MIAD Labs
At more than 25,000 square feet, MIAD offers one of the most expansive maker facilities in the nation. This creative hive will offer you limitless opportunities to bring your ideas to life. Here, you’ll find space and resources to define your creative path.
In MIAD’s labs, you will have access to cutting-edge technology, equipment and machinery. Expert lab technicians are available to help you use all equipment.
Check out MIAD’s 3D & Sculpture Lab, Lubar Emerging Technology Center, Lubar Innovation Center, Printmaking Lab and Textiles Lab.
3D & Sculpture Lab
MIAD’s 3-D and Sculpture lab space boasts approximately 20,000 square feet of workable space for students in all disciplines to work and create. Accommodating needs for students of varying backgrounds, the lab supplies the needed machinery and technology for working in wood, metal, plastics, vacuum forming, model building, bronze casting, ceramics, clay and much more. Found among the open, general space are separate rooms allowing for individual spray booths, tool rooms of shared usage, classroom space, in addition to many individual workstations for needed projects and ideas. True to the nature of the rest of MIAD’s Jane Pettit Bradley building, a wall of windows spans the length of the lab, allowing natural light to flood the facilities opening up the expansive facility even more.
Lubar Emerging Technology Center
The Lubar Emerging Technology Center (ETC) is a place where MIAD students, staff and faculty engage with technologies as they develop. The purpose of the Lubar ETC is to help students learn how to learn to use technology to support their creative practice. All students have full access to the center, regardless of course of study or discipline.
Lubar Innovation Center
The MIAD Lubar Innovation Center connects real-world clients with our best and brightest students.
Through our creative development program, we foster innovative and entrepreneurial thinking to challenge our students’ individual interests, support academic programming and collaborate with corporate and nonprofit partners.
Printmaking Lab
MIAD’s Printmaking Lab is a unique space on the third floor overlooking the Milwaukee River. It includes a full letterpress shop, intaglio relief printing shop, photo darkroom, lithography shop, screen printing and paper making capabilities and a risograph printer.
Textiles Lab
MIAD’s Textiles Lab is a textiles based workspace open to students in all disciplines. Located in the sunlit, room 250, the lab houses the industry-grade equipment and materials. The lab is monitored and maintained by the Textiles Lab Technician and knowledgeable student workers. Curriculum based sewing, such as the Sophomore Industrial Design Backpack project, Concept to Pattern course, Visual Language embroidery project and a variety of NSP projects including clothing design, felting, quilt making and fabric dyeing are accomplished in the Textiles Lab. This lab, open to all students, is designed for technical skill building, conceptual advancement and exploratory research.
News
Senior’s passion for Illustration and Natural Sciences thrives at MIAD
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) senior Lilly Zbiegien’s two passions – Illustration and Natural Sciences – flourished at an early age and have continued through college. Recently Zbiegien presented her Natural Science Independent Study research, “Junkyard Nests,” showing not only the impact of plastic pollution on birds, but also her skill in portraying the environment through Illustration.
Reducing food insecurity at MIAD’s People’s Pantry
Students, staff and faculty at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) are addressing short-term food insecurity on campus with direct action. One of the college’s newest resources, the People’s Pantry, provides free food for anyone in the MIAD community who needs a meal, no questions asked.
Intergenerational sharing as knowledge building at MIAD
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) instructor Hj Bullard continued a longstanding collaboration with House of History this semester in their First-Year Experience “Community Connections” class.
gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix announces 2024 Fall Cohort
Of the seven Milwaukee artists selected for the gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix 2024 Fall Cohort, three are part of the community at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Assistant Professor Morgan Bouldes, current senior Nomka Enkhee ’25 and Photography & Digital Media Lab Technician Grant Gill ’13 (Photography) were selected as part of the grant and mentorship program.
Painting is alive at the Painting is Dead Gallery
It’s over 20 years and 30 miles from a figure drawing class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design to the new Painting is Dead Gallery in Fredonia, Wis., owned by Katie Musolff ’04 (Painting) and Andy Fletcher, who first met in the class.