Role:
Website Redesign / Art Direction / Photography / Framer Build
Website Redesign / Art Direction / Photography / Framer Build
Challenge:
Mahjong Bar had a strong physical atmosphere, but its existing site could not fully carry the feeling or flexibility of the brand.
Mahjong Bar had a strong physical atmosphere, but its existing site could not fully carry the feeling or flexibility of the brand.
Strategic Read:
The website needed to feel like discovery, not just information. It had to translate the hidden-bar experience into a digital one.
The website needed to feel like discovery, not just information. It had to translate the hidden-bar experience into a digital one.
Creative Response:
Moved the site to Framer, created original photography, shaped the visual direction, and built an owner-editable web system.
Moved the site to Framer, created original photography, shaped the visual direction, and built an owner-editable web system.
Impact:
Created a more ownable digital presence that preserved the bar’s personality while making updates easier for the client.
Created a more ownable digital presence that preserved the bar’s personality while making updates easier for the client.
Mahjong Bar is a Toronto bar with a strong atmosphere and personality, but their existing Squarespace site limited how well that vibe came through online. They wanted a more expressive, custom-feeling website without losing the ability to update content themselves. The challenge was to elevate the visual experience and brand story while keeping the backend simple and usable.
Redesigned Mahjong Bar’s website by moving it from Squarespace to Framer, taking full control of layout, photography, and visual direction while keeping the site easy for the team to update themselves. Used generative AI to create bespoke artwork that supports the bar’s atmosphere and menu storytelling.
I led the project end to end: platform decision, UX and visual design, photography, and art direction using generative AI. My goal was to create a site that felt as considered as the bar’s interior and drinks, not just a generic template.
Platform migration: Moved the site from Squarespace to Framer to unlock more custom layouts and interactions, while keeping editing simple so the team could continue updating menus, events, and content themselves.
Web design: Designed the site from scratch in Framer, focusing on bold typography, considered white space, and layout choices that match the bar’s mood and late-night energy.
Photography: Shot all photography in-house to control lighting, framing, and atmosphere, ensuring every image supported the layout and the story rather than just filling space.
AI-assisted artwork: Used generative AI to create old painting–style artwork, then integrated those pieces into the menu and landing page as subtle visual anchors, giving the brand a distinct, slightly surreal visual language without a large illustration budget.
