Architecting a multi-branch tourism and e-commerce ecosystem under extreme temporal constraints for Switzerland’s iconic heritage brand.
Trauffer
From project takeover to final handoff, delivering a complete redesign under tight constraints.
Transformed a stalled project into a 42-page high-fidelity system within the 25-hour window.
Unified the Shop, Hotel, Restaurant, Events, and HQ under one system.
THE CHALLENGE
Project Rescue
I stepped into this project as a ‘rescue’ lead. With a previous design phase stalled and a strict 25-hour remaining budget, the mission was to overhaul the digital presence for one of Switzerland’s most beloved heritage brands. Trauffer isn’t just toys; it’s a multifaceted ecosystem including the Bretterhotel, world-class restaurants, and an event-driven ‘Erlebniswelt.’ My goal was to unify these under one cohesive digital language while meeting the exacting standards of a high-end Swiss clientele.
The primary UX challenge was navigation. I redesigned the Information Architecture to create a 'Master Hub' that seamlessly funnels users into five distinct business branches. This required a balance between e-commerce (toys) and high-end hospitality booking (hotel/restaurants).
"With 25 hours on the clock, I prioritized Information Architecture as the single source of truth. By solving the navigation for five distinct business units (Hotel, Shop, Events, Food, HQ) first, the UI became a logical extension of the map rather than a decorative exercise."
The challenge was maintaining Trauffer’s 'Heritage' (Wooden Toys) while elevating their 'Hospitality' (Bretterhotel) to a premium level. I designed a system that seamlessly shifts from high-key, airy layouts to high-contrast, moody dark modes depending on the user's journey.
Landing Page
Dining Interface
Experience Interface
With 25 hours on the clock, efficiency was the primary constraint. I built a lean, component-driven UI Kit in parallel with the designs. This allowed for rapid iteration across all 42 pages while ensuring the final handoff was dev-ready for Astro and WebGL implementation.
Delivered on-spec in 25 hours by leading the client directly and solving the IA for five business units before touching the UI.
A dev-ready, 42-page high-fidelity prototype unifying Shop, Hotel, Restaurants, Events and HQ under a single Information Architecture.
Cut the 'agency lag': direct stakeholder meetings replaced layered handoffs, so feedback loops closed in the same session instead of across sprints.
On rescue engagements, IA is the real deliverable. Solve navigation and role clarity first, and the UI becomes a logical consequence rather than a decision surface.
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