MIAD Alum Kyle Nesbitt Blends Storytelling, Design and Brewing

For MIAD alumnus Kyle Nesbitt ’09 (Industrial Design), creativity has never been limited to a single discipline. Through Nezbittar, a project nearly a decade in the making, he combines design, illustration, branding, photography and craft beer into a singular creative venture.

A lifelong maker, Nesbitt credits MIAD’s Foundations (now First-Year Experience) year with helping him develop the tools and perspective to work across creative fields. While he ultimately chose Industrial Design, he continued exploring photography, woodworking, video and communication design throughout his time as a student.

“I find boundaries between mediums and genres to be unhelpful and uninteresting,” Nesbitt said. “All of my experiences in visual arts, design and storytelling came together in the Nezbittar project.”

Since moving to Paris in 2014, Nesbitt has spent years developing the Nezbittar brand while creating more than 75 original beer recipes. Inspired by Milwaukee’s rich brewing heritage and France’s deeply rooted food and wine culture, he became interested in introducing a broader appreciation for craft beer through both flavor and visual storytelling.

“Beer is more than just a drink option on a menu,” he said. “It’s a culture, a history, a craft, a gastronomic experience. It’s a marriage of art and science.”

That philosophy influences every aspect of Nezbittar. Rather than developing a recipe first and building a brand around it later, Nesbitt begins with a story. Personal experiences, family history, travel and research help shape each beer’s identity long before the brewing process begins.

“The story, name and aesthetic are not afterthoughts,” he said. “They’re the beer’s raison d’être.”

Looking back on his path from MIAD student to creative entrepreneur, Nesbitt encourages current students to remain curious and continue pursuing personal projects alongside their professional work.

“Never stop making things,” he said. “A hobby is often the catalyst for a career change because it allows you to explore interests at your own pace.”

He also advises students to resist limiting themselves to a single specialty.

“The more that you explore fields outside of your own, the more you expand your opportunities,” he said.

By blending design, storytelling and craft brewing, Nesbitt has built a creative practice that reflects the multidisciplinary mindset he first cultivated at MIAD, demonstrating how diverse interests can come together to form something entirely unique.

Learn more about MIAD’s Product Design Major. Apply to MIAD. Plan your visit.

For MIAD alumnus Kyle Nesbitt ’09 (Industrial Design), creativity has never been limited to a single discipline. Through Nezbittar, a project nearly a decade in the making, he combines design, illustration, branding, photography and craft beer into a singular creative venture.

A lifelong maker, Nesbitt credits MIAD’s Foundations (now First-Year Experience) year with helping him develop the tools and perspective to work across creative fields. While he ultimately chose Industrial Design, he continued exploring photography, woodworking, video and communication design throughout his time as a student.

“I find boundaries between mediums and genres to be unhelpful and uninteresting,” Nesbitt said. “All of my experiences in visual arts, design and storytelling came together in the Nezbittar project.”

Since moving to Paris in 2014, Nesbitt has spent years developing the Nezbittar brand while creating more than 75 original beer recipes. Inspired by Milwaukee’s rich brewing heritage and France’s deeply rooted food and wine culture, he became interested in introducing a broader appreciation for craft beer through both flavor and visual storytelling.

“Beer is more than just a drink option on a menu,” he said. “It’s a culture, a history, a craft, a gastronomic experience. It’s a marriage of art and science.”

That philosophy influences every aspect of Nezbittar. Rather than developing a recipe first and building a brand around it later, Nesbitt begins with a story. Personal experiences, family history, travel and research help shape each beer’s identity long before the brewing process begins.

“The story, name and aesthetic are not afterthoughts,” he said. “They’re the beer’s raison d’être.”

Looking back on his path from MIAD student to creative entrepreneur, Nesbitt encourages current students to remain curious and continue pursuing personal projects alongside their professional work.

“Never stop making things,” he said. “A hobby is often the catalyst for a career change because it allows you to explore interests at your own pace.”

He also advises students to resist limiting themselves to a single specialty.

“The more that you explore fields outside of your own, the more you expand your opportunities,” he said.

By blending design, storytelling and craft brewing, Nesbitt has built a creative practice that reflects the multidisciplinary mindset he first cultivated at MIAD, demonstrating how diverse interests can come together to form something entirely unique.

Learn more about MIAD’s Product Design Major. Apply to MIAD. Plan your visit.