MIAD student awarded 1st Place at NARI Student Design Competition

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design junior Paul Budnowski ’27 (Interior Architecture and Design) was awarded 1st Place and Crowd Favorite in the Interior Design Portfolio Contest at the 2026 NARI Spring Home Improvement Show. A select group of students from MIAD, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) participated.

The Student Design Competition focused on Indoor + Outdoor Living. Students were tasked to transform the provided great room and deck of a predetermined floorplan into a cohesive, functional living space. Judging criteria included creativity, space planning, functionality, technical execution, and materials and finishes.

Budnowski’s winning NARI Student Design entry, 2026.

Entering, and winning, the competition affirmed both Budnowski’s choice of major and his abilities, he says. “I took this as an opportunity to create work that I’d be proud of, which made working on this project feel more enjoyable and purposeful. The turnaround was pretty quick … so it was also an exciting challenge to go with my gut and create the best design I could on a tight timeline.”

“The IAD program at MIAD has honestly begun reshaping the trajectory of my life,” continues Budnowski. “I wasn’t sure what would be the best major for me to pursue, so IAD was a bit of a gamble. Our professors, especially Krista Meneghini, are passionate about helping prepare us for success in our careers. They have poured into us with encouragement and constructive criticism.”

“My schooling at MIAD aligns with the interests of my family more than I ever realized, with my father and grandfather having experience in carpentry and home renovations, and mechanical design,” Budnowski says. “My education has inspired my family to build a home-improvement business called Little Martha’s DwellWell, which is young but mighty. We are going full force into our first projects…. I’m excited to see where our endeavors will go and honored to be working as a designer alongside my family.”

For the near-term, Budnowski says, “I am committed and also very excited to be working as a Teacher’s Assistant for the IAD Pre-College summer program with [Professor and alum] Lexi Brunson. I’m also working two part-time jobs currently, not including the work I’m doing with my family business, so I’m keeping very busy and learning the importance of a solid work ethic.”

Learn more about MIAD’s Interior Architecture and Design major.