Hi! This is Watson from Lugo. I’d like to share some reflections on our recent journey and the path we've taken.
First, a heartfelt thank you to all the clients who have chosen to become long-term partners with us. While we don’t compete on low prices, we are committed to delivering high-quality design and thoughtful communication services. We’re truly grateful for your trust and the tangible support you've shown for the values we uphold.
We may not have handled as many projects as some of our more seasoned industry peers, but we've had our fair share of interesting ones—and it’s our pleasure to share a few highlights here. Typically, we focus on explaining design concepts once a project wraps up, but this space—Lugo Notes—gives us the chance to go a bit deeper and offer more behind-the-scenes insights.
Taipei After Dark was one of our earlier projects, aiming to capture the city’s nocturnal spirit through visuals and text at various hours of the night. After the website received an award, we were invited the following year by the Taipei City Government’s Department of Ethics to participate in a promotional event at Bopiliao, Wanhua. We were given a venue and curated a two-week exhibition titled Taipei After Dark: Visual Experience Showcase.
At first, we figured a two-week run wouldn’t be too demanding. But with year-end workloads piling up, we found ourselves juggling project work while taking turns staffing the exhibition. From the early planning stages and design output to setting up partitions, drapes, lighting, projections, and equipment—it all came together in a rush, thanks to the team's tireless efforts. Every morning, after the security guard kindly unlocked the exhibition space for us, we’d dive into explaining the curation concept, introducing the works, demonstrating the website, handing out postcards, and warning rowdy kids not to kick the panels, lean on the 101 model, or dribble basketballs (yes, really). Weekends brought plenty of friends and visitors, making those two intense weeks unforgettable. On the final day, we were dismantling and hauling gear, squeezing everything into a taxi and a motorbike—riding double with dangerously stacked cargo—just to get it all back to the studio.
Exhausting as it was, the experience was filled with valuable lessons. But maybe next time, we could have a calm and quiet show at Huashan instead—where all we’d need to do is show up and pose for a few photos? Just kidding… maybe!
Around Lunar New Year in 2017, we moved into the Zhongshan District — finally able to register our business at a physical location. (Previously, just to have a Taipei address, we had to rent a virtual one in a Dunhua North Road business center for NT$2,500 a month. If anyone needs info about that setup, feel free to DM me.)
For the interior work, a friend recommended using 5945 to find a contractor — we really liked the aesthetic, but with a tight budget this time, we had to go with a more affordable option. Maybe next time, when we expand again, we’ll get 5945 to help out!
The flooring and wall work took about three to four days. As for the ceiling, doors, signage, pendant lighting — we rolled up our sleeves and did it ourselves. Yet another round of hard labor? Absolutely. That’s the reality of starting your own business: you wear all the hats, and you do all the work.
“It was such a coincidence!” — that’s what the owner of the MIT tape brand said with a smile as we chatted in the meeting room. He recalled how, back when the 3/11 earthquake struck Japan, they had donated tens of thousands of dollars to relief efforts. Over time, the memory faded — until a few months later, an unexpected order came in from Japan, and the amount matched the original donation almost exactly. Laughing, the owner called it a remarkable coincidence. A kind-hearted business owner who not only gives generously but also conducts business with integrity — perhaps it’s true that good things come to those who do good. It was a beautiful stroke of serendipity.
We were also honored to be commissioned by the National Taiwan University Center for Entrepreneurship while we were still just a small studio. The opportunity was even more meaningful since one of our team members is an NTU alumnus, which made the project especially passionate and personal for us. Seeing our visual identity and surrounding designs featured prominently at a major conference that year was a thrilling experience for a young team just getting started. By the following year, the annual event had grown even larger — and once again, NTU invited us, now operating as the company Luguo, to take part. Thanks to the shared understanding we’d built during the first collaboration, we had an even smoother process the second time around, allowing us to fully unleash our creativity — and enjoy the project even more.
There was also a pleasant surprise: at the event, we ran into friends from other organizations who happened to be visiting the venue. They liked our design work, and we’re now in talks for potential collaboration.
The young owner of a traditional hardware store in Luzhou offers a compelling example of legacy industry transformation. Backed by over two decades of hard work from his family, the business has built a solid foundation with a loyal customer base. But the second-generation owner has bigger ambitions — he envisions growth beyond the local market, eyeing international trade shows, exports, and a global presence for the brand.
With that in mind, we initiated discussions around early-stage branding strategies, exploring the development of a website, logo, signage, and business card design. Understandably, it’s never easy to embrace change all at once, especially when it comes to shifting longstanding ways of doing business. But we believe that with incremental, tangible successes, their mindset will gradually evolve — opening the door to meaningful transformation over time.
Looking ahead, Luguo isn’t limiting itself to custom website design — we’re setting our sights on comprehensive brand strategy and design planning. Companies that come to us are clearly looking to stand out, level up, and — to put it plainly — boost profitability.
Our goal is to translate the unique strengths of your business into a cohesive visual identity. From logo and VIS (Visual Identity System) development to fully customized websites, we’ll help bring your brand to life — and push the boundaries of imagination, together.
