Champaca
An independent, women-run bookstore in Bengaluru that celebrates thoughtful curation, diverse voices, and the joy of discovery.
Champaca is more than just a bookstore — it’s a deeply intentional space rooted in community, conversation, and care. Every book on their shelves is handpicked to reflect a world of perspectives across time, place, and lived experience. From caste narratives and nature writing to science fiction and translated works, Champaca brings together stories that challenge, move, and expand the reader’s world.
What makes Champaca unique isn’t just its collection — it’s the spirit that binds it. An independently-owned, women-run bookstore and café, Champaca is home to reading circles, literary events, school libraries, and quiet moments of reflection. It is a space that stands in contrast to algorithm-driven recommendation engines and price-driven platforms — prioritising slow, serendipitous discovery over transactional convenience.
My work with Champaca focused on translating this ethos into a digital experience — one that preserves the care and curation of the store, while helping readers navigate their next book through trust, transparency, and taste.
Context
I partnered with the team to translate their curation philosophy into a digital product that helps readers find their next read through feeling, flow, and format. The result was a simple, conversational Book Finder that lets users self-navigate book recommendations during store visits—without needing to talk to a staff member. Built over a weekend and shipped as an MVP, this live product is still evolving—but it’s already making serendipitous discovery more personal, self-guided, and emotionally resonant.
Notes
This is a work in progress, and we’re continuing to build it based on feedback and conversations with readers. Right now, all book recommendations come directly from the Champaca team — carefully chosen, not random. In the meantime, feel free to explore and see what you might discover. You might just find your next great read.
Here's the link 👉🏻 Book Recommendation App
Champaca
An independent, women-run bookstore in Bengaluru that celebrates thoughtful curation, diverse voices, and the joy of discovery.
Champaca is more than just a bookstore — it’s a deeply intentional space rooted in community, conversation, and care. Every book on their shelves is handpicked to reflect a world of perspectives across time, place, and lived experience. From caste narratives and nature writing to science fiction and translated works, Champaca brings together stories that challenge, move, and expand the reader’s world.
What makes Champaca unique isn’t just its collection — it’s the spirit that binds it. An independently-owned, women-run bookstore and café, Champaca is home to reading circles, literary events, school libraries, and quiet moments of reflection. It is a space that stands in contrast to algorithm-driven recommendation engines and price-driven platforms — prioritising slow, serendipitous discovery over transactional convenience.
My work with Champaca focused on translating this ethos into a digital experience — one that preserves the care and curation of the store, while helping readers navigate their next book through trust, transparency, and taste.
Context
I partnered with the team to translate their curation philosophy into a digital product that helps readers find their next read through feeling, flow, and format. The result was a simple, conversational Book Finder that lets users self-navigate book recommendations during store visits—without needing to talk to a staff member. Built over a weekend and shipped as an MVP, this live product is still evolving—but it’s already making serendipitous discovery more personal, self-guided, and emotionally resonant.
Notes
This is a work in progress, and we’re continuing to build it based on feedback and conversations with readers. Right now, all book recommendations come directly from the Champaca team — carefully chosen, not random. In the meantime, feel free to explore and see what you might discover. You might just find your next great read.
Here's the link 👉🏻 Book Recommendation App
