A Mug You Can Drive Through: Reimagining Starbucks
Some ideas brew quietly in the background for years—and this one has been simmering for a long time. The Starbucks Drivethru Mug Concept started out as a playful low-poly 3D render inspired by a long-running creative spark between me and my siblings: what if there was a Starbucks Drivethru?
The mug-shaped drive-thru was my own idea. Inspired by novelty architecture where form follows function—think giant donuts, teapots, and hotdog stands—I wanted to design a Starbucks branch that felt whimsical yet instantly recognizable. Instead of a typical boxy café, the entire drive-thru itself would be a giant coffee mug: handle, lid, and all.
Interestingly, while I conceptualized this project back in 2011, the first Starbucks drive-thru in the Philippines only officially opened four years later, in 2015, located in Cebu. It’s fun to think that my little imaginative project quietly predated that real-world milestone in local coffee culture.
Starbucks Drivethru Mug Concept
June 16, 2011
This project explores that concept through a series of 3D renders:
- A low-poly model showing multiple views of the Starbucks Mug Drivethru
- A custom texture map capturing the mug’s signage, façade, and signature green canopy
Additional Starbucks 3D Renders in this Collection
Starbucks 2010 Planner
October 7, 2011
An iconic yearly tradition captured in 3D—the Starbucks 2010 Planner was recreated to highlight its classic silhouette, deep red cover, and personalized window cutout featuring travel photos and memories. The subtle addition of a key-shaped bookmark cord ties the whole story together.
Starbucks Philippines Tamaraw Custom Insert
June 14, 2011
This design features a custom tamaraw insert, inspired by the Philippine Starbucks tumblers released around 2011. The tamaraw—an endangered buffalo species native to the Philippines—was the main highlight, blending local pride with global branding. The tumbler was modeled in a low-poly style purely as a personal exercise in simplified 3D modeling, not intended for game use, and served as a way to explore how regional elements could be integrated into everyday design.
Starbucks Signature Hot Chocolate Cup
September 1, 2010
For the Signature Hot Chocolate Cup, I modeled the iconic Starbucks to-go cup—complete with branding, drink customization boxes, and even a personal twist. On the back, instead of a standard order label, a personal poem under “The Way I See It” brings a storytelling layer to the design, turning an ordinary cup into something memorable.
Reflections
Looking back, these renders were more than exercises in modeling and texture mapping. They were personal experiments in blending brand storytelling with playful design. Whether it’s a giant coffee mug you can drive through or a cup that carries a personal dream, these concepts were a way for me to explore how brands—and the objects we associate with them—can be reimagined through creativity and nostalgia.
Disclaimer: This is a conceptual portfolio piece and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Starbucks Corporation. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
