2026 INX Can Contest Winner
El Jefe Energy: Sinister Razz
Tattoo-inspired and culturally rooted, this design delivered unmistakable shelf presence and strong visual impact. Recognized by both judges and public voting, it earned the title of 2026 Colored by INX Can Design Contest Champion!
Congratulations to the entire El Jefe Energy team. The crown is yours.
Why it Won
El Jefe Energy: Sinister Razz didn’t rely on a single trick. It executed, top to bottom.
The concept is razor sharp: a Day of the Dead central figure wrapped in intricate tattoo-inspired linework that tells a complete cultural narrative without a single word of explanation. That’s not easy. That’s mastery.
The color work is equally fearless. Turquoise (INX# 1439378) does the heavy lifting as a bold, completely ownable background, and the deep charcoal, vivid red, and warm sand tones layered on top don’t just complement it. They amplify it. The INX Color Catalog was used with full intention and zero hesitation.
Shelf impact? Off the charts. This is the can that stops a hand mid-scroll. Mid-aisle. Mid-conversation. It scored at the top with expert judges and the public vote, a combination that is far harder to pull off than it looks. Can-One USA pulled it off.
2026 Finalists
These finalists were recognized for originality, craftsmanship, and effective use of INX color tools.
Past Winners
Colored by INX Can Design Contest Winners
The Colored by INX Can Design Contest celebrates the bold creativity of the teams who turn cans into show-stopping designs – powered by the INX Color Catalog.
2025
Dunkels & Dragons Dark German-Style Lager submitted by Karbach Brewing Co.
This fantasy-fueled design leaps off the can with bold colors, rich illustration, and immersive storytelling. Brought to life through close collaboration across the Karbach Brewing team, the artwork delivers instant visual impact by blending imaginative characters with a cohesive narrative that pulls viewers straight into the world of Dunkel Kingdom.
2024
Mystic Mama West Coast Style IPA
submitted by Erica Mirth of Jackie O’s Brewery
This design was a true cross-team collaboration at Jackie O’s Brewery, bringing together Design, Marketing, and Sales. The original artwork was created by Bryn Perrott, a renowned West Virginia woodcut artist whose distinctive style adds depth, character, and authenticity to the final can.
2023
Shiner Texhex Bruja’s Brew IPA
submitted by Levi Boss, Ball Corporation’s Graphics Center of Excellence Director.
Led by Nick Weiland, Brand Director at Shiner Beer, the design team brings together talent from Austin’s Bakery Agency: Design Lead, Kaleb Sindac and Associate Creative Director, Kerrie Heckel, alongside independent illustrator and art director Evaristo Angurria of Angurria Design Co.
2022
TropiCoastal® Tropical IPA
Jameson Campbell, Creative Supervisor, the Great Lakes Brewing Co.
The Great Lakes Brewing Company marketing team in Cleveland successfully defended their title after also winning in 2021. Their vibrant TropiCoastal® Tropical IPA can bursts with color, bringing illustrator Sam Hadley’s beach-inspired artwork to life through a dynamic collaboration with his creative team.
2021
Crushworthy
Jameson Campbell, Creative Supervisor, the Great Lakes Brewing Co.
The 2021 winning can, Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat, by Jameson Campbell, bursts with bold personality. Featuring a tattoo-style illustration of a juicy citrus heart framed by vibrant yellow accents, the design delivers a fresh, modern twist on classic citrus—playful, eye-catching, and impossible to miss.
2020
Indio
Crown Brand Packaging, Mexico
Indio’s Barrio de los Muertos, brewed by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma in Mexico, is a vibrant celebration of culture and tradition. Designed by Esveydi Rossano, the festive artwork features bold skulls and skeletons brought to life through bright, saturated colors that honors the deep cultural significance of this celebration for Mexicans.
Finalists and winners are selected through a combined scoring process that includes the judging panel and one public voting seat. Entries are evaluated on:
Originality
Overall aesthetics
Use of INX color systems
Print quality and execution
Project statement and design story
Public vote
Looking Ahead
The next Colored by INX Can Design Contest opens on January 19, 2026. To prepare for the next entry cycle, review the checklist, rules, and tools available to help you create your strongest work.
How To Enter
Each brand can submit one can. Companies representing multiple brands can submit up to 3 entries. Each submission needs to have gone to market before January 1, 2026.
Include a brief story about your design process and color choices. Ship your physical cans (5 sealed and finished samples per entry). Complete your submission before the official deadline.