Career Resources
MIAD Career Services offers students a variety of resources to supplement their education and help them achieve their professional goals. Information is available to students from their first year through their senior year and as a MIAD graduate.
Career & Professional Development Resources and Assistance
Career services staff offer resources and advice to students as they learn of and research career options and pursue their professions of choice. Common topics of discussion include:
- Assessing interests and skills
- Exploring visual design and art professions
- Developing resumes/profiles, cover/application letters, and other job search correspondence
- Preparing for and practicing for interviews
- Researching prospective employers
- Networking with professionals, including alumni
- Becoming involved with professional associations and organizations
- Using job listing resources
- Learning about salaries and benefits
- Preparing for self-employment and freelancing
- Locating opportunities for exhibiting and selling artwork
- Researching and applying to graduate schools, artist residencies, and other post-graduate education and training opportunities
- Pursuing grants and funding
Career Web and Library Resources
Career and job search resources are primarily available through the MIAD Handshake website and the MIAD Library.
Handshake is a web-based system with curated opportunities for visual art/design students and graduates. The opportunities include professional jobs (full-time, part-time, temporary/seasonal); professional experience opportunities such as internships, co-ops, and fellowships; freelance and commission projects; exhibiting opportunities. The Handshake site also contains a searchable directory of businesses/organizations who are prospective employers/clients. Student/graduate profiles that are viewed by employers can be set up on the Handshake system. The site also contains a resources section with additional career/professional information for seeking professional opportunities and locating employer prospects. Handshake can be accessed through the MIAD OneLogin web page.
The MIAD Library has a “Career Section” with a variety of career and professional development books. They contain detailed information about specific art/design careers and how to prepare oneself for specific professions. In addition, the library subscribes to many profession-specific magazines.
Students are strongly encouraged to regularly use the above resources to learn about the variety of career opportunities available to designers and artists and to develop a strategy on how to become engaged with their profession and pursue opportunities. Any questions relating to careers and professional development opportunities may be directed to the Career Services Staff.
News
Students celebrate professional growth at 2024 First-Year Exhibition
An annual tradition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design from late March through September, the juried First-Year Experience Exhibition celebrates students’ yearlong personal and professional growth.
Ice cream social meets fine art networking at Cone-ections
Through the Intro to Arts Management course at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), five students collaborated to plan a successful artist networking event via ice cream social. Milwaukee-area artists and MIAD alumni visited campus to connect with students and enjoy a cone!
La Mère Brazier: Phoebe Nelson Senior Exhibition 2025
Phoebe Nelson ’25 (Illustration) came to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) to study children’s book illustration. Now at the end of her senior year, she is writing and illustrating a children’s book about Eugénie Brazier, the first person to get six Michelin stars, for her Senior Exhibition project.
MIAD Independent Inquiry Program launches with three student grants
Galilea Cerda ’26, Tina Voith ’26 and Madi Weglarz ’25 are the first three Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students selected to receive Independent Inquiry Program stipends to investigate new technologies and their applicability to art and design education. As first-time applicants, each receives a stipend of $1,200 for a six-week Mini Inquiry this summer.
Grilled Cheese grants propel MIAD seniors
Funds from the annual Grilled Cheese Grant helped Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) awardees Siren Harris, Yo Yo collective and Madi Weglarz complete their 2025 Senior Exhibition projects and future work. All the MIAD awardees are Fine Art + New Studio Practice seniors.