News

For the second year in a row, Fashion and Apparel Design students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) worked with Independence First to design adaptive clothing tailor-made for two people who use wheelchairs. The project is part of a junior-level Patternmaking & Construction course.

Nichole Uecker, Student Accessibility Coordinator, received the October 2025 MIAD Values Recognition Award at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Nichole’s nominations highlighted her embodiment of MIAD’s Core Values, especially Community, Inclusion and Kindness.

When senior Carmen Briones’ mother was diagnosed with breast cancer during Briones’ sophomore year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), finding a bra that was comfortable with a medical port became an additional challenge. Briones ’26 (Product Design) answered that challenge in her Design for Human Interface class by designing a product that reduces pain while increasing mobility.

When she first got the internship offer from Squishmallows at Jazwares, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) senior Melody Frias ’26 (Communication Design and Illustration) thought she was in shock. Months after the internship concluded, Frias still reads that email when she needs a boost.

Visiting author and artist Faythe Levine is motivated by reimagining archives and collections through a queer feminist lens. She presents “Queer Investigation & Storytelling in the Archive: MIAD Foremothers Charlotte Partridge and Miriam Frink,” based on her many-year research process for her fourth book, “As Ever, Miriam” (2024).

The first project Taylor Leinstock ’26 (Illustration) did through the Lubar Innovation Center at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will come to life as the Florentine Opera brings its touring production to schools and community centers around southeast Wisconsin in 2026.

Arma Zeqiri, Lead Housekeeper, received the September 2025 MIAD Values Recognition Award at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Arma’s nominations highlighted her embodiment of MIAD’s Core Values, especially Kindness and Community.

First-year Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) student Jonas Haggith ’29 found MIAD’s Design Internship program so beneficial as a high schooler he participated in it two years in a row.

Madison Boeder ’25 found that study abroad trips through the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) resonated so strongly with their practice that the Fine Art + New Studio Practice major (Art History minor) went on two: Florence in 2024 and, this year, Paris.

In Animation Career Review’s 2025 college rankings, the Illustration and Animation programs at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design were once again ranked number 1 in the state.

This past summer, Olivia Nava ’26 (Communication Design) landed a fiercely competitive internship at athletic footwear and apparel brand Nike. Now that she’s back, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) senior reflects on the experience, and the MIAD classes and connections that prepared her for this opportunity.

Each year, a group of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) students spends four weeks in May investigating the Burren in County Clare, Ireland through text and image. Based at the Burren College of Art and led by Professor Leslie Fedorchuk and printmaker Matthew Presutti, the two-decade-long partnership between the colleges has produced meaningful reflection and transformational experiences for students.

Trent Stuefen ’25 (Communication Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Sheboygan, Wis., who received a 2025 MIAD Alumni Senior Thesis Award.

In addition to a decade serving as president of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Jeffrey Morin maintains a thriving artistic practice. Morin founded his studio, sailorBOYpress, to showcase his monotypes, book arts, papermaking and figure drawing works.

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is honored to welcome Jodi Eastberg, Ph.D., as Vice President of Academic Affairs, effective August 4.

Meet Fine Art + New Studio Practice alum Sofie Captain and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Then & Now. Captain is from Hartford, Wis.

Co-founded by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) students James Kramer ’27 and Lydia Walz ’26, Triple3 Magazine is an independent, Milwaukee‑made arts and culture publication.

Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan. Emma Jenkins ’25 (Communication Design) is from Milwaukee.

Thanks to the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative, the Guido Brink collection at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will soon be digitized and available for public access. Current UW-Milwaukee graduate student Ceceilia Loeschmann is digitizing and cataloging the collection during summer 2025.

Deanna Tillisch, outgoing chair of the board at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), received a student-commissioned monotype print in recognition of her service. “Deanna Dancing” was made by Anna Louise Barr ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice).

MIAD elects new board chair and three new trustees: Amanda Singh to board chair; Abim Kolawole, Lauren Hurley, and Bob Schwartz as trustees.