I was thoroughly disappointed working with Melanie Arnot’s team on the Secret LA Sip & Stroll gig for Starbucks. Right from the start, their lack of timeliness and professionalism set a rocky tone for the project. Critical elements like the co-branded map designs and espresso sleeves were requested last minute, and communication was sporadic at best. Essential materials were either delayed or incomplete, and adjustments to the tour details were thrown at me with no clear direction, leaving me to scramble in real time with ill-defined instructions and unmet promises. Furthermore, their enthusiasm was noticeably absent; instead of offering creative support and collaborating on the execution of the themed micro-tours, I found myself shouldering the entire burden of problem-solving. Their indifference to crucial details and failure to provide thorough briefing materials ultimately compromised the effectiveness of the promotions, leading to disorganized tours and lost opportunities for meaningful engagement. I expected a much more professional partnership for a brand of Starbucks' stature and was left frustrated by the overall experience.

While the campaign concept was intriguing on paper, my experience with Starbucks as a client left much to be desired. Communication was a major issue from the start: key assets like the brand guidelines and high-resolution logo were submitted late, and responses to my inquiries were sporadic and off the mark. This lack of timely information made coordinating with the rotating mural artists unnecessarily stressful. Despite the creative potential of the mural and pastry concept, the overall execution suffered due to a lack of clear direction and enthusiasm. The campaign objective wasn’t consistently reinforced, leading to confusion about the desired creative alignment. Unfortunately, the delays and inconsistencies in professionalism and thoroughness left me with little choice but to rate the engagement 2 stars.