Website Design Case Study: Bringing Stories to Life

Lion & Bear is a children’s book subscription service dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in young minds. Their carefully curated book deliveries offer a delightful way for families to explore new stories together. To better support their growing community and expand their reach, Lion & Bear needed a website that would reflect their brand’s warmth and creativity, while providing an intuitive and seamless experience for parents.

We partnered with Lion & Bear to build a custom Shopify website designed to elevate their online presence, streamline subscription management, and increase visibility—all while staying true to their child-centred, story-driven brand.

Project Objectives and Approach

1. Establishing a Warm, Engaging Design To create a visually inviting experience, we focused on using a soft colour palette and playful yet sophisticated imagery that aligns with the brand’s friendly, family-oriented theme. A key feature of the homepage is the impactful hero section, which immediately communicates the brand’s focus on children’s literature. By using an image of a child engrossed in a book and pairing it with bold headlines and a clear CTA, we ensured visitors felt a connection with the brand right away.

2. Simplifying the Subscription Experience One of the main goals was to make the subscription process clear and straightforward for parents. To achieve this, we designed a "How It Works" section with a clean, step-by-step layout, featuring both visual and text elements. This guided parents through the subscription process in a concise yet engaging way, with a clear CTA to encourage sign-ups.

3. Highlighting Subscription Options Understanding that parents need clarity when choosing the right subscription for their child, we designed dedicated sections for each subscription plan. Each option includes a description, a vibrant image, and a CTA, making it easy for parents to compare and select the best choice for their family. Linking these options to detailed product pages ensured a smooth journey from selection to subscription.

4. Expanding Reach with Gift Options To cater to a broader audience, we included a gift subscription option on the homepage, making it easy for customers to purchase a Lion & Bear subscription as a thoughtful gift for others. This added feature helps the brand reach new customers and expands the appeal of their service.

5. Building Trust through Social Proof To establish credibility and foster a sense of community, we integrated social proof by showcasing images from the brand’s Instagram feed. This helped visitors feel more connected to Lion & Bear’s community, seeing real families enjoying their book subscriptions.

With a website that balances engaging visuals, intuitive navigation, and clear communication, Lion & Bear now has a digital presence that truly reflects their brand’s mission. The user-friendly design and enhanced subscription management capabilities make it easier than ever for parents to discover the joy of reading for their children. We’re proud to have helped Lion & Bear create a digital space that will continue to inspire young readers and support their growth in the subscription market.