Bardo to Go-Go

: pandemic-era cocktail kits

Bardo, a mid century cocktail lounge and supper club, remained closed over the course of a year during the pandemic. They were looking to design a product that translated the intimate and bespoke experience they had curated (without the benefit of being in the space), as a way to continue the brand's goodwill.

Role

ux research, product design, prototyping & testing, layout & UI design, photography

Year

2020-21

brief

high-level goals

Create an elevated, flexible solution that stands out in an increasingly oversaturated market.
Maintain a sense of joy, care and curation for their client base.
Generate revenue & move through pre-existing stock.

constraints

Navigate ever-changing supply chain bottlenecks and fluctuating prices within a 25% margin.
Provide a celebratory & experiential product that doesn't require built-in social interaction.

process

user research & initial runs

The palpable lackluster vibes from initial virtual experiences revealed that people REALLY didn't want to be on zoom any more than they already had to be. Conversations with regulars identified that what they missed most was having a curated cocktail made just for them. It felt celebratory and personal. They craved the hospitable, educational exchange. This clarified a void in the pandemic-era existence: hospitality & joy.

They needed a bit of joyful escapism as respite from the monotony of being stuck at home.
Many folks had a few staples at home, but were hesitant to invest in full sizes of obscure ingredients without knowing how to use them. They needed a little know-how to get going.
Lo-fidelity initial runs proved that folks preferred an educational DIY kit over a collection of premade cocktails, and wanted more variety to curate to their tastes.

nimble solutions in a wack-a-mole era

The branded box served as a vessel for numerous adaptations, including meal kits for NYE, Valentine’s day, and charity events. The booklet and photos provided infrastructure to quickly swap out recipes and info for new varieties and custom orders. And a mobile version of the guide created access for folks who couldn't pick up locally.

outcomes

400+ kits

sold in the course of a 6 month period, with $40,000 in added revenue.

Salesforce

purchased 80 customized kits as holiday gifts for special corporate clients and commissioned a virtual bartending tutorial for their team.

3,200 meals

partnered with Meals on Wheels of Alameda County to deliver kits for their virtual gala, raising funds to provide 3,200 meals to food-insecure seniors.