Riding the Next Wave:
Striking PDP Drums' New Beat
Riding the Next Wave:
Striking PDP Drums' New Beat
PROJECT TOOLKIT:
Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Drupal, HTML, CSS, Javascript
PROJECT TOOLKIT:
Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Drupal, HTML, CSS, Javascript
THE FINAL DROP: A GLIMPSE OF THE SHORELINE
Final Pages
THE FINAL DROP: A GLIMPSE OF THE SHORELINE
Final Pages
The final design is rooted in dynamic visuals and engaging features, ensuring the site feels as modern and energetic as the audience it serves.
The final design is rooted in dynamic visuals and engaging features, ensuring the site feels as modern and energetic as the audience it serves.
The Anchor: Home Page Split Screen
A foundational decision was the dynamic, two-part interface. The left side is a fixed hero banner (the Anchor or Shoreline), providing constant brand presence and key messaging. The right side is the scrollable content (the Current or Tide), drawing the user deeper into product highlights and news. This design establishes a visual rhythm that is both unique and mobile-responsive.
The Anchor: Home Page Split Screen
A foundational decision was the dynamic, two-part interface. The left side is a fixed hero banner (the Anchor or Shoreline), providing constant brand presence and key messaging. The right side is the scrollable content (the Current or Tide), drawing the user deeper into product highlights and news. This design establishes a visual rhythm that is both unique and mobile-responsive.
The Craft: Product Detail
Clean, modern layouts focusing on large, high-quality imagery and concise specifications.
The Craft: Product Detail
Clean, modern layouts focusing on large, high-quality imagery and concise specifications.
The Resonance: Interactive Sound Sampler
A dedicated, immersive interface that transforms sampling drums from a passive experience into an active test drive.
The Resonance: Interactive Sound Sampler
A dedicated, immersive interface that transforms sampling drums from a passive experience into an active test drive.
THE SETUP: TUNING UP A CLASSIC BAND
OVERVIEW
THE SETUP: TUNING UP A CLASSIC BAND
OVERVIEW
Brand: Pacific Drums & Percussions
Role: UX Designer and Web Developer
Collaboration with: VP of Global Marketing, Media Manager, Brand Manager
Brand: Pacific Drums & Percussions
Role: UX Designer and Web Developer
Collaboration with: VP of Global Marketing, Media Manager, Brand Manager
PROJECT GOAL
Redesign the Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) website to align with the premium brand image of its parent company, DW Drums, and create an engaging, modern digital experience for a younger, 'hip' audience.
THE PROBLEM: THE OUTDATED BEAT
The existing PDP website was visually and functionally outdated. It failed to communicate the brand's quality and energetic spirit, creating a disconnect with its target demographic of contemporary drummers who value aesthetics and seamless digital experiences.
THE SOLUTION: VIBE CHECK
We needed to capture the Pacific energy: a mix of high-quality craftsmanship, effortless cool, and the endless rhythm of the ocean. The new site had to feel as crisp and resonant as a perfectly tuned drum kit.
PROJECT GOAL
Redesign the Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) website to align with the premium brand image of its parent company, DW Drums, and create an engaging, modern digital experience for a younger, 'hip' audience.
THE PROBLEM: THE OUTDATED BEAT
The existing PDP website was visually and functionally outdated. It failed to communicate the brand's quality and energetic spirit, creating a disconnect with its target demographic of contemporary drummers who value aesthetics and seamless digital experiences.
THE SOLUTION: VIBE CHECK
We needed to capture the Pacific energy: a mix of high-quality craftsmanship, effortless cool, and the endless rhythm of the ocean. The new site had to feel as crisp and resonant as a perfectly tuned drum kit.
DEEP DIVE: MAPPING THE PACIFIC CURRENT
Information Architecture
DEEP DIVE: MAPPING THE PACIFIC CURRENT
Information Architecture
Challenge: The old site was a maze of redundant categories. We needed a streamlined path that offered immediate access to high-value features.
The Primary Navigation was streamlined to focus on core user journeys. The old, fragmented list was consolidated and reorganized into a more focused structure: This change allowed us to consolidate product categories and crucially, elevate unique content like the the highly engaging Sonic Comparison feature, prioritizing the user's auditory experience right from the start.
Challenge: The old site was a maze of redundant categories. We needed a streamlined path that offered immediate access to high-value features.
The Primary Navigation was streamlined to focus on core user journeys. The old, fragmented list was consolidated and reorganized into a more focused structure: This change allowed us to consolidate product categories and crucially, elevate unique content like the the highly engaging Sonic Comparison feature, prioritizing the user's auditory experience right from the start.
CATCHING THE LIGHT: THE AESTHETIC
User Interface
CATCHING THE LIGHT: THE AESTHETIC
User Interface
The visual identity blends the premium feel of DW with a youthful, energetic flair. The style is modern, highly visual, and spacious, using a clean, light background to spotlight the drums' vibrant, custom wraps and high-gloss lacquers. This is complemented by high-resolution product and lifestyle photography that establishes an aspirational mood. To promote specific hardware or accessories, the design integrates bold, dynamic photos of featured artists actively using the gear, driving both credibility and excitement.
The visual identity blends the premium feel of DW with a youthful, energetic flair. The style is modern, highly visual, and spacious, using a clean, light background to spotlight the drums' vibrant, custom wraps and high-gloss lacquers. This is complemented by high-resolution product and lifestyle photography that establishes an aspirational mood. To promote specific hardware or accessories, the design integrates bold, dynamic photos of featured artists actively using the gear, driving both credibility and excitement.
DEEP SEA AND SHORLINE: THE COLOR PALETTE AND TYPOGRAPHY
Style Guide
DEEP SEA AND SHORLINE: THE COLOR PALETTE AND TYPOGRAPHY
Style Guide
The design prioritizes a white background for product focus, complemented by Deep Sea Blues and Vibrant Reds for energetic accents and banners. Montserrat provides a modern, clean typeface.
The design prioritizes a white background for product focus, complemented by Deep Sea Blues and Vibrant Reds for energetic accents and banners. Montserrat provides a modern, clean typeface.
DRAWING THE TIDE LINE: THE BLUEPRINT
MOCKUPS
DRAWING THE TIDE LINE: THE BLUEPRINT
MOCKUPS
We focused on high-fidelity mockups for the three most critical interactions: the Home Page rhythm, the Product Detail experience, and the Sound Sampler immersion.
We focused on high-fidelity mockups for the three most critical interactions: the Home Page rhythm, the Product Detail experience, and the Sound Sampler immersion.
Home Page Layout
Home Page Layout
For digital communications, particularly the newsletter, we took a simplified version of the art and added a subtle, continuous "throbbing" animation. This was precisely timed to mimic the hypnotic, low-frequency pulse of a bass drum, a visual heartbeat that underscored the event's rhythm and the lifeblood of the foundation.
For digital communications, particularly the newsletter, we took a simplified version of the art and added a subtle, continuous "throbbing" animation. This was precisely timed to mimic the hypnotic, low-frequency pulse of a bass drum, a visual heartbeat that underscored the event's rhythm and the lifeblood of the foundation.
Product Detail Page
Product Detail Page
The Product Detail Page is the core conversion page dedicated to a single product or product line providing all information necessary for a customer to make an informed purchasing decision.
This section utilizes a flexible and modular layout, allowing for a dynamic arrangement of content blocks to tailor the experience to each specific product line. This modular design ensures that all unique product information is surfaced effectively, optimizing the path to purchase across a diverse catalog.
The Product Detail Page is the core conversion page dedicated to a single product or product line providing all information necessary for a customer to make an informed purchasing decision.
This section utilizes a flexible and modular layout, allowing for a dynamic arrangement of content blocks to tailor the experience to each specific product line. This modular design ensures that all unique product information is surfaced effectively, optimizing the path to purchase across a diverse catalog.
The Rhythm Section: Where You Hear the Waves
The Rhythm Section: Where You Hear the Waves
The Sound Sampler is the Heartbeat of the new PDP experience. For this discerning, digitally savvy audience, the interaction needed to feel real: the moment a user taps a drum on screen, the audio file is instantly heard, making the process tactile and immediate.
The way we approached it is:
We assembled all drum sizes available. This was then utilized for the sonic comparison page.
For the individual product pages, we built the specific drums needed for each configuration.
The Sound Sampler is the Heartbeat of the new PDP experience. For this discerning, digitally savvy audience, the interaction needed to feel real: the moment a user taps a drum on screen, the audio file is instantly heard, making the process tactile and immediate.
The way we approached it is:
We assembled all drum sizes available. This was then utilized for the sonic comparison page.
For the individual product pages, we built the specific drums needed for each configuration.
THE VERDICT
Conclusion
THE VERDICT
Conclusion
The new PDP Drums website is more than just a catalog. It's a dynamic, hip digital stage for the next generation of drummers, perfectly encapsulating the energy of the Pacific and the quality of PDP.
The new PDP Drums website is more than just a catalog. It's a dynamic, hip digital stage for the next generation of drummers, perfectly encapsulating the energy of the Pacific and the quality of PDP.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
All work for hire projects belong to their respective companies.