MIAD seniors receive 2024 Alumni Senior Thesis Awards

Thanks to the generosity of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the college, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will award $5,328 to 27 seniors to directly support the fabrication and installation of their senior exhibition capstone projects. Through the application process, students submit plans and sketches for their final project, as well as a budget for materials. Winners were selected by a panel of a record 54 MIAD alumni with experience in fine art and design career fields.

MIAD invites the Milwaukee community to view the seniors’ award-winning work from April 19 – May 11, 2024 during the MIAD 2024 Senior Exhibition, hosted in MIAD’s main building at 273 E Erie St. Over 200 students will be present on Friday, April 19 from 5 – 9 p.m. to discuss their projects in person. This event is open to the public. More information is available at miad.edu/seniorexhibition.

An architectural rendering of a dark-hued, luxurious hotel lobby, dining rooms and staircase.

Bree-De-Vries_SeniorThesisAwards

Bree De Vries, “The Asteria,” 2024.

An illustration of two people in wheelchairs wearing fancy dress clothes in front of an ornate wall.

Zachary-Scharrer_AlumniSeniorThesisAwards

Zachary Scharrer, “Löwe: Bespoke Luxury Adaptive Apparel,” 2024.

An illustration of a person doing various tasks, like stirring a pot, looking flustered, reading a phone and carrying a cat. There is a sense of rushed motion in the image.

Cyprien-Morin_SeniorThesisAwards

Cyprien Morin, “Pepe’s Kitchen,” 2024.

A mockup of a new product called "Snack Emperor" with orange, red, yellow and black main colors. The product sends international snacks to kids.

Brandon-Fong_SeniorThesisAwards

Brandon Fong, “Snack Emperor: Culture Made to Share,” 2024.

A partially finished painting of a giant wasp in a puddle against a tan background.

Stella-Koslowski_SeniorThesisAwards

Stella Koslowski, “Is a Dream a Memory?,” 2024.

A four-panel series of splash illustrations of different locations inspired by different fabrics: muslin, rayon, velvet and satin.

Intan-Zulkifli_SeniorThesisAwards

Intan Zulkifli, “NeedleWork,” 2024.

The 2024 MIAD Alumni Senior Thesis Award recipients (in alphabetical order) and the titles of their works are:

Bree De Vries (Interior Architecture and Design), The Asteria
Jayden Ellsworth (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), “What’s left behind” Making baskets out of Milwaukee’s trash
Brandon Fong (Communication Design), Snack Emperor: Culture Made To Share
Heidi Goodale (Illustration), Mermaids of the World
Logan Guo (Illustration), Maria and The Tree
Peyton Hartis (Product Design), Visualizing the Unseen
Raven Higginbotham (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Self perception
Jasper Huber (Communication Design), Fair-It!
Koltun (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), In My Free Time
Stella Koslowski (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Is a Dream a Memory?
Jillian Langenecker (Illustration), Creatures of the Warped Woods
Adriana Lassa (Communication Design), Tastebuds
Kiki Lyzenga (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), Title TBA
Sarah Madden (Communication Design), Bugbite
Chalice Michael (Illustration), Holistic Flower Dishware Sets
Sammi Micklewright (Communication Design), Koda
Cyprien Morin (Illustration), Pepe’s Kitchen
Alivia Rapp (Illustration), Doodle Sprout “The Mighty Midwest” Backyard Nature Activity Kit
Aiyana Robinson (Communication Design), Petterment – Your Personalized Pet Care
Kya Sablatura (Illustration), Mischief Cat: Outdoor Adventures
Zach Scharrer (Product Design), Celebrating Disability in Formal Space: Bespoke Luxury Adaptive Apparel
Anni Smith (Illustration), HUA Patchblock Collection
Greta Solien (Illustration), Playing in the Parks!
Evan Udovich (Product Design), Enhancing Comfort in the Kitchen
Brady VanderHart (Communication Design), Rally
Kayla VanProoyen (Illustration), Staircase to Elsewhere
Intan Zulkifli (Illustration), NeedleWork

News

MIAD elects new trustees Paul Fletcher and Jacqualyn Laughlin

Paul Fletcher, a principal product designer at LinkedIn, and Jacqualyn Laughlin, co-founder of Invisible Ink Partners, were elected members of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s Board of Trustees at the college’s annual meeting in June.

Double ASID award winner is inspired by nature and internships

Rising senior at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Adam Wold ’27 received two awards in May from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). The Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) major won the Silver Award in the Commercial category and the Bronze Award in the Residential category.

MIAD faculty, alumni shine at WI Visual Art Achievement Awards

Professor Leslie Fedorchuk and alumni of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) received four of the eight individual 2026 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Awards for “their significant contributions to the state’s creative culture.”

National Society of Illustrators honors 13 MIAD students

Works by 13 students and recent graduates of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) were selected from among 4,550 nationwide submissions to receive 2026 honors from the national Society of Illustrators.

Pallas Textiles competition provides real-world experience

First-place winner Sophia Simonson ’28 created Refractions as part of her MIAD studies in Interior Architecture and Design. She is one of 20 students studying at MIAD through a cross-registration program with Concordia University. MIAD students Kaitlyn Powers ’26 (Illustration) and Natalie Spetell ’27 (Product Design), both of whom have minors in Communication Design, received Honorable Mentions.

Apply Now

Request Info