Illustration senior wins 2023 Fromm Petfest poster contest

As classes wrapped up for the spring 2023 semester, representatives from Fromm Petfest selected the winning design for their annual poster competition, a long-standing collaboration between Fromm Petfest and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Of the 75 posters submitted by illustration students, a mid-century style design by MIAD senior Maggie Carroll ’23 (Illustration) was selected as the winner.

Carroll’s illustration features dogs and cats in different costumes, representing Petfest’s pet costume contest. “I drew inspiration from the piece ‘Liberty Leading the People’ by Eugene Delacroix,” she says. “I thought it would be a lot of fun to draw both cats and dogs in fun costumes … the use of a mid-century style, hopefully, adds a sense of optimism and fun that was prevalent during that era.”

Carroll’s use of color and costumes inspired by 1950s and 60s America stood out to the judges. Quoted in a FOX6 news segment, Fromm Family Foods Brand Director Bryan Nieman said, “Not only is it artistic and a beautiful piece of art, but it also represents the core heart of Petfest here in Milwaukee … this year was the hardest to choose a winner from. The amount of talent coming out of that class is just unprecedented.”

“There was so much amazing work made by my classmates,” continues Carroll. “[They] made such wonderful posters that were all visually stunning and creative.” The winning poster design will be available to purchase at this year’s 10th annual Petfest on September 23, 2023 at the Henry Maier Festival Park. Money raised from poster sales will be donated to MIAD’s scholarship fund. “This was one of my favorite projects I have worked on during my time at MIAD,” finishes Carroll.

Learn more about Petfest, keep up with Maggie on her website and check out MIAD’s Illustration major!