Animation & Illustration receive top rankings in Wisconsin & Midwest by Animation Career Review
In its 2023 rankings, Animation Career Review named MIAD’s Animation program as the top in the state, and the college’s Illustration program in the top ten in the Midwest. MIAD is the only college in Wisconsin included in that list. MIAD was also named the #1 Graphic Design School in Wisconsin, while ranking in the top 7% of design schools in the Midwest.
MIAD’s Animation track is housed in its Illustration major. Even before the launch of a formal Animation track, the college has prepared Illustration and Animation students for an ever-changing marketplace, whether as founders of their own creative businesses, or as key creatives at advertising agencies, design firms, publishing firms and myriad entertainment and tech-based industries.
Kelsey Robinson ‘21 (Illustration), for example, is a multimedia artist at Cynosure Creative Agency, a 2022 Emmy-award-winning firm whose creative director is MIAD alum and Trustee Xavier Ruffin ‘10. In 2022, Robinson’s animated video won first place in the “I Am a Voter” Wisconsin competition to design innovative social media marketing aimed at getting out the vote.
For her 2023 senior thesis project, Alexa Beiza (Illustration) rebranded the traditional Mexican bingo game Lotería to appeal to younger generations of Mexican Americans while bringing all generations together. After graduation, she has an internship at Kohl’s. Meet her on TMJ4-Milwaukee’s visit to MIAD.
Animation Career Review evaluates programs in Animation, Illustration and Communication Design based on the academic reputation, employment data, depth and breadth of program faculty, tuition value, and graduation and retention rates both of independent colleges like MIAD and of public universities.
In addition to the rankings in Animation Career Review, MIAD has been named a previous Top Design School by Graphic Design USA.
Learn more about MIAD’s Illustration and Animation programs and MIAD alumni success.
News
MIAD Gallery at The Ave student worker interviews exhibition artists
Working at the periphery of student life, staff members hold technical and administrative positions that allow for the smooth operation of the college’s day-to-day and long-term activities. When they’ve clocked out of the MIAD building, they’re home, in the studio, outside in nature– and exercising their own creative muscles and sustaining personal arts practices. “After Hours,” the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Gallery at the Ave’s latest exhibition is the first of its kind for the college where staff talents are in the limelight.
Emerging Technology Center hosts Technique of the Week
During the fall 2023 semester, the Lubar Emerging Technology Center at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) hosts “Technique of the Week” demonstrations for students, faculty and staff. MIAD community members are invited to attend presentations on everything from 3D scanning objects to fermentation to Minecraft. Most recently, attendees played pinball on a handmade virtual pinball machine.
Inaugural Latine Student Exhibition announces winners
Four students were honored at the inaugural Latine Student Exhibition, on view at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) until October 13, 2023. Coordinated by rhi anderson-martinez, executive director of equity and inclusion at MIAD, the exhibition highlights and celebrates the art and design skills of MIAD’s Latine students during Hispanic Heritage Month.
MIAD Fine Art faculty selected for national Olmsted panel
Brad Anthony Bernard, professor of fine art at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), will participate in a panel discussion about Frederick Law Olmsted at the 2023 annual conference of the Olmsted Network in Milwaukee. An accomplished muralist, Bernard designed a mural depicting Olmsted which will be displayed at a public mural and sculpture garden in Milwaukee.
Anna Hillary selected as Writing and Humanities full-time faculty
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) welcomes Anna Hillary as the new full-time Assistant Professor of Writing and Humanities following a national search.