Circular behavior design with Cup Station™
Cup Station™ is a physical, user-driven product system designed to support the transition from single-use to reusable cups in nightlife and event environments. While reusable cups reduce waste, venues faced a new challenge of guests not returning them, leading to inefficient collection and operational strain. I followed the project from early concept to developing, and testing through multiple iterations. This led to a modular, intuitive solution that integrates naturally into event environments and encourages participation in circular behavior without friction.
Reading time: 6-7 min.
Behaviour
Circularity
Service design
Will they notice?
More tests?
Less friction?
How do we make reuse feel easier than throwing a cup away
In order to use washable reusable cup systems it depends on consistent participation from guests, but in nightclub environments that is difficult to achieve. Events are dynamic and often messy as people are moving between spaces, socializing in groups, and navigating crowded, low-light environments where attention is limited.
In this context, guests rarely seek out instructions or consciously engage with systems that require additional effort. Returning a cup becomes a secondary task, easily forgotten or deprioritized. Instead, cups are left behind on tables, near the bar, or in transitional spaces, creating clutter and increasing the workload for staff.
Studying real venue behaviour and treating the physical return system and user experience as one connected service
Instead of designing a solution in isolation, we would need to work closely with venues, staff, and guests to understand how washable reusable cups were actually used before, during, and after an event.
Understanding the ecosystem
We teamed up with a local venue to be able to observe the variations of events they had and how the journey of the washable reusable cup went throughout the evening; how it was handed out, where guests carried it, where they paused, where they naturally left it behind, and how staff moved back and forth to collect them.
We also discovered that the cup suppliers played an important role in the cup journey, as they delivered the cups aswell as picking them up again after the event. It turned out that most venues had no interest in washing the cups themselves as it would only add to their workload, they had no space, or it would disrupt their budgets.
The focus was not only on the object itself, but on the flow around it.
We looked at the relationship between bar areas, dance floors, tables, entrances, exits, staff routes, and the moments where guests were most likely to let go of their cups.
Based on these insights, the design approach focused on three key principles. Returning a cup should feel intuitive, requiring little to no conscious decision-making. The solution needed to be visible enough to be noticed in a crowded environment, yet discreet enough to fit within the atmosphere of the venue. And most importantly, it had to utilize the existing movement patterns of the guests.
But in the perspective of the cup suppliers, they wanted to pick up their cups in certain boxes, in which they were stacked neatly inside. Otherwise, all the cups wouldn’t fit inside the boxes it came in.
Design camp, putting our heads together
The project moved into a design camp at the local venue in Aarhus. Relevant stakeholders from the nightclub were invited to explore how the washable reusable cups could be collected in a way that felt natural in the environment.
Several ideas were explored, but the most promising direction became a cassette-based collection solution. This concept made it possible to stack cups efficiently, keep the format compact, and create a system that could be placed close to guest flow without taking up too much space.
Developing the Concept
The cassette solution was refined into a modular system. The design needed to support both guest behavior and staff handling, so the focus was on making it easy to understand, easy to empty, and flexible enough to work in different venue layouts.
The concept developed with attention to signage, capacity, mounting options, drip handling, and the possibility of combining multiple units depending on the size and type of event. Early development also explored wall rails, mobile solutions, and additional modules that could support different operational needs.
Prototyping and Field Testing
Prototypes in foamboard were tested in real venues to understand how guests and staff interacted with the solution outside of a controlled setting. This included nightlife environments where lighting, crowd density, sound, and social behavior all affected whether the product was noticed and used.
The tests showed that guests could understand the basic function of Cup Station™, but that visibility and placement were critical. If the station was hidden behind crowds, placed outside natural movement patterns, or not supported by subtle communication, usage dropped. If it was placed where guests already paused or moved through, it became part of the flow.
Refining Visibility and Communication
As the project evolved, visibility became one of the most important design parameters. In darker venues, the solution needed to be noticeable without disturbing the atmosphere. This led to experiments with communication surfaces and optional lighting, helping Cup Station™ stand out discreetly in low-light environments.
Testing also showed that verbal reminders from staff or event hosts could significantly support the desired behavior. The product worked best when physical placement, visual communication, and operational routines supported each other.
From mockups to products
As the concept matured, the focus shifted from prototypes to a manufacturable product. This involved close collaboration with suppliers to understand materials, durability, and production constraints, while also balancing cost and quality.
Designs were translated into drawings and specifications, making it easier for suppliers to move into production.
With physical products in hand, the product went out to be tested again ensuring it could withstand frequent use in busy event environments, and generally if it could perform.
Expanding Into Product Variants
As Cup Station™ was tested across more contexts, it became clear that one format would not fit every venue. Different environments had different needs: some required a discreet wall-mounted solution, others needed a flexible stand, and larger events benefited from a mobile version that could be moved according to guest flow.
This led to a product family including Cup Station™ Wall, Stand, and Move. Each variant kept the same basic interaction principle, while adapting to different spatial and operational contexts.
A flexible return system built around real behaviour, venue constraints and circularity.
The result is a flexible product system that helps venues collect reusable cups more efficiently while actively involving guests in the circular flow. Cup Station™ itself is not just a single product, but a system made up of different variants and supporting elements that can be adapted depending on the venue and occasion, whether that is a nightclub, a conference, or a large-scale event.
The solution enables intuitive guest participation by making it easy to understand where and how to return cups, while also reducing clutter across event spaces. At the same time, it supports staff by simplifying collection and emptying, and allows for flexible placement based on layout, crowd flow, and operational needs. Across tests, the project showed that guests are willing to participate when the solution is easy to understand, visible at the right moment, and integrated into their natural movement through the space.
