Junior Interior Designer
Design a concept for a new Starbucks café that expresses “Third Place” warmth, local character, and sustainability.
Section A: The Brief
Careers can start with one email, here's yours.
Welcome to the Junior Interior Designer experience!
I’m Alan from Astranda, and I’ll be your mentor for this experience. You are taking on the role of Interior Designer for a new Starbucks café. Your goal is to design a space that feels like a Third Place, which means a warm and welcoming spot between home and school. It should also reflect local culture and use eco-friendly ideas from Starbucks’ Greener Stores program.
You will explore Starbucks’ brand, local culture, and sustainability goals to design a café that feels welcoming and unique. Then you will create visuals like a mood board, floor plan, and presentation to share your final concept.
To give you an idea of what is ahead, attached below is a short video of how the first 3D-printed Starbucks went from early design drawings and schematics all the way to the finished store.
Remember to aim high, stay on track, and present your ideas professionally. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
Video: From design to completed 3D-printed Starbucks store
Section B: The Job
Step into the role.
Junior Interior Designer
Level: Entry-Level
Duration: ~17 Hours
Result: Performance Report
Role Description: Design a café that reflects Starbucks, fits the community, is easy to use, and supports sustainability.
Key Performance Indicators: Measured on the functionality of your layout and the quality of your visual storytelling.
Key Deliverables
By the end of this experience, you will have created:
Here are some key details to keep in mind as you work:
Why is this important: It shapes how customers feel in the store, making the space welcoming, comfortable, and true to the brand
Tech stack: Google Docs/Sheets/Slides (or Canva), Figma, SketchUp Free, Blender, ReRender, Floorplanner, ChatGPT
Common challenges to avoid: Design must go beyond looks because ignoring flow makes the space fail
Expert tip: Create the story first, then plan, then polish the design
Section C: The Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
Step 1.1 - Brand and Local Research
Research Report
Your first task is to put together a short research report that blends brand knowledge with local insight. Start by finding 6–10 examples that show how designers created a “Third Place” café space. You can think about comfortable seating, displays of local art or crafts, and sustainable choices in materials and lighting. Then, take a look at the neighbourhood for the proposed Starbucks and describe what local textures, colours, or crafts could inspire the design. The proposed site of the Starbucks is shown on the map below.
Finally, note down 3–5 sustainability moves that fit Starbucks’ Greener Stores approach, such as using LED lighting, reclaimed wood, water-saving fixtures, or waste-sorting systems.
To start, you can experience the construction of the Chicago Starbucks Reserve Roastery. The video shows how builders, craftsmen, and artists bring the work of the interior designers to life in the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Take notes of colours, materials, lighting and other details so you can apply it in your own designs later.
Source: Starbucks
Your need to create a one-page Brand and Local Research Report. It should highlight:
“Third Place” inspirations (2–3 bullet points with sources)
Local story (2–3 bullet points)
Sustainability ideas (3–5 bullet points, with citations)
Keep your report clear and professional, but don’t be afraid to let your creativity show. This is your chance to demonstrate how research can directly shape design ideas.
Source: Starbucks
Step 1.2 - Client Story and Guest Journey
Client Story
Your next step is to create a 1-page Client Story. This should describe who comes to the café, why they visit, and when they usually spend time there. Be sure to capture the overall tone of the place, including if it should feel lively and energetic, or calm and relaxed. Think about the kinds of people who might visit the proposed Starbucks in Jumeirah. Consider different types of customers, for example, young professionals, families, tourists, or students. Describe a few customer personas by outlining who they are, why they would come to Starbucks, what they might order, and how they would use the space (quick grab-and-go, social hangout, study/work, etc.). This will help you design with their needs in mind. To get you into the mind of a typical customer, here’s an example of a Starbucks customer in the UK.
Source: Starbucks
Guest Journey
Alongside this, sketch a simple guest journey strip that shows the path a customer takes: from entering, queuing, ordering, and receiving their drink, to finding a seat and eventually leaving.
As part of your planning, think about space for solo guests, small groups, larger communal tables, and areas that are accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Don’t forget the operational requirements that make the café run smoothly, such as a shelf for mobile orders, clear pickup visibility, space for turning circles, a cleaning station, and back-of-house areas that connect to the front of house.
Your deliverables are:
Client Story (1 page)
Guest Journey Diagram (1 slide)
This exercise helps you think not only about design, but also about how real people move through and use the space. Aim to balance creativity with practical details, it’s where design meets everyday life.
Phase 2: Design
Step 2.1 - Mood board and Material Palette
Mood Board
Your task is to collect and organize visual inspiration that brings your café concept to life. Start by curating 10–15 images that show materials, textures, lighting, and local craft or art that inspire your design.
Source: Starbucks
Keep Starbucks’ colors, fonts, logos, and other brand details in mind as you design. You can see how stores in the UAE have used them here.
When working on your design, look at Starbucks stores in other parts of the world. Notice how they show local culture, set up their spaces for customers, and use sustainable ideas. Let these examples inspire you, but make sure your café design still feels unique to its location.
Source: Starbucks
Material Palette
Next, build a material palette that covers all the main surfaces: floors, walls, ceilings, casework (like counters and shelving), upholstery, and metals. This palette should give a clear picture of how the space will look and feel as a whole.
Your deliverables are:
Moodboard (1 slide) with your inspiration images
Material Palette (1 slide) showing the chosen finishes and notes
This step is about turning your ideas into something tangible and visual. Enjoy the creative process, but also think practically about how every choice reinforces sustainability and brand identity. To put yourself in the mindset of a Starbucks interior designer, consider this example in Milan where the careful selection of local marble shaped the iconic bar inside the Starbucks store.
Source: Starbucks
Deliverable Due
Step 2.2 - Schematic Plan
Schematic
Your next step is to refine the draft scaled floor plan to match your vision. Below is the version created by another project team member. It should show how the café will actually work as a space. Make sure to add notes for the key areas: entry, queue, order bar, handoff, a shelf for mobile orders, seating zones, back-of-house (BOH), and restrooms. Don’t forget to mark exit routes and clear pathways.
Your deliverables are:
Schematic Plan (1–2 pages) with notes and pathways
This task combines creativity with technical detail. It helps you think like both a designer and a problem-solver, making sure the space is welcoming for guests and efficient for staff.
Deliverable Due
Step 2.3 - Furniture, Fittings and Equipment (FF&E)
FF&E
Your task is to create a Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) schedule that shows the key pieces for your café design. This should include items like tables, chairs, stools, lounge seating, and pendant lights. For each piece, add a reference image and short notes that explain why you chose it (comfort, durability, sustainability, or style). Make sure your design and FF&E selection is accessible to all customers. To guide you, Starbucks has developed the Inclusive Spaces Framework (Link), which you should reference when shaping your selections.
This schedule helps you connect the look and feel of your design to specific items, making your concept more realistic and ready to present. It is important to ensure your space is accessible to all customers.
Source: Starbucks
Deliverable Due
Step 2.4 - Sustainability
Greener Stores Approach
Your job is to build a sustainability checklist that shows how your café concept supports Starbucks’ Greener Stores approach. Organise your checklist into four areas:
Energy: for example, LED lighting, zoned controls, or efficient equipment
Water: low-flow taps, smart metering ideas
Materials: low-VOC paints, responsibly sourced wood, recycled finishes
Waste: sorting stations for staff, customer bins, clear signage
Your deliverable is a 1-page Sustainability Checklist that’s easy to read and shows how your design makes a positive impact.
This exercise helps you connect design decisions to real environmental outcomes, showing that small details can make a big difference.
Source: Starbucks
Deliverable Due
Phase 3: Proposal
Step 3.1 - Design Render
Render
Your next step is to create 2–3 rendered views that bring your café design to life to sell your concept to the client. Show key moments in the customer experience, such as:
The Entry/Queue area with a clear “Third Place” seating moment
The Bar and Handoff experience where drinks are prepared and served
(Optional) A Communal or Work zone that highlights a local art feature
Keep the finishes and details consistent with the Material Palette you already created.
This stage is about translating your plans into visuals that feel real and connected to your overall concept. To get inspired, check out these sample projects on Behance.
Source: Behance
Your deliverable is a minimum of two rendered 2D images that capture these scenes. If you want, you can create more 2D images, 3D interactive renders or a concept video using AI tools. Below is an interactive 3D render for a concept (Link) so you can get a feel for the deliverable.
Source: Planner5d
Deliverable Due
Step 3.2 - Client Deck
Pitch
Your final step is to build a client presentation deck with 6–8 slides that pull your whole project together in a clear and professional way. Include the following:
Title and Concept Tagline – introduce your project in one line
Client/Neighbourhood Story and Third Place rationale – explain who the café serves and why it matters
Mood board and Materials – show the look, feel, and finishes
Schematic Plan – include seating counts and layout
Sustainability Overlay – highlight choices aligned with Greener Stores
Hero Moments (renders) – bring your design to life with visuals
Next Steps – give an outline of what comes next
To get a feel for what a typical Starbucks deck looks like, check out their Global Impact Report 2024 here. Try to mirror their style in your deck.
Source: Starbucks
Your deliverable is a 6–8 slide client deck that tells a complete story from concept to execution. Think of it as your chance to “pitch” the café design in a way that feels both creative and professional.
Deliverable Due
Congratulations on completing the Starbucks Interior Design Experience.
You’ve delivered a professional package that covers research, planning, sustainability, and storytelling. Specifically, you produced:
A Third Place–grounded brand and local research summary.
A functional schematic plan and guest journey that make the café easy to use.
A cohesive mood board/material palette with notes.
A Greener Stores–aligned sustainability checklist.
Hero moment renders that communicate the vibe clearly.
These are the exact details real design teams expect at concept stage. Keep this work in your portfolio and then iterate after feedback to make it even sharper.
Once you submit the work and receive feedback, you can add it to your CV or LinkedIn under Projects as “Astranda × Starbucks Junior Interior Designer”.
Quick reminder, please follow the Submission Guidelines below to finalize your completion.
This is a meaningful step toward a career in interior design. We’re proud of your progress, and you should feel confident knowing you have what it takes to keep moving forward. Keep stacking achievements and experiences that set you apart.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
How to Submit
Submit your work, get feedback, certificates and more.
Submission Guidelines
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Enter your details below:
How to Submit Your Work (via Google Drive link)
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Copy your sharable link
Right-click the folder → Copy link.
Email your submission
Subject:
Submission: [ExperienceName] – [Your Full Name] – [School]Body: Paste the link and write a professional email including these details - Name: [Your Full Name], School: [Full School Name], Experience: [ExperienceName], Drive Link: [paste your view-only folder link]
Final checks before sending
The link opens without “Request access.”
All files load and play (videos, slides, etc.).
File names are clear and professional.
No personal data you don’t want shared.
Receive feedback
We will examine all your submitted materials
We will reply with your Performance Report and Certificate of Completion via email within 7 days
We will also share your next experience to continue your progress towards your dream career
If you want to try a different career path, please email alan@astranda.com.
Tips
Large videos? Upload to the same folder (don’t attach to the email).
Multiple versions? Keep only the final in the root folder; move drafts into a “Drafts” subfolder.
Keep a backup copy for your records.
