CHAPTER 1: The Pandemic Pitch
During the height of the pandemic, UltraSuperNew — a boundary-pushing agency based in Tokyo with new offices in Singapore and Taipei — approached us with a bold request:
“We want a homepage. But not just a homepage — something no one’s ever seen before.”
They had no homepage at the time. What they needed was a digital flagship — something radically new, in both design and technology.
CHAPTER 2: Worldbuilding on the Web
We took the challenge literally.
Drawing from our 3D film post-production roots, and powered by WebGL technology, we designed a homepage that wasn’t a page at all — it was a world.
UltraSuperCity was born:
A GPU-rendered 3D universe blending iconic skylines from Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore. Think:
- Marina Bay Sands meets Mount Fuji
- Tokyo Tower merges with Taipei 101
As users “flew” through the city, they encountered case studies embedded as billboards — turning the site into an experiential portfolio.
Behind the scenes, we partnered with Argentinian team to keep the city light and fast:
The homepage became a narrative experience inspired by Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and The Fifth Element.
CHAPTER 3: The Problem of Progress
But innovation came with its own obstacle:
Not everyone on the team — let alone the audience — had cutting-edge devices or lightning-fast internet.
We faced a critical challenge:
How do you deliver a real-time 3D world to people on average hardware and slow networks?
Working with our development partners in Argentina, we:
- Compressed the homepage to just 6MB
- Developed custom cloning and baking techniques to avoid re-rendering assets
- Optimized the experience to scale across devices, from high-end GPUs to mobile phones
It became a masterclass in balancing visual ambition with technical pragmatism.
CHAPTER 4: A Homepage That Changed Everything
UltraSuperCity wasn’t just beautiful — it worked.
Visitors could fly through an immersive city.
They didn’t need an RTX graphics card or fiber internet.
Just curiosity.
The site earned:
- Webby Award Winner
- Awwwards Website of the Day
- A long-term partnership still active today
And internally, what we learned on this project helped shape future platforms like The MFTs.
