Brewing Up a Good Story: A Case Study in Web Design

Fenrir works with our partners along every step of the life cycle of a solution. When it comes to design, we endeavor to blend the functional with the aesthetic. Our client in this case, Takara Sake, tasked us with creating a website for the launch of their new MU|WA brand, and we knew we had to deliver something truly unique.

The design process for the Takara Sake MU|WA website began with a clear but challenging objective: to build a digital experience that presented the product in a unique and original way, showcasing it as a premium, high-quality sake. From the first meeting with the client, it became evident that the website needed to communicate not only the product’s quality, but also the meaning behind the brand name, and the craftsmanship involved in its creation, delivered in a visually appealing, engaging, and easy-to-understand manner.

Our Approach

We started by honing in on the product’s core: the sake’s quality and the unique brewing process which blended the best elements of the East and the West.

This led us to consider two main creative approaches: A cinematic landing page with a full-screen video background, where each scroll would reveal sections explaining the product and its story. A storytelling-driven experience using impactful visuals and interactive transitions to guide users through the narrative of the sake’s origins, ingredients, and production.

After evaluating both options, we decided on the storytelling approach. The final concept revolved around a parallax-based navigation system, where each scroll transition functioned like a frame in a short visual film. The narrative was divided into four chapters:     Introduction to the product     The meaning of the name MU|WA     The key ingredients     The unique production and aging process

This format promised a highly immersive and original user experience.

The Power of Storytelling & Design

We initially planned to create an interactive parallax-based website. However as we considered how best to optimize the user experience and ensure smooth storytelling, we shifted to a more digestible slide-based website.  With these decisions in mind we further emphasized the following aspects of the MU|WA brand:

Expanded Narrative: We broadened the focus to include the entire brewing process, especially the unique element of aging the sake in bourbon barrels. Evocative Visuals: Initially we considered taking photos of the scenery and aesthetics that influenced the brand’s creation in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, we decided to create our own CGI assets in order to maintain consistent high quality and allow us greater freedom to modify the layout of and transitions between each page in the website.  Evolving the Narrative Arc: We decided that the site’s journey should begin with the brewing process, featuring classic ingredients of sake brewing, and conclude with the Western element of aging the sake in bourbon barrels. This conclusion was further enhanced by including Takara’s recommendations for the best ways to enjoy the sake.

A preliminary storyboard was developed to map out the navigation flow, followed by the creation of CG assets for every environment, object, and transition. This allowed us to achieve a fully consistent and original visual experience tailored specifically to the brand.

Additional Features and Expansion

As the project progressed, the client requested an extra section describing how to properly enjoy the sake: on the rocks, neat, or warm. This inclusion further enhanced the connection between the brand, the product, and the customer.

Accessibility rules for users in the US, particularly the State of California, also emerged as a top priority. Our team conducted thorough research to meet the necessary guidelines and adjusted all elements of the website to make it as inclusive as possible for all users. Finally, we ensured that this was all accomplished without compromising the visual and interactive quality of the design.

A Successful Partnership

This project was a true collaboration. Our warm relationship with the client, built on regular, excellent feedback, allowed us to deliver a final product that was both impressive and truly a unique testament to innovation in branding.

Thanks to the combined effort of the design team and client collaboration, the final result was a website that was not only visually striking and highly interactive, but also fully accessible and aligned with legal standards. The client expressed great satisfaction and enthusiasm throughout the process, which continued to motivate the team.

The Takara Sake MUWA project was both challenging and inspiring. It demanded creativity, technical problem-solving, and a thoughtful approach to narrative design. In the end, the team delivered an experience that successfully fulfilled, and exceeded, the project’s initial goals.