Communication Design seniors win advertising design awards

Sammi Micklewright
Milwaukee has its ‘Oscars’ for advertising design, and at this year’s United Adworkers 99 competition for professionals and students, two Communication Design seniors at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) received coveted awards.
Sammi Micklewright ’24 received the 2nd place Merit Award and Megan Huss ’24 the 4th Place Merit.
Mickelwright’s project aimed “to create a fresh new brand strategy for CoCo&Blu: a cafe in Arlington Heights, IL,” she says.” This project is close to my heart because CoCo&Blu is my favorite coffee shop in my hometown, and I have many good memories there!”
“I feel very honored to … have my work recognized at the United Adworkers Awards,” Micklewright adds. “This has provided me with encouragement to continue honing my skills as a designer and professional.”
Huss created her project, TeaLift, in her junior year packaging design class. “I have always had a love and appreciation for packaging design, so it was really fun to see my work in a physical form like that,” Huss says.

Megan Huss
The 2024 (professional) Best of Show in the United Adworkers 99 competition was won by BVK, where Katie Parlow ‘16 is senior art director and Charity Ekpo ‘15 is graphic designer/illustrator.
Micklewright and Huss are now preparing for the MIAD 2024 Senior Exhibition, on view April 19 – May 11.
Micklewright’s project, Koda, “is an animated miniseries for children suffering with PANDAS syndrome, a debilitating pediatric autoimmune disorder. Our goal is to inform and nurture PANDAS children, providing them with support on their journey to recovery,” she says.
Huss’ project is Happier Hour – an app that connects sober young adults with one another.
MIAD Galleries are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., at 273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design major. Visit MIAD.
News
La Mère Brazier: Phoebe Nelson Senior Exhibition 2025
Phoebe Nelson ’25 (Illustration) came to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) to study children’s book illustration. Now at the end of her senior year, she is writing and illustrating a children’s book about Eugénie Brazier, the first person to get six Michelin stars, for her Senior Exhibition project.
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.
Grilled Cheese grants propel MIAD seniors
Funds from the annual Grilled Cheese Grant helped Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) awardees Siren Harris, Yo Yo collective and Madi Weglarz complete their 2025 Senior Exhibition projects and future work. All the MIAD awardees are Fine Art + New Studio Practice seniors.
Sebastian Penn: Senior Exhibition 2025
Sebastian Penn ’25 (Animation Track in Illustration), “From Home to Legacy: Black and Queer Bars in Milwaukee.” Sebastian is a President’s (Honor) List student from Holman, Wis.
McKenna Martin: Senior Exhibition 2025
McKenna Martin ’25 (Product Design), “Hyacinth.” McKenna received first place for her design for the 2023 Delta design project/competition at MIAD, is on the Dean’s List and is from Fond du Lac, Wis.