Reviving a Legend: D’Angelico Guitars
**About the Client**
D’Angelico Guitars is located in New York City and has a rich history dating back to 1932, when master luthier John D’Angelico opened his instrument shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Known for their strictly handmade guitars produced in limited quantities, the instruments soon gained popularity among prominent musicians.
**The Opportunity**
Reviving a legendary brand is a rare opportunity, and our team was excited to be part of this journey.
**What We Did**
To honor D’Angelico’s legacy, we centered our digital design efforts on the stunning guitars and their deep-rooted tradition. Our focus was on the intricate details of the beautifully crafted instruments, creating a website dedicated to digital storytelling. As users navigated the site, they were transported to old New York to explore the lives of John D’Angelico and his top apprentice, James D'Aquisto—considered “the two greatest guitar makers of the 20th century.” Visitors could interact with the site to admire the craftsmanship of each guitar and discover popular artists who played them.
**How it Went**
The outcome of D'Angelico’s website exceeded all expectations. It earned accolades such as Awwwards Site of the Day and FWA Site of the Day, along with being recognized as a Webby Best Visual Design Honoree and receiving a Forbes E-Volution Award for Design Aesthetics. The website was also highlighted in numerous design books, articles, and international publications. Beyond the recognition in the design world, the new site revitalized our client's brand, making them a hot topic among top music artists globally.
**Our Role**
We handled Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Typography, User Experience, Photo Editing, Front and Back-end Development, User Interface Design, Project Management, and Hand Drawing.