In the ever-evolving landscape of digital storytelling, moments of reflection become vessels for inspiration. When Prospress invited our own Kandace Brigleb to tell Needmore’s story, it became less an interview and more a look back across a decade of design exploration.
The conversation, titled “Selling Happiness,” got into how Needmore began: Kandace and Ray turning late-night creative energy into a design studio whose work would stick around, unlike the ephemeral nature of Kandace’s teaching work that "would disappear" after each class.
The interview unveiled the serendipitous beginning with Stumptown Coffee Roasters as Needmore’s first client, setting the stage for what would become our signature immersion in specialty food and beverage digital experiences. This origin story highlights how the aromatic notes of coffee culture became intertwined with our design DNA, eventually permeating our approach to crafting digital experiences that engage all senses.
What resonates most from the conversation is Kandace’s anthropological approach to design—a methodology that doesn’t merely observe but participates deeply in the client’s world. This "Participant Observation" technique involves truly embracing each client’s products and ethos—drinking the coffee, understanding the terroir, feeling the texture of experiences being created.
The Prospress interview illuminated how our studio has evolved beyond mere digital aesthetics to become storytellers who translate sensory experiences into visual symphonies. As Kandace expressed in the interview, websites are "that perfect marriage of art and information"—a philosophy that continues to guide our creative process at Needmore.
This conversation was later featured in the delightful "Small Woorld" publication, which highlighted our work for brands like Salt & Straw and Picky Bars, further cementing the connection between Needmore’s design approach and the wider community of digital creators.
As we continue crafting digital experiences that capture the essence of our clients' unique voices, we remain grateful for opportunities like the Prospress interview that allow us to step back and observe the rich tapestry of connections we’ve woven through thoughtful design over the years.
Want to dive deeper into the full conversation? Visit the original interview with Kandace at Prospress and discover more about our approach to crafting sensory digital experiences.