Illustration Major
As an aspiring illustrator, you enjoy in-depth research on a variety of topics, like to critically analyze problems and find innovative and appropriate solutions, are self-motivated and meet deadlines, and possess ambition, drive and passion.
MIAD’s Illustration program will prepare you to be a professional illustrator by teaching you the language of visual communication with an emphasis on creative problem solving.
You’ll gain real-world experience by working with outside clients and make professional connections through internships and the MIAD Lubar Innovation Center. In Illustration, you’ll create a professional portfolio of work that integrates image and text within design contexts and promotes a comprehensive understanding of the roles of illustrator, art director and designer.
Student Work
Juliana Dutcher, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Jordan Willert, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Benjamin Hoffman, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
student unknown, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Margot McConnell, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Malachi Middlebrooks, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Margot McConnell, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Nikki Ranney, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2022
Lindsey Yeager, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2021
Bowen Schultz, Illustration Senior Exhibition, 2021
Our Curriculum
You will work in a variety of media, from traditional to digital and motion graphics, to create a personal style that distinguishes your work formally and conceptually. Our faculty and curriculum will prepare you for a professional life that will be varied, challenging and rewarding.
In 2021, Animation Career Review ranked MIAD’s program #1 in Wisconsin and among the top 10 in the Midwest. Our grads work for animation shops across the country, own illustration studios, marketing and branding firms, and UI/UX agencies, work in costume design at Walt Disney Animation and are Emmy award winners. Their work has appeared in Time, The New Yorker, Variety, on HBO and Amazon Studios, for Nike, Converse and Kohl’s (to name a few). Eight MIAD student illustrations were selected for awards in the prestigious 2022 Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition and Exhibition.
Companies where MIAD illustration graduates are employed or own:
Kohl’s Corporation, Harley-Davidson Motor Company Studio8Design, Kohler Company, Hanson Dodge Creative, Rockwell Automation, Hallmark, 4Design, Estee Lauder, THIEL Design, and more.
What Can I do with my Major?
ILLUSTRATION
A
Animator
B
Book Illustrator
C
Cartoonist
Costume Designer
Comic Book Artist
Creative Director
D
Digital Designer
E
Editorial Designer
F
Fantasy Illustrator
Fashion Illustrator
G
Game Designer
Graphic Designer
Greeting Card Designer
I
Illustrator
Interaction Designer
M
Multimedia Designer
P
Package Designer
Publication Designer
Puppet Designer
S
Scenic Designer
Scientific Illustrator
Sign Designer
Storyboard Artist
T
Tattoo Artist
Technical Illustrator
Toy Designer
U
UI/UX Designer
W
Web Designer