MIAD design and illustration majors among top programs nationally and regionally
MIAD is proud to be recognized among the top in Wisconsin and the country for its design and illustration programs. Over the past year, MIAD has been ranked among the best as follows:
#1 Graphic Design School in Wisconsin
Work by Jordan Henningfield ’21 (Communication Design)
Awarded by: Animation Career Review’s “2021 Graphic Design School Rankings”
About the recognition: Animation Career Review considered more than 700 U.S. schools with graphic design programs for its Seventh Annual “2021 Graphic Design School Rankings.” Criteria included academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program faculty, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness and employment data. On this list, MIAD also ranks in the Top 50 nationally among private schools and colleges (#29, top 8% of schools considered) and Top 25 in the Midwest (#19, top 8% of schools considered). Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design major.
#1 Illustration School in Wisconsin
Work by Miguel Angel Delgadillo ’21 (Illustration)
Awarded by: Animation Career Review’s “2021 Illustration School Rankings”
About the recognition: Animation Career Review considered more than 140 U.S. schools with illustration programs for its Third Annual “2021 Illustration School Rankings.” Criteria included academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program faculty, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, graduation rate, geographic location and employment data. On this list, MIAD also ranks in the Top 50 nationally (#28, top 20% of schools considered) and Top 10 in the Midwest (#7). Learn more about MIAD’s Illustration major.
#1 Visual Arts School in Wisconsin
Awarded by: Intelligent.com’s “Best Colleges in Wisconsin”
About the recognition: Intelligent.com analyzed the best colleges in Wisconsin, including large public research universities, midsized private schools and smaller-sized liberal arts colleges. Criteria included tuition value, credits required to graduate and whether coursework was offered in-person, online or both.
Top Graphic Design School
Awarded by: Graphic Design USA (GDUSA)
About the recognition: For the sixth consecutive year, MIAD makes GDUSA’s annual list of the top 50 graphic design schools that prepare students to work in professional graphic design. Two MIAD students also were named to GDUSA’s 2021 Students to Watch list.
News
MIAD Task Award: Alum pays it forward with generous mentoring
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum Amy Cannestra ’06 (Communication Design) believes in giving back, in mentoring and in the supportive nature of the Milwaukee art and design community. By founding Task Creative and the MIAD Task Graduate Award, the incredibly busy creative exemplifies all three beliefs. The Task awardee, Ashley Osorio ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), will receive five consecutive days to use the Task Creative space for a project of their choosing this summer.
Meet Michaela Prischman and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Cloth
Michaela Prischman ’26 (Communication Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Tinley Park, Ill. She created “Cloth,” a tool to help guide young professional women to find and organize alternative work attire through a personalized style subscription box.
Flagship Madison museum features exhibition by FYE faculty
The First-Year Experience (FYE) at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) blends contemporary and traditional techniques, an approach embraced by FYE faculty David R. Harper in Good Morning Sweetheart, a solo exhibition on view at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) through August 30, 2026.
Illustration seniors land NASA and Disney internships
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design seniors Grace Weisner ’26 and Allison Stras ’26 have landed the internship of their dreams: Weisner at NASA and Stras at Disney. Both are Illustration majors with minors in Communication Design.
Meet Kas Cook and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Mcallaster’s Special
Cas Kook ’26 (Animation Track in Illustration) is a Dean’s List student from the Greater Chicago area and a recipient of a 2026 Alumni Thesis Award. “Project Calvin Sazerac” is about Calvin Sazerac, a seasoned barkeep, who creates new cocktails for his favorite regulars. When he is challenged to meet the demands of a picky saloon patron, he creates something life changing.