Branding · UX Strategy · Product Validation · MVP Design

The owner of Takami, a traditional tea shop, came to me with an interesting question: how do you bring a centuries-old tea culture to a younger, digital-first audience without losing its essence? They wanted a fresh brand identity and a mobile app, but they weren’t sure if their customers would embrace the shift.

While they were excited about going digital, they also had real concerns. Would people still crave the in-person experience, or could an app actually enhance it? Beyond design, they needed the right people on board. A developer to build the product and a marketer to make sure it reached the right audience. My role wasn’t just about creating a beautiful app, but about helping them navigate the entire process.

Challenges:

• Cultural Sensitivity: Designing for a brand steeped in tradition without losing its essence.

• Unvalidated Market Fit: Unsure whether the younger audience would engage with a tea app.

• Resource Constraints: A lean team with no product development experience.

• Team Gaps: Needed support identifying technical and marketing collaborators.

Goals:

• Rapidly validate whether a mobile app could resonate with a new generation of customers.

• Build a high-fidelity prototype to test key features before investing in full development.

• Create a brand identity that balances tradition with modern appeal.

• Lay the foundation for strategic partnerships and funding conversations.

Rather than pouring time and money into a fully built app that might not resonate, I proposed testing the idea quickly and efficiently. During the one-week sprint, we defined the core features, sketched out user flows, and built a high-fidelity prototype that felt real enough for potential users to interact with.

1. Strategic Sprint & Rapid Prototyping

We kicked off with a one-week design sprint focused on quick iteration and low-risk validation.

• Defined the core value proposition of the app through collaborative workshops.

• Created user flows, imagining how a digital experience could complement the ritual of tea.

• Built a high-fidelity prototype that brought the concept to life, without a single line of code.

2. Real-World Testing & Audience Engagement

To validate interest, we launched a simple but targeted landing page.

• Presented the app concept visually and clearly, inviting people to sign up for early access.

• Integrated a feature voting system where users could prioritize what they cared about most, from virtual tastings to pairing recommendations.

• Measured interest with behavioral data.

3. MVP Design, Feedback, and Iteration

Testing showed, users wanted a curated experience that made tea exploration feel modern and personal.

• Used the feature votes and qualitative feedback to refine the app roadmap.

• Prioritized high-impact features like virtual tastings, seasonal tea pairings, and educational content that deepened cultural connection.

To gauge interest and validate the idea, we launched a simple landing page showcasing the app concept, inviting people to sign up for early access. We wanted to see, if real customers were intrigued enough to take action. We also encouraged sign-ups to vote on the features they cared about most, ensuring that, if we moved forward, we were building something people actually wanted.

1. Story-Driven UI

• Developed a visual identity that honored minimalism with modern typography and interactive storytelling.

2. Curated Exploration Flows

• Designed flows around discovery, pairing teas with moods, seasons, or playlists to create a more immersive user journey.

3. MVP-Ready Prototype

• Delivered a clickable, high-fidelity prototype that Takami used for partnership conversations and investor pitches.

4. Market Validation

• Landing page metrics and feature interest gave clear direction and confidence to move forward strategically.

The response was overwhelmingly positive and the feedback helped refine the app’s direction. Features like virtual tea tastings and curated tea pairings gained the most traction, shaping what would eventually become the roadmap for development.

The sprint proved invaluable. The early sign-ups and feature votes provided clear insights into what their audience actually wanted, allowing them to move forward with confidence. With a refined direction and a growing list of engaged users, Takami was able to secure strategic partnerships and investor interest, turning what started as an experiment into a high-potential digital product.

• Validated demand: The app concept generated sign-ups and engagement without paid marketing.

• Informed roadmap: Feature votes helped prioritize development and avoid building the wrong thing.

• Strategic traction: Takami used the prototype and user data to secure partnership opportunities and spark investor conversations.

• Brand clarity: A new identity that balanced history with innovation, ready to scale.

This project reminded me that the right design isn’t always about delivering a finished product. Sometimes, it’s about knowing what not to build. 

More than anything, for me, this case reinforced how powerful UX can be when it’s used not just to decorate, but to de-risk, guide, and enhance business potential.