Recognizing
Growth.
STARBUCKS EVERYDAY UPLIFT RECOGNITION E-CARD
Designing Recognition That Celebrates the People Who Help Us Grow.
Background
Everyday Uplift is Starbucks’ digital recognition platform that allows partners to acknowledge one another for meaningful contributions, accomplishments, and everyday moments of appreciation. As part of an initiative to expand the platform’s library of recognition cards, the Global Recognition team sought a new design celebrating mentorship and guidance, recognizing the people who invest in others and help shape their personal and professional journeys.
An additional variation was also requested for partners participating in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP) through Arizona State University.
Problem Statement
Recognition often focuses on accomplishments rather than the people who make those accomplishments possible. The challenge was to create an illustration that celebrated mentorship and guidance while remaining universally relatable to partners across Starbucks.
Process
Through collaborative ideation with my internship cohorts, we began by exploring what mentorship truly represents. One theme consistently emerged: journey. We realized that growth is rarely a solitary experience, but rather it is shaped by the people we meet, the guidance we receive, and the lessons we collect along the way.
I envisioned mentorship as a road trip rather than a destination. A vintage Volkswagen Bus became the central metaphor, symbolizing personal growth, exploration, and shared experiences. Luggage and keepsakes represented the knowledge accumulated throughout one’s journey, while the changing road signs acknowledged that growth often requires adapting to unexpected directions. Every visual element was designed to reinforce the idea that our greatest achievements are made possible by the people who travel alongside us.
As the concept evolved, I developed a second version specifically for Starbucks College Achievement Plan scholars by incorporating an Arizona State University graduation cap into the illustration. While this version resonated strongly with the SCAP community, we ultimately recognized that the broader Everyday Uplift platform would benefit from a more universally applicable design. Removing the graduation cap allowed the card to celebrate mentorship in every context while preserving the original storytelling concept. The SCAP-specific version continued to serve fellowship participants as a digital thank you graphic during their internships.
Throughout the refinement process, I carefully balanced whimsical illustration with Starbucks’ established visual language and brand colors, ensuring the artwork felt warm, approachable, and consistent with the Everyday Uplift experience.
Results
The Journey e-card launched on Starbucks’ Everyday Uplift platform on June 4, 2025, where it became a featured recognition card within the Thank You category. The design was used hundreds of times within its first four days, demonstrating strong partner engagement and immediate adoption. Following its success, I was invited to continue designing additional recognition cards for the Starbucks Global Recognition team, expanding the visual language of the Everyday Uplift platform. The newest e-card I created was inspired by warm summer vibes featuring Starbucks’ Strawberry Açai Refresher, a hummingbird, butterflies, and a field of cake-pop flowers.