Wonderbeasts Wonderbeasts

Starbucks     16th Apr 2012

Starbucks

18 months ago I set my sights on working for Starbucks.

I bestowed on them the title: **Dream Client**

I wrote their name in big inky capitals on a sheet of A3 paper and pinned it to my studio wall.

 

Then began my biggest commission mission to date.

It all started with a hand penned cup.

 

 

Then more and more and more.

I drew on these cups each week and posted them to Starbucks.

Both London and Seattle.

Inky analogue Spam.

 

Starbucks Cups

Starbucks Cups

 

Then out the blue, a phonecall from their UK Managing Director!

A week later, we shook hands over early morning Americanos

where naturally I presented him with yet more inky cups.

You can never have too many.

 

A week later an email from Danielle Monti, Global Creative Director of Starbucks, appeared in my inbox.

*Queue much excitement!*

 

Conversations bubbled with both Seattle and London...

I remained steadfastly optimistic.

My Starbucks Cup is always half full.

 

Months passed.

I persisted with the cups.

I Vimeoed.

 

Then, half way through screen printing a batch of Wonderland prints, my mobile buzzed in my apron pocket.

Squeegee in one hand, mobile in the other (gold ink splattered on my face)

"Hello? Johanna speaking."

"Hello, this is Starbucks."

I paraphrase for drama, but you get the idea.

It was an epic moment.

 

:)

 

A ticket to London was hastily booked.

Trains, planes and automobiles.

The brief: to create a wallpaper for the redesign of the Vigo Street store, the first of 70 in London to be given a top to toe make-over.

 

I sketched, I inked, I scanned and I tweaked.

The motif is inspired by the beautiful architectural features of the Vigo Street location.

 

Starbucks Wallpaper Johanna Basford

Wallpaper

My signature style with the story of the store woven through it.

Hidden within the flourishes and echoes of the wood cut ceiling, are tiny coffee cups, elusive birds and the odd Frappuccino...

It's elegant, yet quirky - peer closely to find the hidden details.

Click here for more images.

 

Finally, after many months of secret work, the wonderful new Vigo Street store was unveiled.

I high fived a stranger.

I phoned my mum.

I spammed Twitter with dozens of wobbly Instagram shots.

Forget editing or social media etiquette, I was excited and caffinated. 

 

Vigo Street Starbucks

Vigo Street Starbucks

 

I added ‘Starbucks' to my client list.

 

And that's how empty paper cups landed me my dream client.

 

Want to see the Inky Starbucks for yourself? Go take a peek.

Posted in - Starbucks

Comments

  • this is super cool how you had described and set it up your goals. You know how talented you are and how well you can handle your business. I am very very proud of you for this achievement and this huge step in your career. You are a super star and I have no doubt that very soon I will be buy my own cup with your signature on it. Way to go girl!
    XX Ana
    ana rocha     16th Apr 2012
  • Beautiful work Johanna. Really glad the hard work paid off!
    Tom Redfern     16th Apr 2012
  • Very inspiring Johanna.. what a great story.. Congratulations !
    Eleanor Barron     16th Apr 2012
  • really inspiring Johanna! Thanks for sharing your amazing story! x
    Justine     17th Apr 2012
  • Congratulations - what an inspiring story ! Thanks so much for sharing it. Your work is amazing - really love it !
    patternjots     17th Apr 2012
  • Congratulations! Looking forward for more great works from you in the future. :D

    P/S : You have become one of my art jedi masters virtually! :)
    Reena Khaidzir     18th Apr 2012
  • What a wonderful story, and a testament to persistence, determination and of course excellence! Your work is stunning, very well done. What an inspiring story :0
    Sue x
    Susan Ritchie     18th Apr 2012
  • I have tears in my eyes after reading this. Tenacity won the day but they would have been mad not to use your wonderful talents, well done!

    Samantha Currie     19th Apr 2012
  • Fantastic Achievement...shows how hard work and a belief in your own work is what you need to get your dream! A real inspiration
    Lyndsey x
    Lyndsey Smith     19th Apr 2012
  • Now that is brilliant! You cannot underestimate determination drive and passion - congrats on all the hard work & persistance paying off.

    ...happy ever after!
    Luisa Franco     20th Apr 2012
  • Thank you for all your wonderful tweets, comments and emails, Im the happiest illustrator in all the land :)

    Johanna     21st Apr 2012
  • Johannah, talent aside, this has to be the most inspirational and heartwarming story I have read in a long time! I am going to go back and reread with hot chocolate and marshmallows, sorry, by Options!. I just love to see such success stories outwith the rat race as it were. You really do deserve every success you have achieved and will achieve. Congratulations xx
    Kirsty (South)     20th Apr 2012
  • Congratulations Miss Basford you are truly amazing x
    Laura Mackay     20th Apr 2012
  • I go to that Starbucks all the time! Awesome to hear the story behind the art. :) Now I have to go share this with someone I work with on Cork Street.

    Tina Mammoser     4th May 2012
  • So inspiring! Joanna, you are awesome...loving this.

    cathi mingus     5th May 2012
  • This is super inspiring! Congrats to you and your dream and persistence! Thanks for sharing your story with us!
    Jennifer     7th May 2012
  • Well done Joanna, well deserved and beautiful project.

    Cool stuff
    Annette Taylor-Anderson     21st May 2012
  • If you order your drink and said you want to drink in the store, they will give you the mug for hot coffee and glass cup for the iced drink. Sometimes they igonre cause they are very busy and nobody want to wash these cups and mugs. So they provide you paper cups. There is also another reason which somebody bring their own cups and keep them in the store, when they come, we will use their own cups to make coffee for them.
    MzStreet     4th Jun 2012

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