Overview
Sätila Musteri is a small-scale, community-driven apple cider brewery based in Sweden that rents out professional pressing equipment to its members during the harvest season. We developed a clean, minimalistic web application to help them manage memberships, equipment bookings, and day-to-day operations—offering a modern solution to replace their previous manual processes.
With a strong focus on usability and simplicity, the platform allows both the organisers and members to interact with the system in a frictionless way. The app prioritises clarity over complexity and supports the seasonal nature of the business.
How it works
Members can create an account, renew or manage their membership, and book available machines directly through a self-service dashboard. Organisers have access to a private admin interface where they can:
- View and manage all members
- Track machine availability and current holders
- Oversee incoming bookings in a clear calendar view
The booking interface has an integrated calendar for a smooth, intuitive drag-and-drop experience, allowing users to see real-time availability and make bookings with just a few clicks.
Phase 1: Planning & Discovery
The project began with a workshop involving Sätila Musteri’s organisers to understand their seasonal workflows, operational pain points, and future needs. We outlined key user roles (organiser and member) and designed simple permission rules to keep the system lightweight.
Since the musteri operates primarily during autumn, the design had to emphasize ease-of-use and require no training. Organisers needed to easily keep track of who had access to the machines and when.
Phase 2: Development
Built with Laravel and Tailwind CSS, the web app features a minimalistic UI focused on speed and clarity. We designed the admin dashboard for desktop use and member pages to be fully responsive for mobile access during harvest.
The biggest focus was simplicity. Rather than loading the platform with advanced features, we worked to make every action clear and fast. Booking a machine or renewing a membership takes just a few seconds.
Calendar & Booking Flow
The booking system uses it own integrated calendar system. It displays machine availability in a monthly and weekly view, with colour-coded slots and integrated validation to prevent double-bookings.
Members can select available time slots, and admins can manage all bookings with a clean override interface. Calendar entries link directly to member profiles and machine inventory.
Challenges & Solutions
- Minimal tech stack: The project intentionally avoided third-party integrations. This meant carefully designing the database schema and user flows to support all business needs internally.
- Booking collisions: We added server-side validation and real-time feedback to ensure members could never book overlapping time slots.
- Usability across age groups: Since users range from young farmers to elderly hobbyists, we prioritised large buttons, clear labels, and mobile responsiveness throughout the UI.
Results
Sätila Musteri now has a reliable digital tool that serves both its members and its organisers. The platform has eliminated manual paperwork, reduced double-bookings, and made it easier for members to engage with the brewery.
The system runs with virtually no maintenance and requires no technical knowledge to operate. It’s a simple tool that supports a meaningful local tradition, and its success lies in its elegance and restraint.
This project highlights how small, intentional software can have a big impact when it fits perfectly into the rhythm of a local organisation.
