MIAD Innovation Center connects students and MIAD community virtually
MIAD’s courses aren’t the only thing that’s moved online this semester. Each Friday, the MIAD Innovation Center hosts Virtual Meetups to give students a chance to talk and connect with faculty and staff outside the classroom.

Estephanie Mendoza ’21 (Illustration)
“The Friday sessions are a hub for discussion and interaction, which we all really need right now,” says Estephanie Mendoza ’20 (Illustration), who has worked on projects for clients via the MIAD Innovation Center. “For me, the simple act of seeing everyone’s faces and hearing everyone’s voices brings a bit of comfort.”
The MIAD Innovation Center’s virtual meetups focus on a new topic each week, such as how creative innovation comes out of challenging times, tips for getting motivated, and staying positive and creative during isolation. All individuals attending the events have the opportunity to participate and share their experiences.

Olivia Paul ’21 (Industrial Design)
“Seeing all of my teachers’ faces, and hearing the conversations is an instant mood boost and friendly reminder that we’re all in this together,” says Olivia Paul ’21 (Industrial Design), who has attended the virtual meetups for the MIAD Innovation Center, as well as other virtual student events such as MIAD Trivia sessions.
“For a lot of us, it’s been a struggle to get up and create,” Olivia adds. “Being able to share what’s worked for us and ways we’ve felt encouraged to get up and work as normally as possible has been nice.”
News
Bronzeville initiatives by MIAD alums garner state and local awards
Community advocate, business owner, writer and editor Lexi S. Brunson ’14, an alum and assistant professor of Writing and Humanities at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), recently accepted two awards: Best Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Initiative (Business) at the 34th annual Wisconsin Main Street Awards and Historic King Drive Business of the Year.
Fine Art senior selected for Tidal Shift Award
Marta Tereziya ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), a senior at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), was recognized with a 2025 Tidal Shift award for her oil painting “Global Warning.” The award celebrates young artists who want to solve the climate crisis.
Meet Makenna Schibler and 2025 Senior Exhibition Project Day Ten
Meet Makenna Schibler and 2025 Senior Exhibition Project Day Ten. Makenna Schibler ’25 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) is from Louisville, Ken.
Product Design class uses virtual reality for shoe design
Product Design students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) are keeping up to date with the emerging technologies that are becoming industry standard. In the junior Advanced Digital Modeling course, instructor Frank Savage has incorporated Gravity Sketch, a virtual reality platform, into a shoe design assignment.
Senior Communication Design project wins national GDUSA award
Cultivata, the 2025 Senior Exhibition project by Frankie Mallerdino ’25 (Communication Design) at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), was named a Gold Foil winner in Graphic Design USA’s 2025 Digital Design Awards. Only 10 percent of the more than 3,000 entries earn this national distinction.