A★ Bucks
Great coffee deserves a greater space.
Tools
● Rhino3ds ● Twinmotion ● Powerpoint ●
Involve
Jan
Aaron
Caitlin
Lee Kaien, Zane
Info
Over 8 weeks, our team was challenged to rethink an existing space in NUS, not simply through aesthetics, but through the lens of experience, operations, and business value. The goal was to identify a real spatial opportunity and redesign it in a way that could improve usability, increase operational efficiency, and create stronger commercial outcomes.
We chose Starbucks not because it lacked customers, but because it was clearly a space full of friction.
What began as a café redesign shifted into "a study in how space influences experience and how thoughtful design can turn congestion into comfort, business value".
The Issue
At first glance, Starbucks felt busy… which should have been a good sign. But sitting in the space told a different story.
The café felt cramped, noisy, and visually chaotic. Because there was little separation between Starbucks and the Student Life Centre, outside conversations constantly spilled into the café, making it difficult to focus, relax, or hold conversations comfortably. Most importantly, the space failed to support the very reason many people came to pause, study, meet, or recharge.
Research finding
Our findings showed a clear business gap 55% felt the space was not conducive, 70% reported excessive noise, and inefficient layout reduced both comfort and customer retention. By reshaping the café around user behavior and operational flow, the redesign created a more efficient spatial model capable of supporting 10% more seating and 20% greater projected revenue within the same footprint.
We realized Starbucks didn’t need more decoration…it needed smarter spatial thinking.
Outcome
By redesigning Starbucks around how people actually work, wait, meet, and stay, we created a café experience that feels more intentional, comfortable, and efficient. This strategic use of space improved customer flow, increased seating performance, and unlocked greater commercial value without increasing footprint.
