It’s enormously interesting, enlightening and even fun to look back at the history of something. When it comes to looking at a long-running business, you can trace its progress (and the development of its brand) through its packaging. Colours, fonts, design choices and more add up to a look and feel all its own, one that stands out among the rest of its competition. We like to call that iconic packaging, and we’d like to share one of our favourites with you.

1997

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

The debut of the Starbucks holiday cup. Available in 4 jewel-tone colours with hand-drawn holly and swirls sprinkled with coffee beans. To say they’re a hit is a complete understatement.

1998

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

A rich background of burgundy with swirling white snowflakes gave this year’s cup a sharp, warm look.

1999

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Covered in drawings of snowflakes and winter-related items, this year’s cup marked the first appearance of the candy-apple red that would make Starbucks holiday cups so famous.

2000

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Christened “Coffeetown,” these cups were covered in coffee and tea pots, accompanying the debut of the Gingerbread Latte.

2001

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Decorated to look like a gift itself, this cup was covered in green and red ribbons with a smattering of old-fashioned stamps. Starbucks Cards were also introduced this year.

2002

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

White line drawings of stars, candles and birds wrapped around 2002’s version of the holiday cup.

2003

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Similar in restraint to 1998’s sharp look, this year’s cup featured dancing shadows with white stars and snowflakes.

2004

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

A bright, shining ribbon adorned the Starbucks logo this year, giving the look of a Christmas wreath surrounded by falling snow.

2005

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

As part of their holiday campaign, “It only happens once a year” reminded customers to get their fill of this year’s simple, sharp-looking cup.

2006

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Carolers and holiday lovers gather in silhouettes along the bottom of this year’s cup.

2007

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

This is the holiday cup’s 10th anniversary. This year’s theme, “Pass the Cheer,” depicted a holiday gift being shared among people.

2008

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

A knitted pattern lends a warm, cozy feel to this year’s cup, while reindeer and a white dove play in the snow.

2009

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Joy. Hope. Love. Light. Peace. These were the words of the season, written on ornaments and wrapped around the holiday cup.

2010

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Described as having a modern vibe, this year’s cup depicted holiday revelers catching snowflakes and enjoying the season outdoors.

2011

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Using Starbucks Cup Magic (an augmented reality app), scenes of carolers singing, ice skaters dancing and a boy riding a sled with his dog came to life on this year’s holiday cup.

2012

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

This year’s winking snowman became one of the most popular iterations of the holiday cup.

2013

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Adding gold to its colour palette, 2013’s cup created a rich, exclusive look for Starbucks customers.

2014

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Using the theme “Let there be bright,” this cup used bold colours and brushstroke designs.

2015

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

The most minimal design so far, this holiday cup simply featured the Starbucks logo on a two-toned field. This was also the cup that provoked the ire of some holiday traditionalists who claimed it didn’t celebrate the holidays clearly enough.

2016

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

This year’s holiday cups were created by Starbucks customers. Keeping a consistent look of white designs overtop the red background, there were 13 designs from 6 countries in total.

2017

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

The very first white holiday cup debuts, with splashes of Christmas red and Starbucks green.

Iconic Packaging: Starbucks Holiday Cup

Now that’s iconic packaging.

So, what packaging do you think is worthy of iconic status? Tag us on social media or comment below and let us know!

Image Source: Starbucks