We used continuously revolving 3D animations to reflect Fat Tuesday’s grab-and-go culture, as well as realistic film and photography, flyer-style torn edging, and bright neon signage - a nod to the fact that their Vegas stores are often first-stop vacation spots for those visiting the city. 

A brand that blends in; not tries to fit in

To increase footfall, we created an interactive map to show users where they can grab their first (or their next) drink. Cup QR codes direct users to a location finder, and we integrated with Fat Tuesday’s third-party gift voucher platform to enable users to quickly and easily check their balance online.

A user journey that keeps the party going

Research showed that visiting Fat Tuesday was usually a group activity, and almost always part of a wider experience - be that partying, sightseeing, or hitting the beach. With a selfie-worthy selection of drinks and a ready-made audience of social media users, we added a live social feed that synced with in-store screens across all locations to show the good times never stop rolling.

A space for sharing the good times

After the go-live of the new Fat Tuesday site, we set to work on overhauling the sister brand - New Orleans Original Daiquiri. The premise and concept were the same (frozen cocktails to-go, a dated online presence), but with all outlets in the state of Louisiana, and an older more local audience to appeal to, we gave the brand a small-town, neighbourly feel. Think laid-back Southern vibes, a retro typeface and photography, and a feel-good colour palette and design that says “stop by and kick back with a cold one”.

A local, Louisiana-based little sister

Fat Tuesday

Viatu’s current identity didn’t truly reflect who the brand was, what it did, and – more importantly – where it was headed. We ran workshops with the entire Viatu team, covering everything from audience personas to user flows. We took a deep dive into values, vision, purpose and personality. And all of this together helped us develop a stronger, more defined brand identity that would be communicated internally and externally. 

Understanding people, positioning and purpose 

With new trip locations on the horizon, the new brand needed to easily grow with the business. We built a palette inspired by Africa’s wild, untouched landscapes, using colour psychology to make sure our choices aligned with Viatu’s modern and confident character, but still gave a nod to its sustainable roots. We explored traditional hand-drawn tribal patterns and texture, delved deep into photography and iconography styles, and chose typography that reflected Viatu’s bold and playful nature. Then, we rigorously tested everything for legibility and clarity. The result? A brand that translates across all languages and currencies – and can be adapted in line with new product features and Viatu’s future outside of Africa.

Giving the new visual identity room to grow

Storytelling is vital to the Viatu brand. Behind the hundreds of experiences, accommodation listings and blog articles was an entire team of writers. But with this collaboration came inconsistencies. As well as defining a stronger verbal identity through a series of brand personality workshops, we developed a TOV guide featuring sample content, detailed dos and don’ts, and rewrites of existing examples from across multiple touchpoints to help the Viatu team roll out the new voice effectively. 

Finding Viatu's voice - and futureproofing it

While we took care of branding and web design on the front end, Viatu’s product development team would always be responsible for the trip booking system. To ensure consistency across the entire user journey, we built a comprehensive design style guide that featured everything from brand placement rules to UX styling. We even outlined photography aspect ratios, so all imagery translated perfectly across desktop, mobile and social media. 

Creativity meets consistency

Armed with Viatu’s new identity, we designed and developed a site that’s user first – and future first. Working in conjunction with Viatu’s development team, we simplified and streamlined the trip booking process, allowing the user to clearly map out details of their trip, personalise accommodation options. Plus, we paved the way for an entire pipeline of new functionality, including the introduction of car hire, activities, and more.

A site that's no longer product first, but user first

Viatu

With heaps of product-related info, plus an entire area of the site dedicated to sex ed, we already had plenty of content to work with. But after a series of persona and TOV workshops, we defined a new visual identity – one that better represents the brand’s empowering, pleasure-first narrative and celebrates the joy of sex. 

Changing the narrative around sex talk

We collaborated with Smile Makers’ SEO agency throughout the project, from initial conversations around wireframes to ensuring all metadata was migrated to the new site. We also wove high-ranking search terms into the website copy and made sure the new site structure changed as little as possible. 

Ticking all the SEO-shaped boxes

We pushed the boundaries of standard e-commerce page layouts to create a premium site that’s playful, functional and puts accessibility first. We also found different ways to educate users about pleasure-first sex, from fun facts and vibrator comparison charts to more in depth how-to tips. 

Taking the stigma out of sex toy shopping

We overhauled the matchmaker quiz, creating a multi-step user flow that encourages users to talk about their pleasure preferences in order to find their perfect vibe. We added an Omnisend integration that allows users to receive a copy of results by email. Plus, with a custom Google Analytics/GTM setup that captures data at every step of the user flow, Smile Makers can gain a better understanding of their audience, perspectives on pleasure, and the most popular sex toys chosen. 

Translating a Typeform quiz into a bespoke digital experience

We added subtle, playful animations that align with Smile Makers’ joyful brand image. Think confetti cannon explosions, bouncing product imagery, and gentle, floating movements on scroll. Plus, we couldn’t resist having a little fun with some flying vibes on the 404.

Creating a site that moves and shakes

Ahead of go-live, we migrated Smile Makers’ entire library of blogs and sex ed content across to the new Shopify site. We used a custom script to ensure the content aligned with the brand-new design and Shopify article structure. Plus, we transferred all customer and order information and Yotpo reviews ahead of launch. 

Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify

Smile Makers

It was essential that the site resonated with everyday EV owners, tech buffs and the crypto crowd. But it was also important that DIMO get new partners and developers on board, too. As part of our discovery process, we outlined how DIMO should communicate with these audiences — both visually and verbally. The result was an immersive web experience that paired seamless user journeys with subtle movement and animation to create a sense of belonging, all while driving users to download the DIMO app and get connected. 

A project that puts the user at the centre

DIMO is a future-focused project, so we needed to encourage buy-in by showcasing the brand’s vision and the bigger picture. Futuristic, Web 3 projects have a tendency to feel fake and abstract, or heavily feature video game-like imagery. Instead, we used real-world photography to reflect the real-life concept and incorporated 3D visuals of vehicles to make the site more engaging and interactive. And all of this was then balanced with a set of poster illustrations (courtesy of renowned visual designer, Trajan Jia) that blended modern themes with classic car culture to give a nod to DIMO’s vision. 

Balancing real world and digital world, and present and future

DIMO had recently rebranded. But we took the opportunity to evolve and elevate things further. We introduced new assets including gradients, rounded corners, lighter typography, and signature glass phone imagery. This not only built more value in the brand, but created an authentic, high-tech look and feel that would go beyond the bespoke site — from the native driver's app and marketing materials, to DIMO’s very own design system that enabled creators and developers to build new apps on the ecosystem. 

Building a design system across an entire ecosystem

The S8-DIMO team spanned from the UK, Cyprus and Portugal to New York and California, collaborating on initial mood boards and wireframes, right through to the final animations ahead of go-live. And by staying in constant contact through workshops, weekly (and eventually daily) stand-ups, and continuous updates via Figma and Discord, we designed and developed the DIMO site — from scratch — in a matter of months.

Collaborating across time zones, from Cyprus to California

DIMO

Our main goal was to modernise the brand by introducing a new look and feel that’s playful and youthful, but still gives a nod to its core values. We paired a new palette of contrasting colours with distinctive design elements such as badge stamps and image inktraps. Then, we went big and bold with typography.

220 years young: a traditional brand with a bold new energy

British style is all about independence and eclecticism. And when your history is as inspiring as Peregrine’s, it's only right that you write with flair. We outlined a new brand voice that brings together the wit of great British humour, the authenticity of storytelling, and the straight-talking tone of a brand that’s big on sustainability. In other words, charming, honest and rugged. Definitely no wooliness. 

A voice that speaks volumes

Our discovery work revealed that almost 3 in 4 users were returning visitors. And since these users are more likely to make a purchase, it only made sense to incorporate more upsell features in both the cart and the wishlist. Shoppers now see recommended products based on what they’ve purchased in the past. Or, they’re presented with suggestions of products that (based on data from past visitors) are frequently purchased together. 

Personal(ised) shopping, from the wishlist to the checkout

Peregrine’s a British-made brand, but its products are sold all over the world. Using Shopify Markets, we built a bespoke location switcher that groups countries into regions and enables shoppers to see specific pricing based on their location. Plus, the Peregrine team can customise pages depending on the season or campaign. 

We also went the extra mile to create more seamless user journeys. Users can browse clothing by size (and only see items that are in stock), as well as product type and material. The responsive image galleries are tailored to their chosen product colour. And, we also added quick buy functionality to the collections pages and blog, so users can easily add featured products to their basket. 

Making it better to browse and easier than ever to buy

Peregrine

The visual branding was all about refinement. Acupanel’s current logo typography was uncomfortably wide, so we worked on spacing to create a more readable wordmark and clean, modern logo. We paired that with a new colour palette featuring darker shades of green as background colours alongside lighter, complementary shades. The result? A more premium look and feel that lets the product shots do the talking. 

A twist (or two) on a classic typeface

Acupanel is an industry-first, so emphasising the brand’s originality was a must. We went back to basics, running workshops with the team to outline tone, rhythm and personality. We landed on a new brand voice that’s adventurous, inspiring, and real. 

We then turned our attention to copywriting. We used pairs of headings to add a signature characteristic to the content  - plus, give a nod to the fact that Acupanel’s products are all about style and substance. We told stories about the brand’s heritage to inspire readers. And, above all things, we ensured Acupanel’s voice was warm, genuine, and reflected the fact that installing its products was reassuringly simple. Because to 'do it yourself' should mean just that. 

Showing you’re a pioneer — not just saying you are

Behind Acupanel is a team of expert craftsmen with a love of design. Its out-of-the-box panelling is an industry first,  so it only made sense that we shake up the average e-commerce store structure with something out-of-the-ordinary. 

We designed and developed an immersive, interactive website featuring layers of texture, continuous movement and animation, and striking photography. We incorporated audio clips, annotated imagery, and real-life inspiration galleries to elevate the entire user experience. Shoppers can select colours, apply finishes and calculate how many panels they’ll need with the coverage calculator. And traders can sign up for exclusive discounts through Acupanel’s partner program. Everything that shopping with a premium brand should be. 

A design that’s out of the ordinary 

Acupanel

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People creating websites, developing brands and building eCommerce stores for people.

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From AI idea generators to the ever-faithful English dictionary––there are plenty of online copywriting tools that can help with content creation. But here are the most useful ones that take pride of place in our bookmarks. Down the rabbit hole you go…

The obvious choice. A go-to for those times when you need another word for something––or simply just need to check that random word that popped into your head means what you thought it did. They’re also great if you’re British but writing for a US audience, and vice versa. Plus, if you’re doing a play on specific words or phrases, it always helps to see your example in a sentence.

 If you want to see everything in one place, try 

. You can browse definitions, synonyms, mentions and more––all in one place. But brace yourself for a tonne of search results––some helpful, some not so much. If you’re the type that tends to head off on tangents (guilty) or just don’t like sifting through too much info at once, then stick to one tool at a time.

 is one I use all the time for coming up with new ideas. It’s super useful for things like campaign headlines, product names, or just good old-fashioned wordplay. Throw in any word and it will present you with a list of common phrases. We’re talking everything from 70s song titles to cockney rhyming slang.

You’ll get a list of phrases containing your word as well as phrases related to your word. Sometimes you’ll instantly strike gold, other times not. But you’ll almost always, at the very least, give yourself a few new directions to explore.

. Enter a word and you’ll receive a list of results that rhyme, all categorised by number of syllables (handy, huh?). You can also search for similar-sounding words, words with similar spellings, and more. Probably not one you’ll use on the daily––not unless you’re creating assets like this for 

: I used Rhyme Zone recently while creating pun-heavy product content for a bathroom brand. Cue the endless opportunities for toilet humour…

Derriere self-care (can we get a hell yeah?)

All-natural toilet sprays, reporting for doody

These flushable wipes are a U-bend’s best friend

If you’re in search of inspiration around product copy, go straight to the source. The biggest fans are usually the most willing reviewers, so check out the product pages of the brand you’re writing for (as well as their competitors) and see how users put their experiences into words. You’ll learn first-hand what the biggest benefits are, how the product makes them feel, and how it fits into their world.

 If you’re writing for a brand with a big personality, then bonus points to be had here. Loyal fans will go the extra mile to connect with brands they love––and the reviews section is the perfect place to prove they’re part of the club. Check out this review of a product called Clutch from the punk and playful sex toy site, 

––the all-American bidet brand that goes hard on humour:

 was recently recommended to me by naming pro, Caitlin Barrett. If you want to know the kinds of words people associate with a certain subject––let’s say you were creating copy about a new line of woollen jumpers for a sustainable clothing brand, then poetry about sheep, farming and the wilderness is the perfect place for inspiration. Poems are emotive, they lean heavily on imagery, and they can help us think outside the box when it comes to generating ideas. So it makes sense, right?

Poetry can also be great if you’re writing about topics you know little to nothing about (which, as copywriters, we all know can happen a lot). You can research something over and over on the web, but finding out how something makes a person feel? Hit up the Poetry Foundation, people.

One of the newer (and actually helpful) AI tools on the block is 

. Enter any word and it will present you with loads of suggestions across different categories, from ready-built acronyms to descriptions from various points of view. This one’s a go-to if you’ve really drawn a blank or can’t get the same train of thought out of your head. But brace yourself, things could get weird pretty quickly.

Crank up the temperature control by the search box to see how crazy things can really get.

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Pre-pandemic, there weren’t many businesses that were fully remote. Fast forward to today, and it’s safe to say a lot of us wouldn’t accept a role that wasn’t (at least) hybrid.

We’ve been WFH from the very beginning. It’s part of who we are. It makes us more diverse and more flexible – and it’s definitely the reason behind some of our best work. But the remote life isn’t for everyone. In fact, WFH is something we have to work pretty hard at. Here’s how we’ve become better at working remotely.

Work-home, same-same – unless you spend most of your time at co-working spaces (which, by the way, we have a whole lot of love for). When your home doubles up as your workplace, you need to find a way to separate the two. We’re strict, we set boundaries, and we lean into the things that actually make us productive – like dedicated desk space and a cupboard full of those coffee beans we like. But we switch off when we have to. Because when you work from home, the last thing you want to do is take work home with you. So delete that Slack app from your phone and shut that laptop lid until tomorrow. You’ll thank us later.

Switching off at the end of the day is one thing, but making sure you show up that day is another. Yes, the freedom of working at home is amazing. But we don’t let that flexibility get in the way of our working day. Like all agencies, logging our hours helps us keep track of the time we’ve spent on-task. And if we know there are things that will lead us into temptation, then we shut them out until the working day’s done. It’s a great way to double the feel-good factor.

If someone needs something urgent from you, they can’t just walk over to your desk or collar you on the way to the kitchen. There’s a level of trust that comes with WFH, and that has to be respected. If you’re out for a few hours, then fine. Need to take a long lunch? Go for it – and mute your notifications while you’re at it. As a general rule, we always set our Slack statuses to say when we’ll be back. That way, our teammates know when to expect a response – and we get to actually enjoy our lunchtimes. But the number one thing we never do is just log off and leave teammates in the lurch. Seriously, not cool.

We become more conscious communicators and collaborators

The WFH life can be a lonely one – especially for smaller teams. For those who are familiar with the world of freelance, it’s a dream. But if you don’t have a lot in the diary, you could go hours without seeing someone. That’s why we make a conscious effort to check in, only cancel facetime when we have to, and basically – just chat. What we’re having for dinner, the shows we’ve been binging, places we’re planning on going – it all gets a mention on S8 Slack.

When you work in an office, there’s usually a buzz about the place. Home life, well it can get a little samey sometimes – especially during the winter months when it feels like you start and finish work in the dark. That’s why we make an effort to try new hobbies, mix up those afternoon walks, and even get creative in the kitchen come lunchtime. The kind of things that force us to physically step away from the desk and take a break. Who cares if that lunch hour is a little longer than an hour? WFH enables you to do these things, so just embrace it.

How we make WFH work for us

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Here at S8, if we’re creating, then we’re collaborating. We’re big fans of workshops – especially when it comes to the discovery phase. Here are just a few reasons why we think they work so well.

We can do all the research we like, but nothing comes close to hearing about your product or services directly from you. You know your brand, you know your audience, and you know what you want from the project – and talking it through in person means nothing gets lost in translation. It also gives us the chance to collect qualitative data vs. just quantitative – something that makes all the difference during UX/UI discovery.

You get to know the people behind the project

It goes both ways. You get to know us, and we get to know you. Your likes and dislikes, the way you communicate, and what the project means to you personally. The kind of information you get from real conversations, not written briefs. And the kind of rapport you can’t build via Slack or email alone.

Planning and prioritising become a lot simpler

The very nature of discovery means you put the work in at the start to get the best results at the end. Workshops just take that planning phase to the next level. They give you a platform to talk about challenges and chat through priorities – and they help us highlight any areas where we need that little bit more clarity. Doing all of this early doors means no last-minute curveballs and fewer hold-ups later down the line.

The best creative ideas come from collaboration

Workshops are great for idea generation, but this is especially true for busy, siloed teams. It means a dedicated time slot in everyone’s diary when they can down tools and just bounce ideas off one another. No idea is a bad one – and by creating a super-relaxed setting where you can come up with concepts and refine them in real time, there’s a good chance you’ll strike gold.

Workshops give everyone the chance to have their say. You can map out scenarios, explore various ideas and concepts, and get different opinions from multiple stakeholders there and then. When it comes to design, everything is subjective. But workshopping a solution that works for everyone means we can all move forward way more effectively.

And we don’t mean the first-day-of-a-new-job-icebreaker kind of fun. We’re talking super-interactive FigJam formats complete with stamps, hold music, countdown timers, and avatars. Because it’s not just about trusting the process, it’s about having fun with it. And we’re all about mixing up work and play (in a good way).

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