White Cup Contest!

From Doodle to Design: How a Starbucks Cup Changed My Life

In 2014, I was a 20-year-old college student in Pittsburgh, always drawing on paper, notebooks, and especially coffee cups. I had been doodling on cups for years, just for fun, turning them into mini pieces of art. So when I saw that Starbucks was holding their first-ever White Cup Contest, it honestly felt like it was made for me.

On my commute home from class, I grabbed a clean Starbucks cup, headed to Point State Park in Pittsburgh, PA and just let my pen flow. No plan, just instinct. Swirls, patterns, lines, all the little elements I loved to draw. I submitted my design, hoping I could stand out amongst the other entries. 

A few weeks later, I found out I had won out of almost 4,000 entries. My hand-drawn cup was turned into a limited-edition reusable cup sold in Starbucks stores across the U.S. and Canada. I can still remember walking into a store and seeing it on the shelf. Total dream moment! 

That contest was a turning point. It gave me the confidence to take my doodles more seriously. Zenspire Designs grew out of a love for hand-drawn details and positive energy. I opened up an online shop, built a community online, and turned my passion into my career.

It all started with a simple cup and a little courage to share my art. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you never know what can happen when you go for something that truly feels like “you.”