by guest contributor Dimitrios Machairidis
Photo credit: Starbucks
What’s more representative of spring, other than flowers, swallows and music? “The Greek countryside, the passerines that take shelter during spring and summer that fill the place with peppy and lively sounds, played a major role in my design. In a sense [the] Starbucks logo influenced my inspiration. I tried to create something that was close to the logo’s cartoon-like look without exaggerating the shapes and colors.” Haritos Mountoufaris, the Greek barista and winner of the Starbucks paper cup design contest, told Hollywood on the Potomac.
Haritos Mountoufaris
In September 2015, Starbucks launched the Partner Cup Design Contest for its employees in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More than 350 employees submitted their artwork for the three Starbucks cup sizes: tall, grande and venti. Haritos Mountoufaris from Greece was the winner for the tall Starbuck cup (12 fl oz) design, Olya Ravcheeva from Russia for the grande cup (16 fl oz), and Sandra Margveliani from the United Kingdom for the venti cup (20 fl oz). By coincidence, all of the three winners joined Starbucks in 2014. Olya works as shift supervisor in Moscow. Sandra and Haritos work as baristas in London and Athens respectively.
Olya Ravcheeva
What does a coffee cup mean for a barista and designer at the same time? “Serving a Starbucks cup with a design of my own on it is something that I was really excited about. I have a sense of pride when a customer leaves the store holding my cup, as if I am going wherever they are. A Starbucks cup is not just a tool; it is a means for getting closer to the customers, as it creates an everlasting bond between them and the baristas. The cup holds the love and affection that the barista has for coffee, and through it, that love is being passed on to the customer where it can grow. ‘A cup at a time’ as they say’,” remarked Haritos Mountoufaris.
Haritos Mountoufaris and Sandra Margveliani
Since he was a child, the Greek barista has continued developing his artistic skills. “I like both, designing and painting. But I have a slight inclination to conceptual designing. I prefer creating brand new characters and things instead of painting something that we can see. The process triggers my imagination and pushes me to evolve further. Being one of the winners of the Starbucks contest brought immense joy to me. At first, my friends were more excited about my achievement but their positive energy and cheering managed to take over. At the moment, I am trying to get a scholarship at an Art school, which would give a major boost to my skills. I am in the process of creating a Web Comic, as well as working on my own original role playing game, RPG, as a concept designer,” said Mountoufaris.
Sandra Margveliani
The paper coffee cups designed by the three employees – Haritos, Olya and Sandra – are being featured at Starbucks in Europe. Meanwhile, while you are waiting for the Web Comic of Haritos Mountoufaris and enjoying your Starbucks coffee in Europe, don’t throw away the empty tall cup designed by the Greek barista. Someday it might be a collectible!
