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By Rebecca Blaho Savannah College of Art and Design graphic design alumna Kathleen Grebe (B.F.A., 2002) knows the value of hard work. Only two years after her graduation from SCAD, her work has been seen around the world and is recognized by beer connoisseurs everywhere. As part of the team at Ampersand Design Group in Greensboro, N.C., Grebe headed up the creative side of designing the look for Mobius, a new beer infused with ginseng, caffeine, thiamine and taurine that was debuted by Beverage Mobius Ltd. in November 2004. Ampersand, specifically Grebe, was responsible for everything: the Web site, six-pack design, promotional posters, business cards and letterhead, among other items. Robert Spencer, the founder and creator of Mobius, had the idea years ago but knew the market wasn’t ready for it. When the Red Bull and vodka trend became popular, it was the sign he’d been waiting for. “Mobius … was created to give the consumer a beer alternative to all of the sweet-tasting energy drinks already out on the market,” said Andrea Fischer, social relations for Mobius. “The combination of ingredients is aimed at giving beer drinkers the ‘perfect buzz.’” Mobius is available throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Savannah. It is available locally at Sorry Charlie’s, Churchill’s Pub, Elysium, Ibiza, The Jinx, Mellow Mushroom and Brown’s Chevron on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Spencer said he felt the same dedication that went into perfecting the beverage needed to go into the design. Not willing to sacrifice on any front, he interviewed several design groups before choosing Ampersand based on talent, experience and enthusiasm. “Kathleen Grebe turned our project into something special,” Spencer said. “Even though she was limited by a few factors — cost was/is an object as the government has strict rules on alcohol packaging — she knew that distinction was the key to success. I believe SCAD fostered her talent and made her know that creating ordinary design is not an option. If I didn’t believe that we have the best-looking packaging in the marketplace, I’d go back to the drawing board.” As Mobius is a new product unlike traditional beers, the design wasn’t confined to the traditional look of gold foil, intricate designs or fancy type, either. The drink itself inspired the look: clean, energized and modern. Mobius offered Grebe the chance to explore a new direction with her work. Since beginning her career at Ampersand, she has focused on more conservative design projects such as annual reports, brochures and corporate materials. “There was definitely a bit of trepidation starting such an immense project with so little related experience. And in general, I feel an immense amount of pressure when it comes to doing things right. I was just so excited to have an outlet for my creative freedom that I put that aside and took it one step at a time,” Grebe said. She hasn’t let her recent success go to her head. The design process can often be long and offers plenty of opportunities to learn. “I am still in the phase where I think more about how things can be improved, rather than how successful the design is,” she said. Fueled by her success, she is taking a break from the corporate world of design and hopes to pursue her own artistic endeavors. Blaho is mailing list manager. |
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