Starbucks Pro Design System

Unifying the Starbucks Equipment Ecosystem

Starbucks cafés have a wide range of behind-the-counter equipment. Each with their own unique functionality and distinct user interface.

Starbucks partners (baristas and operations crew) are responsible for using this equipment to deliver on the promise of quality & craft in café locations around the world. They are a diverse user base with varying levels of experience, physical & mental capabilities, and technical savviness.

With such a variety in UX across the equipment, Starbucks café employees found it challenging to operate efficiently and confidently within the fast-paced café environment. Additionally, Starbucks product development teams were finding it difficult to deliver new equipment efficiently and in a standardized way.

The resulting Starbucks Professional Design System was crafted from a foundation of highly functional interactive components and visually intuitive patterns to help Starbucks and their partners realize a more intuitive, enjoyable, and effective device experience.

1) What opportunity was the project addressing?

Starbucks cafés have a wide range of behind-the-counter equipment. Each with their own discrete user interface and user experience requirements. Making it challenging for café employees to operate the equipment and Starbucks product development teams to deliver new equipment efficiently and in a standardized way.

2) Who were you designing for?

Starbucks café employees who find it challenging to operate the existing equipment efficiently and confidently within a fast-paced, high-demand café environment.

And Starbucks product development teams find it difficult to deliver new, innovative equipment solutions efficiently and with consistency.

3) What was the impact?

Built from a set of common patterns and extensible components, the resulting Starbucks Pro Design System brought a higher level of professional craft, coherency, and efficiency to Starbucks cafés and the product development process.

4) Describe the design process applied to the project.):

The team at Tactile took a systematic approach to the project, which included the following steps: 1) Defining the Opportunity, 2) Constructing the Foundation, 3) Refining the Experience, and 4) Validating & Delivering the Work.