Design on Draft explores the dynamic relationship between design and American beer, revealing how each has shaped the other through creativity, commerce, and community. Beer has always been more than just a beverage—it is a cultural artifact, expressed through the design of breweries, taverns, packaging, and the spaces where people gather to drink together.

From Chicago’s 19th-century immigrant taverns and Schlitz’s tied house architecture to mid-century branding and today’s explosion of craft beer design, this display traces how visual language and material form have continually redefined what American beer looks like—and how it feels to share it.

This online experience expands on the in-person art show with bonus features and behind-the-scenes stories. Explore how labels evolve from sketch to shelf, how glassware and games shape the act of drinking, and how design continues to reflect the values, ambitions, and identities of American brewers and drinkers alike.

Design on Draft is designed by the Design Museum of Chicago and co-presented with the Beer Culture Center. The online digital exhibition is curated and authored by the Beer Culture Center and reflects the content originally developed by the Beer Culture Center for the in-person exhibition.

EXPLORE THE BEER CULTURE CENTER’S DESIGN ON DRAFT THEMES