Design on Draft explores the rich intersection of beer and design, revealing how the two have shaped each other across centuries. Beer has always been more than a beverage—it’s a story told through architecture, objects, labels, and shared spaces.

From Chicago’s 19th-century immigrant taverns and Schlitz’s tied houses, to playful drinking vessels and today’s craft beer labels, the exhibition shows how design has influenced the way we drink, gather, and connect. Visitors can trace the evolution of beer branding, see how labels move from sketch to sip, and discover how games, glassware, and even architecture turned drinking into an act of creativity and community.

Co-curated and co-presented by the Beer Culture Center and the Design Museum of Chicago, Design on Draft invites you to look closer at the artistry behind every pour—and the ways design has made beer part of the city’s cultural fabric.

Design on Draft is made possible in part through the support of Molson Coors.