Pabst Blue Ribbon

Contests are unique in that you must become a mind reader and a brand strategist in addition to designer and illustrator. With an open-ended prompt, Pabst Blue Ribbon’s annual Art Can Contest challenged me to generate an illustration that would both please customers and align with PBR’s brand personality.

 

I wanted to use my entry to shine a spotlight on essential workers. They have served as the backbone of society throughout the pandemic, and I felt they have more than earned their ‘blue ribbons’ as well as a spot on the 2021 can. I included a diverse range of workers, from a firefighter to a teacher, and even a grocery store worker. While my design was not chosen as the winner, I really enjoyed giving each character their own dynamic pose and personality as I created the scene.