Innovation Center students create immersive light show
In partnership with Joy Engine, a Milwaukee nonprofit dedicated to public art, students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s (MIAD) Lubar Innovation Center created an immersive extension to the summer: a spectacular outdoor light show and festival called Nitelight.
Milwaukee’s Historic Mitchell Street will transform into a dazzling arts and lights festival on September 8th and 9th from 5 – 10:30 p.m. The Mitchell Street Arts building at 710 W. Historic Mitchell Street will serve as the backdrop to the light show, a display of 4D mapping technology created by MIAD students in the Lubar Innovation Center. Zara Dixon ’25 (Illustration), James Hill ’25 (Communication Design), Darryl Wedgeworth ’25 (Communication Design) and Paolo Vacala ’24 (Communication Design) worked with Innovation Center staff and Joy Engine to develop the motion graphics programming for Nitelight.
“I had a great time working through the Innovation Center,” says Innovation Center student James Hill. “This project was a great opportunity to bolster my work ethic and to learn new creative techniques. My crew at the Innovation Center gave me fresh ideas and critiques that were invaluable to my progress.” The Lubar Innovation Center works with real-world clients like Joy Engine to connect MIAD students with paid creative development projects.
Darryl Wedgeworth, another of the students who contributed to the project, drew inspiration from recent cinematic releases. “My process started with when Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse released; the glitch art style used throughout was very inspirational for what I wanted to create,” he explains. Using free abstract videos, Wedgeworth animated and transformed the clips to produce his signature glitch art style. “I really enjoyed the process of this project and can’t wait to see the final product on the night of the festival!”
The students used laser technology to scan the building facade, then built creative designs to project onto the structure during the event. Five other Milwaukee-area artists contributed to the motion graphics artwork. “I wanted to figure out how to bring the scenes in my mind to life through various computer graphics techniques,” explains Hill. “From the get-go we wanted cool visuals that would spark joy, so that became my new focus.”
Sparking joy is certainly one of the main aims of the project. “At Joy Engine, we’re invested in promoting the access, creation, and enjoyment of public art — in all of its forms,” said Doug McDonald, president at Joy Engine in their press release for the event. “Artists play a critical role in building community vibrancy. By supporting art, we shape an environment where everybody can explore creativity, inspiring new perspectives and human connection.”
“Looking back, I learned what kind of effort it takes to work as a team, and I’m so grateful that my team consisted of who it did,” continues Hill. “A big thank you from me to each member of our team and to Joy Engine for having me. I really look forward to working with them all again.”
Visit Nitelight to enjoy live music, art, dance and food, and learn more about MIAD’s Lubar Innovation Center!
News
MIAD students receive 2023 Graphic Design Awards from GDUSA
Three MIAD Communication Design students received 60th anniversary American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine. The students were selected from over 8,000 entries, and judged alongside professional design work. Fewer than 10% of entrants received an award.
IAD seniors tour construction site of The Couture
Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) seniors from MIAD were taken to new heights on November 13 when they toured the construction site of The Couture, a 44-story skyscraper under construction that will be Milwaukee’s tallest residential and mixed-use building. The tour was part of a series of tours their senior thesis “Building Systems” class is taking with instructor Dan Kalkman, AIA.
MIAD alum Sajnani selected as MAM 2023 annual ornament designer
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) selected the design of MIAD alum Debbie Sajnani ’16 (Communication Design) for its 2023 annual ornament. The ornaments are recreated each year by artisans using a reserve painting technique, according to MAM.
Ornament Trail features MIAD alumni, faculty, students
For decades, Milwaukee has hosted an annual Holiday Lights Festival. To commemorate the festival’s 25th anniversary, Milwaukee Downtown will also host the new Ornament Trail this year. Five Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alumni and one instructor, who teamed up with both students and alumni, produced giant ornaments for the event.
MIAD Values Recognition Award: Sarah Eichhorn
Sarah Eichhorn, Visiting Instructor of Fashion and Apparel Design, received the October 2023 MIAD Values Recognition Award at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Eichhorn’s nominations speak to her Kindness, Inclusiveness, Innovation and support of MIAD’s Community.