MIAD students sweep the United Adworkers Student Showcase awards
Each year, United Adworkers hosts The Ninety Nine Adworkers Showcase featuring the best advertising work in Wisconsin. This year, MIAD Communication Design students and recent alumni won all five Student Showcase awards, including the Gold (first place), Runner Up and Featured awards.
The following MIAD students and alumni, listed in order from first place through featured, received awards:
- Amanda Levinaite ’20 created an app that helps partners overcome communication challenges to better their relationship.
- Berea Ames ’20 designed a clothing line to help children with sensory processing issues.
- Kelsey Robinson ’21 designed campaign materials in support of the popular Rockabilly Chili Fundraiser for WMSE, a local radio station.
- Mallory Kubenik ’20 designed a website to help adults understand medication labels through the use of iconography to simplify medication instructions.
- Ori Baez ’20 created a card system to help young girls build confidence and unlearn body dysmorphia.
This competition is highly competitive and a landmark event in the Milwaukee advertising industry. Student submissions were judged by the Adworkers Board of Directors.
News
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.
Meet Desharr Saddler and 2025 Senior Exhibition project ClubHaus
Meet Desharr Saddler and 2025 Senior Exhibition project ClubHaus. Desharr Saddler ’25 (Product Design) is from Milwaukee.
Yale Norfolk Summer Program accepts Fine Art junior
Greta Berens ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) was accepted to participate in the summer Yale Norfolk program in Norfolk, Connecticut. The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) junior is one of 25 students who will attend the six-week program.
MIAD alum is state fair Grand Champion Fairtastic Artist
Wisconsin State Fair has named Lauren Marvell ’16 (Integrated Studio Arts) the 2025 Grand Champion Fairtastic Artist for her hand-painted poster featuring this year’s theme, “youth enjoying the state fair.”