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Web Design Agency Web Design Agency Web Design Agency

Doughy: Redefining Guilt-Free Indulgence

Doughy is a revolutionary plant-based dessert brand founded by pastry chef Kelly Tanaka, who set out to prove that ethical indulgence isn’t an oxymoron. Born from Kelly’s frustration with “healthy” treats that sacrificed flavor, Doughy crafts decadent cookie doughs and baking mixes using 100% plant-based, non-GMO ingredients packaged in fully recyclable materials. In 2021, Doughy partnered with us to transition from farmers’ market stalls to a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model. The challenge: design a digital experience that mirrored the brand’s “luxury meets conscience” ethos, educated consumers about clean ingredients, and converted first-time buyers into loyal advocates through strategic community building.


Clients:

Kelly Tanaka

Services:

Website Design

Date:

08 August 2021

Category:

Web Design, E-commerce, Bakery

Location:

California

Key Design Elements

We anchored the Shopify store in sensory storytelling. A scrolling parallax journey showed Kelly hand-mixing batches in her test kitchen, transitioning to lush shots of melting vegan chocolate. Product pages featured “Indulgence Calculators” comparing Doughy’s carbon footprint to traditional desserts, while recipe carousels showcased creative uses (e.g., “Chocolate Chip Dough Pancakes”).

Functionality focused on ethical convenience:

    1. - Climate-neutral shipping toggle at checkout
    2. - Subscription tiers with reusable jar incentives
    3. - “Bake It Forward” program integration (donates meals per purchase)

A deep burgundy and cream color scheme conveyed luxury, while hand-drawn ingredient icons added approachability. The mobile-first design drove 65% of sales via Instagram recipe reels.

Project Goals

  • Position as Premium Indulgence: Shift perception from “vegan alternative” to “first-choice dessert”
  • Simplify Climate-Conscious Shopping: Make sustainable choices effortless
  • Build Community: Turn customers into ambassadors through shared values
  • Scale Thoughtfully: Prepare infrastructure for nationwide shipping
  • We achieved this through:

  • - A “Why Doughy?” video series explaining regenerative farming partners
  • - AR-powered packaging previews to showcase recyclability
  • - Loyalty program rewarding social media recipe posts
  • Project Results

    Since launch, Doughy has achieved $3.1M in sales with 45% coming from subscriptions. The platform facilitated:

  • 92K meals donated through “Bake It Forward”
  • 38% reduction in shipping emissions via customer-elected slower delivery
  • 1:1 employee-to-donor match program for staff philanthropy

  • Key Metrics:

  • 4.2% Conversion Rate (2.3x industry avg for food DTC)
  • 81% 6-Month Retention for subscribers
  • 220K+ #DoughyCreations TikTok hashtag entries
  • Project