MIAD Independent Inquiry Program launches with three student grants

Galilea Cerdea ’26, Tina Voith ’26 and Madi Weglarz ’25 are the first three Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students selected to receive Independent Inquiry Program stipends to investigate new technologies and their applicability to art and design education. As first-time applicants, each receives a stipend of $1,200 for a six-week Mini Inquiry this summer.

“MIAD’s Independent Inquiry Program was created with philanthropic funds to accelerate the pace at which rapidly changing technologies are investigated, how we can best teach our students, faculty and staff to learn them and anticipate change, and how new technologies can be adapted into the curriculum of an art and design college,” says Ben Dembrowski ’02, managing director of emerging technology and institutional labs.

Cerdea is a Fashion and Apparel Design major investigating “Virtual Draping in Gravity Sketch.” Voith, who is majoring in Illustration with a minor in Game Design, is investigating “Creating Immersive Media Experiences,” and Weglarz, a Fine Art + New Studio Practice major with a minor in Communication Design, is investigating “Lowering the Learning Curve for 3D Asset Creation.”

“I applied for the grant because I wanted to challenge myself and step outside of my comfort zone,” says Cerdea. “It’s important to explore unfamiliar territory – it helps me grow creatively and become a more well-rounded person.”

“Examining the contrast between virtual draping and hands-on fashion making fascinates me. Fashion has always been my passion, so naturally, it became my career path. If it weren’t for MIAD, I would not have been able to follow my dreams.”

“Being able to create my own assets through 3D modeling makes my designs stand out visually,” says Weglarz. “I am also able to make dynamic animations with type and image to be used for social media. 3D modeling … allows you to have a more dynamic skill set and more likely to be an asset on a design team…. Having the opportunity to provide resources to students who are looking to start their 3D art journey is very exciting to me.”

Voith, who works in MIAD’s Emerging Technology Center, has spent five years exploring the intersection of code and art; is proficient in several coding languages, including Python, Java and JavaScript; and has received an award from the National Center for Women in Technology.

Voith hopes the investigation will “elevate the art viewing experience … [to] inspire new ways of art making for myself and the other artists who follow my inquiry findings.”

The students’ advice for others interested in applying for the Independent Inquiry Program?

Cerdea: “Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself and your future. Apply for grants that resonate with you…. The confidence and validation you gain are just as valuable as the funding itself.”

Weglarz: “Proofread, proofread, proofread. Choose your words carefully and be concise. When applying for grants you do not need to use big words or write long paragraphs…. Stay on topic and you will do great!”

The program is open to all MIAD degree students across all majors and years. Interested students participate in information sessions and workshops before completing applications reviewed by a panel of jurors and have supervisors during their inquiry. Applications for the second cycle are due May 9. Learn more about the Independent Inquiry Program and the types of inquiries available.