NordlysSmedje — Handmade Outdoor Knives

Overview

NordlysSmedje is a handcrafted outdoor knife forge with a clear focus on materials, process, and function. The site combines brand storytelling with a shop-style product experience, workshop offerings, and practical care instructions — all within a lean, performant front-end.

Handcrafted knives. Built to last. A boutique forge experience translated into a modern, conversion-focused web presence.

Challenge

A small, craft-driven forge needed a web presence that communicates the quality and intention behind every blade — without over-engineering the platform. The challenge was to build a shop-style experience that feels premium and trustworthy, while staying lightweight, fast, and easy to maintain.

Goals

• Present handcrafted products with strong photography and clear hierarchy
• Build trust through material details, process transparency, and care guidance
• Provide visibility for workshop offerings with a clear call-to-action
• Deliver a fast, mobile-ready experience with minimal technical overhead

Solution

The site was built as a lean, static front-end using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — no framework dependency, no unnecessary complexity. The design centres on craft-first product presentation with generous photography space, clear scanning patterns, and a structure that supports purchase decisions.

Key deliverables included:

• Shop-style product catalogue with product detail pages for each knife
• Workshops section with structured offerings and clear information architecture
• Care & sharpening guide — useful, trust-building content that supports the brand
• Responsive navigation and interaction polish across all breakpoints
• Performance-focused static delivery with fast load times and minimal overhead

NordlysSmedje is positioned as a boutique storefront experience — with product presentation and a conversion-focused structure. The experience is intentionally lightweight and inquiry-driven.

Outcome

A sharp, premium web presence that communicates craft and credibility — designed to support discovery, product understanding, and inquiries/bookings.

Learnings

Building a shop-style experience without a full e-commerce framework required careful information architecture to maintain the feel of a product-driven site. The project reinforced that strong photography, clear hierarchy, and trust-building content can be just as effective as a full checkout system — especially for craft businesses where the product story matters as much as the transaction.