept fresh and adaptable to user needs.Dont Ignore Your Role: If you introduce something new, own it. I should have continued promoting Brooklyn as a Hero pioneer to solidify its legacy.Inspiration Isnt Magic; Its Hard WorkInspiration often comes from unexpected places. For me, it came from questioning a Bootstrap class name and reimagining it into something new. The Hero Section wasnt just a product of creative brilliance it was the result of persistence, experimentation, and a bit of luck.Whats the one element youve created that youre most proud of? Id love to hear your stories in the comments below!