From a beloved bookstore to an experiential sanctuary inspired by Thoreau's vision of tranquility.
The goal was to reimagine Waldenbooks as Walden, a brand that embraces experiential design inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, creating a haven for readers, creatives, and wellness seekers alike.
Origins (1933) – Founded as Walden Book Company in Stamford, Connecticut, initially operating as a mail-order division for rental books.
Retail Expansion (1960s–1980s) – Became one of the largest mall-based bookstore chains in the U.S., known for making books more accessible to everyday shoppers.
Decline & Closure (2000s) – Struggled to compete with big-box and online retailers, eventually acquired by Borders, and closed in 2011 when Borders went out of business.
The Vision
Transform Walden into an experience both a physical & digital one, that brings back simplicity, retreat, and connection through books, wellness and coworking.
Core Values: Simplicity, Nature, Balance, Community.
Brand Identity
The Walden Experience
Lobby, Book Reading Nooks, Wellness Workshops, Book Box Subscriptions
The Digital Experience (Co-working spaces)
Browse coworking space offerings (seating types, amenities).
Subscription-based model for access.
Locate nearest Walden location.
UX Focus: Accessibility, clarity, minimal distraction, brand consistency, seamless flow from browsing → subscribing.
The Digital Experience (Mobile app)
Browse & purchase books online.
Join book clubs, schedule meetups.
Personalized onboarding experience to match interests.
Working on Walden helped me understand
Experience Design: Learned how to design a cohesive journey across physical and digital touchpoints, ensuring users feel curiosity, discovery, and retreat.
Interaction Design: Simplified complex flows like coworking subscriptions and privacy settings into intuitive, distraction-free interactions.
Design Strategy: Understood how branding, physical spaces, and digital platforms can align as a unified ecosystem around a core value "Back to Simplicity."