BRANDING & WEBSITE DESIGN HAWAII

Christensen Knives: Forging a Brand Identity Where Hawaii Meets Viking Heritage

Project Overview:

Christensen Knives, a Honolulu, Hawaii-based company specializing in one-of-a-kind handcrafted knives and leather goods, sought GRAPHtography's expertise for branding and website design. Owner and artisan, Don Christensen, envisioned a brand identity that bridged the gap between his Hawaiian culture and Viking ancestral background.

Challenges:

Unique Brand Representation: Christensen Knives required a brand that effectively blended Hawaiian and Viking aesthetics to stand out in the competitive custom knife market.
Targeted Customer Outreach: Developing a brand that resonated with a specific audience interested in EDC (Everyday Carry), outdoor adventure, and handcrafted goods.
E-commerce Website Design: A user-friendly and visually appealing website was needed to showcase Christensen Knives' unique products and facilitate online sales.

Solutions:

GRAPHtography implemented a comprehensive branding and website design strategy for Christensen Knives:

Brand Strategy & Market Research: A collaborative strategy session defined the brand's direction, while market research identified target customer preferences and competitor analysis provided valuable insights.
Brand Identity Development: Drawing inspiration from both Hawaiian and Viking influences, a unique brand identity was crafted. This included updated fonts and a refined color palette that reflected a timeless and classic feel.
E-commerce Website Design: A user-friendly website was designed specifically for e-commerce. The website features high-quality product photography fully optimized with SEO-focused content descriptions to improve search engine ranking and user experience.
Unique Brand Awareness: The website design and branding prioritized a distinct, "dated" style, intentionally setting Christensen Knives apart from competitors and creating a memorable brand identity.
Marketing Materials: Printed banners for trade shows, custom screen printed t-shirts and hats, and business cards were designed and printed for brand awareness.

Results:

The cohesive branding and website design developed by GRAPHtography have positioned Christensen Knives for success. The unique brand identity resonates with Don Christensen's vision and attracts his target audience. The e-commerce website allows customers to explore Christensen Knives' offerings conveniently and facilitates online sales. The SEO-focused content descriptions improve the website's visibility in search engine results.

Key Takeaways:

This case study demonstrates the power of strategic branding and website design for handcrafted product businesses. By collaborating with GRAPHtography, Christensen Knives now has a distinctive brand identity and a functional e-commerce website that effectively showcases their products and connects with their target audience.