Meet Desharr Saddler and 2025 Senior Exhibition project ClubHaus
This is one in a series of online interviews with MIAD seniors, who share their thoughts about their 2025 Senior Exhibition project and their MIAD education.
Desharr Saddler ’25 (Product Design) is from Milwaukee.
What is your “elevator pitch” for your senior exhibition project?
“ClubHaus” is an educational platform that gives children an introduction to the world of design. By integrating physical and digital tools, it exposes them to design fields like industrial, interior and graphic design – areas rarely covered in early education. This approach fosters creativity, empathy and problem-solving skills through play, laying the groundwork for both career readiness and personal development.
Anything you’d like to share about yourself or MIAD?
The journey I’ve had at MIAD has been one of continuous learning and growth. I’ve faced challenges that have forced me to dig deeper into my own resilience, but those challenges also pushed me to become more focused and determined. From taking a step back after an academic setback to immersing myself in industry internships, every experience has contributed to my growth as both a designer and a person. With the support of my professors, the financial help from my scholarship and the guidance from MKE Fellows, I’ve been able to get back on track and make the most of every opportunity.
I’ve had two design internships at Weyco Group, most recently as a color and materials design intern, and an offer of employment there.
Apply to MIAD. Plan your visit.
News
MIAD Makes Its Mark at MAPC 2026
A group of MIAD students, faculty and staff attended the 2026 Mid America Print Council (MAPC) Conference, “Printelligence,” in Baton Rouge, where they participated in demonstrations, panel discussions, exhibitions and professional networking opportunities.
Independent Inquiry Program students explore AI through research and creative practice
As emerging technologies continue to reshape creative industries, MIAD’s Independent Inquiry Program (IIP) gives students the opportunity to investigate their impact firsthand. Through philanthropically funded support, the optional, by application program allows students to pursue self-directed research projects that explore how new technologies can influence art, design and education.
MIAD Alum Kelly Alexander Wendorf Brings Stories of Travel to Life Through Paper Cutting
For Kelly Alexander Wendorf, paper cutting is more than an artistic medium. It's a way to explore memory, movement and human connection through intricately layered works of art. A MIAD alum who studied printmaking, Wendorf recently created a series of large-scale...
Behind In a State of IF: A Collaborative Curatorial Journey
“In a State of IF”, on view in MIAD’s Frederick Layton Gallery through November 21, is the result of a years-long collaboration between co-curators Maria Novotny and Katherine Gressel.
MIAD Alum Kyle Nesbitt Blends Storytelling, Design and Brewing
For MIAD alumnus Kyle Nesbitt ’09 (Industrial Design), creativity has never been limited to a single discipline. Through Nezbittar, a project nearly a decade in the making, he combines design, illustration, branding, photography and craft beer into a singular creative venture.