IT’S THAT TIME of year again when Starbucks coffee lovers get their hands on the red holiday cups. But unlike other years, this year’s designs were created by customers, with 13 distinct cups now in Starbucks stores around the world — and two of those customers, Anz and Chloe, are Filipinos. Their designs, ‘Ornaments’ and ‘Birch Forest,’ now grace this year’s Starbucks red cups.

The 13 designs were picked from more than 1,200 individual submissions across 13 countries, all sent in through Instagram.

“We were surprised and inspired by the amount of incredible art submitted by our customers, the designs were beautiful, expressive and engaging,” said Dena Blevins, creative director, Starbucks Global Creative Studio. “We quickly realized that there was potential to use the customer created art for our holiday cups.”

Anz, an interior designer now based in Dubai, made a hobby of doodling on Starbucks cups, amassing more than 75 creations along the way. Her designs prove that sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective.

“Every time I draw on my cups, I always imagine myself as another person using the cup I designed. It’s like talking to them through my drawings. I want the other person to feel that whatever situation he/she is in right now, everything’s gonna be okay,” she said. Her winning design, ‘Ornaments,’ captures the joy of the holiday season through dream catchers.

Chloe, a nurse now based in Chicago, created a wintery design that reminds her of her home in the States. “I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with winter since I moved to Illinois. Even though I’ve experienced a blizzard, getting stuck in snow, and extreme winter temperatures, I have come to appreciate the beauty of trees and fields all covered in white snow,” she said.

Chloe also studied multimedia arts and has always leaned toward graphic design. As an avid Starbucks card collector, she puts her creativity into designing envelopes with washi tape and white pens to surprise fellow collectors she swaps with.

The red holiday cup designs, all inspired by real Starbucks customer stories, feature traditional Christmas lights and ornaments, snowflakes, and winter landscapes that capture the shared spirit of the holidays.

“We loved how the red cups with white designs naturally created a collection. They hang together as one idea but each expression is unique,” said Blevins.