Pabst Blue Ribbon | Merchandise Development

Alan Ashcraft

Art Director
Graphic Designer
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Pabst Blue Ribbon

Elevating Pabst Blue Ribbon's Brand Presence Through Creative Merchandise Design

This project focused on designing a modern, cohesive line of merchandise for Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), seamlessly blending its heritage with a bold, contemporary aesthetic. The merch lineup includes shirts, long sleeves, shorts, and accessories tailored to resonate with both loyal fans and new audiences.

Key Challenges Addressed:

Brand Identity Balance – Ensuring the designs honored PBR’s vintage roots while appealing to younger, trend-focused audiences.
Cohesion Across Multiple Items – Maintaining a consistent visual theme across diverse products (apparel and accessories) without redundancy.
Market Differentiation – Positioning PBR merch as unique and desirable within a saturated beer-brand apparel market.

Innovative Solutions:

Typography-Driven Aesthetic: Leveraged bold, custom typography and repeating patterns to elevate branding, seen in shorts and accessories.
Balanced Color Palette: A smart combination of PBR’s signature red, blue, and white creates immediate brand recognition while maintaining modern appeal.
Iconic & Playful Graphics: Designed engaging illustrations, like vintage can imagery and stylized pop-tab motifs, to blend nostalgia with a fresh edge.
High-Impact Placement: Emphasized logo elements and graphics strategically (e.g., sleeves, trims, and oversized back prints) for strong visual interest.

Results Achieved:

Strong Visual Impact: A merch line that feels fresh, trendy, and unmistakably “PBR.”
Versatility & Appeal: Designs that cater to casual wearers, brand loyalists, and fans of streetwear aesthetics.
Client-Ready Presentation: Clean mockups that showcase real-world usability, emphasizing attention to detail and professional execution.

Skills Utilized:

Graphic Design & Illustration
Typography & Branding
Merchandise Mockup Creation
Market Research for Trend Alignment

Project Value:

This cohesive and visually captivating PBR merch line effectively bridges brand history and modern trends, showcasing the power of thoughtful design to increase brand engagement, visibility, and audience loyalty. Perfect for beer enthusiasts and fashion-conscious consumers alike.
Ready to take your brand merch to the next level? Let’s collaborate to create impactful, trend-setting designs that your audience will love.
Longsleeve apparel design using the brand colors, typography and slogan.
Longsleeve apparel design using the brand colors, typography and slogan.
T-shirt apparel designs featuring original illustrations and typography.
T-shirt apparel designs featuring original illustrations and typography.
Shorts with contrast drawstring featuring the PBR badge and custom-designed PBR wordmark pattern.
Shorts with contrast drawstring featuring the PBR badge and custom-designed PBR wordmark pattern.
Select Summer accessories designed for PBR including a drawstring bag, frisbee and koozie.
Select Summer accessories designed for PBR including a drawstring bag, frisbee and koozie.
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