Industrial Design instructor uses gaming platform for virtual classroom
In MIAD adjunct faculty Julian Hurrle’s computer-aided industrial design course, students learn how to use SolidWorks 3D modeling software, an essential tool in their career field. When pivoting to online learning, Hurrle set up a virtual classroom in Discord, a popular application used by PC gaming communities.

JD Byrne ’21 (Industrial Design) and a controller design project from this semester’s course
“We’re using Discord and that’s been fantastic. We’ve livestreamed tutorial videos from our professor to the entire class and we ask questions from the comfort of our couches,” says JD Byrne ’21 (Industrial Design).
Sub-channels for the class provide portals for students to submit screenshots of their models in progress and have text or voice discussions. Students also can share their screens with the instructor or use a sub-channel for individual discussions with the instructor, providing one-on-one interaction and helping walk students through different aspects of the program.

View of virtual classroom in Discord where students share work in progress
“This program is doing the exact thing I do in the lab at MIAD, but from my screen at home with a microphone,” says Hurrle.
Hurrle reports that attendance for the class is excellent, and all of the students have been in the channel and watching the livestreams. Hurrle also records the lectures and posts them on a shared drive for students to access outside of class when they need to review the content.
News
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan. Emma Jenkins ’25 (Communication Design) is from Milwaukee.
MKE Prints exhibition installed at MKE airport
MKE Prints is a collection of hand-pulled screen prints was created by Communication Design students at MIAD on view at the MKE airport.
Recollection Wisconsin digitizes Guido Brink collection
Thanks to the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative, the Guido Brink collection at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will soon be digitized and available for public access. Current UW-Milwaukee graduate student Ceceilia Loeschmann is digitizing and cataloging the collection during summer 2025.
Student commission celebrates previous MIAD board chair
Deanna Tillisch, outgoing chair of the board at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), received a student-commissioned monotype print in recognition of her service. “Deanna Dancing” was made by Anna Louise Barr ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice).
MIAD elects new board chair and three new trustees
MIAD elects new board chair and three new trustees: Amanda Singh to board chair; Abim Kolawole, Lauren Hurley, and Bob Schwartz as trustees.