Cups of Hope started with a simple question: what would it look like to place a small moment of hope into someone’s everyday routine - without asking anything big of them?

I designed Cups of Hope as a packaging concept for university students - using coffee cups (something already in their hands) as a gentle way to offer encouragement during stressful weeks. The aim was to create something simple, tangible, and accessible: a design that could travel with students into libraries, lecture halls, and study spaces, meeting them right where they already are.

The final outcome is a minimal black-and-white cup sleeve designed to be coloured in - turning the sleeve into a tiny pause, a low-pressure mindfulness moment, and a way to slow down. I kept it intentionally low-cost and easy to reproduce, exploring real-world constraints like print limitations, materials, and the practicality of an interlocking sleeve.

Alongside the interactive sleeve, I explored how packaging can carry meaning in subtle, non-intrusive ways. The identity is built around the theme of hope - something that resonates across beliefs and backgrounds - with a calm visual language designed to feel welcoming rather than preachy. The cup itself includes short messages and a thermogenic reveal that appears when the drink is hot, adding a small moment of surprise intended to feel personal and encouraging.

This project helped clarify something important in my practice: I’m most motivated when design is values-led, socially engaged, and built to support real people in everyday life.