Design Internship

Define your journey.
Design your path.

Developed to create pathways for high school students into creative careers, MIAD’s Design Internship is a free, year-long program for motivated high school students interested in design as a career option.

A student draws on a whiteboard with a big smile.
What is Design Internship?

Structured around accessibility and repeat contact, students learn foundational skills in various design workshops from MIAD faculty and are immersed in a 50-hour, paid internship at one of MIAD’s professional partners to explore hands-on projects and gain industry experience.

With tuition-free access to MIAD’s Summer and Weekend Pre-College courses, interns may select from a variety of courses that range from introductory to advanced, investigative explorations. Fall and Spring mentorship opportunities provide additional access to be a part of the MIAD community and experience Wisconsin’s premiere art and design school, and gain the tools necessary to begin to design a path from high school to college to career.

Important Dates

MIAD’s Design Internship is a year-long program.

  • February 1, 2024 Design Internship applications due
  • February 17, 2024 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Information session at MIAD
  • April 13, 2023 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Program orientation at MIAD
  • May 2024: After-school project at MIAD with MIAD faculty
  • June 10 – 28, 2024: 50-hour paid internship*
  • July 2024: Free tuition to MIAD’s Summer Pre-College program
  • August 24, 2024: Fall orientation
  • Fall 2024 and Spring 2025: Free tuition Pre-College courses
  • April 2025: End-of-program celebration
  • Year-long: Mentorship with MIAD students and/or alumni

*internship dates may vary across partner firms. 

Design Internship

Our 2024-2025 professional partners include:

  • Boelter-Lincoln
  • Core Creative
  • Cramer-Krasselt
  • Engberg Anderson Architects
  • Eppstein Uhen Architects
  • Hanson Dodge
  • Harley Davidson
  • JWD
  • Maker LLC
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Plunkett Raysich Architects
  • Workshop Architects
Green and black Design Internship Logo for 2024-2025