MIAD alum designs ‘beautiful’ horror posters
Creating “something that’s beautiful and terrifying at the same time” is not only possible, it’s a “fun and favorite challenge” for Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum and staff member Kyle V. James ’15. James’ latest horror movie poster, “Forgive Me,” is front and center as the film premieres at the 55th Stiges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain, October 3 – 10.
“I’ve been designing cover art for movies and games for a couple of years now,” James says. “I started by redesigning movie posters of my favorite films just for fun and posting the artwork online. Soon after I shared my first poster for Annihilation – a film that balances the line between the beautiful and the grotesque perfectly – indie filmmakers started reaching out to see if I was available to design artwork for their films.”
KyleJames_Home-News
Kyle James, “Forgive Me,” 2024, official movie poster.
Annihilation_Kyle-James_FanPoster
Kyle James, “Annihilation,” 2018, fan poster.
Dune_Kyle-James_FanPoster
Kyle James, “Dune,” 2023, fan poster.
TheBatman_Kyle-James_FanPoster
Kyle James, “The Batman,” 2023, fan poster.
“Designing cover art for feature films, documentaries, indie games, children books, short films, album covers and even a poster triptych for the Bucks has helped me with my role as assistant director of the MIAD Lubar Innovation Center,” James says. “My job is often to be the conduit between the students and the client, making sure the client is happy with the artwork that’s produced, and the students have a positive experience working on a paid client project.”
James says he also “occasionally does freelance video and animation work for clients through Moonflower Productions, a small media company a few artists and I formed years back.”
With long-time collaborator Michael Bourne and fellow MIAD alum Mallori Taylor ’15, James says, “We have been working on an animated feature film for several years – this is a passion project that we can funnel our creative energy into when we are between client projects.”
James’ award-winning senior thesis short film, “The Death Drive,” was featured at the Milwaukee Film Festival. He has also received two Brico Forward Fund grants. View his work, including some in progress, on Instagram and on his website.
Learn more about how MIAD students and clients work in MIAD’s Lubar Innovation Center.
News
MIAD Task Award: Alum pays it forward with generous mentoring
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum Amy Cannestra ’06 (Communication Design) believes in giving back, in mentoring and in the supportive nature of the Milwaukee art and design community. By founding Task Creative and the MIAD Task Graduate Award, the incredibly busy creative exemplifies all three beliefs. The Task awardee, Ashley Osorio ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), will receive five consecutive days to use the Task Creative space for a project of their choosing this summer.
Meet Michaela Prischman and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Cloth
Michaela Prischman ’26 (Communication Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Tinley Park, Ill. She created “Cloth,” a tool to help guide young professional women to find and organize alternative work attire through a personalized style subscription box.
Flagship Madison museum features exhibition by FYE faculty
The First-Year Experience (FYE) at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) blends contemporary and traditional techniques, an approach embraced by FYE faculty David R. Harper in Good Morning Sweetheart, a solo exhibition on view at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) through August 30, 2026.
Illustration seniors land NASA and Disney internships
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design seniors Grace Weisner ’26 and Allison Stras ’26 have landed the internship of their dreams: Weisner at NASA and Stras at Disney. Both are Illustration majors with minors in Communication Design.
Meet Kas Cook and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Mcallaster’s Special
Cas Kook ’26 (Animation Track in Illustration) is a Dean’s List student from the Greater Chicago area and a recipient of a 2026 Alumni Thesis Award. “Project Calvin Sazerac” is about Calvin Sazerac, a seasoned barkeep, who creates new cocktails for his favorite regulars. When he is challenged to meet the demands of a picky saloon patron, he creates something life changing.