MIAD Design Internship supports career of first-year student

First-year Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) student Jonas Haggith ’29 found MIAD’s Design Internship program so beneficial as a high schooler he participated in it two years in a row.

MIAD’s Design Internship is a free, year-long program for motivated area high school students interested in design as a career option. The 2025-26 program includes 62 students, and partners with 14 prominent marketing/communications, architecture and product design firms or departments, including at Harley-Davidson and the Milwaukee Brewers. The application for the 2026-27 program is open through February 1, 2026.

Jonas Haggith

“This year’s internship I was tasked with creating shoe designs [for Weyco Group],” says Haggith. “I was taught the proportions and specifications that can make up a good looking and feeling shoe. My favorite part about the whole experience was that one of the multiple brands there was a heavily fashion-focused brand and so I was able to be more expressive with my shoe designs.”

The internship has also benefited Haggith during his First Year Experience (FYE) at MIAD. “One software that I used during my time at the internship was Adobe Illustrator. This prior experience has helped me in some of my FYE classes, for example my digital 2D class,” he explains.

Haggith is declaring Product Design as his major. “There are two main reasons why,” he says. “One is that I was heavily influenced by a professor I met before coming to MIAD. The other reason is because of my love for cars, and my dream is to become an automotive designer.”

“My year is going amazing,” Haggith concludes. “I love the MIAD community, and even though I commute every day, I still feel a part of the community here. I am also looking forward to taking some furniture design classes. My favorite medium to work with is wood, and I have already made some amazing wooden sculptures in my pastime.”

The Design Internship application for the 2026 program and more information are available here.