Merchandise Design, Packaging, Branding

Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room

1124 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

The grand opening of the flagship Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room was highly anticipated. The concept was to develop the wondrous factory Willy Wonka would have created for coffee, a factory dedicated to celebrating the complete coffee experience, where small-batch coffees would be roasted and hand scooped on-site, then expertly prepared in a jaw-dropping number of ways by coffee masters in different sections of the space. Each aspect of the experience was meticulously considered down to the tiniest detail, including the merchandise.

My Role

I drove the development of the visual identity for the Starbucks Reserve Roastery &Tasting Room line of merchandise, from concept through execution. Collaboration with the Store Design team was key to ensuring that it complimented the vision for the emerging Starbucks Roastery brand and in-store experience as well as the Starbucks Reserve-branded merchandise.

I then executed designed ‘for-here ware’ items and the original line of exclusive merchandise according to the new guidelines I had created. I presented concepts and sketches of the forms and material reference, and collaborated with multiple vendors to execute my design vision.

Brand Look-and-feel

The merchandise look-and-feel plays with yin and yang. Rich, natural materials combine with warm copper and robust steel in contrasting matte and gloss finishes. Sleek, refined lines and silhouettes are balanced by “wabi-sabi” details and subtle imperfections to embody the handcrafted touch that is so integral to the Starbucks brand experience.

MERCHANDISE DESIGN

• Starbucks Reserve mugs and tumblers.

• Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room for-here mugs and wooden trays. Originally intended to be in-store exclusives, these items are both now available for purchase (due to popular demand). The branded notch in the walnut trays matches the angled details found throughout the retail experience.

• Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room collectible mugs for purchase. I defined the unique silhouettes and look-and-feel for the original collectible mug lineup.

• Starbucks Reserve Roastery hand-scooped whole bean coffee bags with clip.