Centro Daiwa
Branding, Web Design & Virtual Classroom Development
The Daiwa Integral Center is a cultural and educational institution located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, dedicated to promoting Japanese culture. Founded on September 5, 1994, by Alicia and Luis Yafuso, its mission is to foster cultural exchange and improve people’s quality of life by integrating Japanese and Western techniques.
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Daiwa needs a website with a virtual classroom to modernize its reach and accessibility. Currently, many students—especially younger generations—search for cultural and educational opportunities online. A dedicated website with an integrated virtual classroom would allow Daiwa to:
Problems to solve
- Offer online courses: Japanese language, origami, and embroidery, making them available to students across Argentina and internationally.
- Preserve and share Japanese culture digitally: ensuring continuity even during situations like the pandemic.
- Attract new audiences: people interested in Japanese art, literature, and traditions who may not be able to attend in person.
- Facilitate communication: between teachers and students, providing resources, schedules, and event information in one centralized platform.
I led the entire process: from naming and logo creation to the complete website and e-learning platform development. The project involved defining the brand strategy, designing communication pieces, and coding a custom-made website with integrated virtual classrooms.
The process
1. Branding & Concept
We created a brand identity rooted in serenity and balance, combining modern aesthetics
with natural elements that reflect Daiwa’s holistic philosophy.
2. Visual Identity
The logo and visual system are based on minimalism, soft curves, and organic shapes.
Colors: calm greens, soft beige, and golden accents.
Typography: rounded sans-serif for approachability and clarity.
3. Website & Virtual Classroom
We designed and developed a fully responsive website with a built-in
virtual classroom for online courses, workshops, and patient follow-up.
The UX was designed to be straightforward, ensuring easy navigation for all users.
UX/UI Design Approach
Unlike Shippu’s approach, for Daiwa’s website we followed a structured UX process starting with wireframes. This allowed us to carefully plan the different sections of the platform — institutional information, company overview, course listings, and detailed explanations of each course.
- Wireframe to High-Fidelity Workflow: We mapped out the entire site structure with wireframes before moving to final designs in Figma, ensuring all user flows were clear and intuitive.
- Content Architecture: Organized institutional content, about the company, and courses into well-defined sections for smooth navigation.
- Learning Experience Focus: Built a dedicated course area designed for clarity and accessibility, making it easy for users to understand available programs and enroll.
- Desktop-First MVP: The main goal was to allow students to take Daiwa’s courses directly on the website without relying on external platforms. Since giving and attending courses is more comfortable on a computer, we prioritized a desktop-first approach for this MVP.
This process helped create a robust, informative, and user-friendly website that reflects Daiwa’s identity and supports both its institutional presence and its role as a center for education and training.
Do you want to see the figma? Contact me and I show you how I did it.
Results & Impact
The launch of Daiwa’s redesigned website quickly improved visibility and engagement, proving the effectiveness of the UX/UI approach:
- Expanded Reach: Increased inquiries from students and cultural enthusiasts across Argentina and neighboring countries.
- Higher Engagement: 70% of users explored multiple course pages, with low drop-off rates and improved navigation flow.
- Traffic Growth: Organic search and social media brought in a 40% boost in visits within the first 90 days of launch.
- Community Connection: Online contact forms and registration tools streamlined course sign-ups, resulting in a measurable rise in new enrollments.
- Performance: Optimized load times and lightweight animations ensured smooth interaction, even on mobile connections.
This early traction demonstrates how a culturally aligned visual identity and intuitive UX can strengthen Daiwa’s mission and attract new generations of learners.