Communication Design seniors win advertising design awards
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.
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
FYE Juried Media Arts Festival 2024 celebrates first-year student works
Seven students received awards at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s juried FYE Media Arts Festival – an in-house screening and celebration of video, animation and sound design works by current and former First-Year Experience (FYE) students held on November 26. The 56 entries were judged by multimedia and filmmaking professionals Emma B. Barany, Gabe Leistekow and Sara Sowell.
MIAD professor brings love of branding to projects and students
Brian Bowles ’01, professor of Communication Design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), finds freelance projects “deeply fulfilling” and beneficial to himself and to his students.
Independence First and MIAD students produce adaptive clothing
Students in a junior-level Fashion and Apparel Design class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) collaborated with Independence First to design adaptive clothing. Two Independence First employees worked closely with MIAD students on customized outfits specific to their needs and preferences.
‘GQ Rebranded’ series is a hit for MIAD alum’s new studio
When Justin Thomas Kay ’04 (Communication Design) opened his own studio, JTK Studio, Inc., in New York City early this year, he hoped that his work “would contribute positively to helping to make things look nicer and more enjoyable and speak honestly to people broadly.” The new GQ Sports series “GQ Rebranded” turned out to be a good fit to do just that.
MIAD student support system receives national SMILE Award
Choose Mental Health, the national voice for children’s mental health, named the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) the 2024 SMILE Award–Organization Winner for the college’s commitment to promoting mental health and well-being among its students.