MIAD named Top Design School for third consecutive year as incoming student enrollment increases

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MIAD students MIAD students
MIAD’s incoming student enrollment has increased by 20 percent over three years.

For the third consecutive year, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) has been named a “Top Design School” by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine.

The honor recognizes “institutions that excel in preparing students to work successfully and effectively in a professional graphic design setting,” according to the magazine.

Ana Villarama ’19, a MIAD Communication (Graphic) Design major and 2018 GDUSA Student to Watch, agrees that her degree program is preparing her well for her future career. “The program takes on a lot of the qualities of professional communication design environments,” says Ms.Villarama. “We get handed design briefs with objectives to achieve, a timeline and deliverables to complete. We also do group critiques, and the feedback given is always valuable.”

Having that experience under her belt, Ms. Villarama secured an internship with Core Creative, a full-service advertising and branding agency in Milwaukee. There, she worked on social media graphics, print ads, and promotional videos.

Internships are just one way MIAD Communication Design students gain professional experience. They also participate in class projects with partners such as the Pettit National Ice Center, Verlo Mattress, Colectivo Coffee, and First Stage Children’s Theatre.

As MIAD’s academic programs have garnered national recognition, MIAD’s incoming student enrollment has increased by 20 percent over three years. New Furniture Design, Arts Management and Digital Media Production academic minors and innovative design technologies added to MIAD’s Maker Space have contributed to the college’s steadily increasing enrollment.

And when approximately 43 percent of MIAD students are from outside of Wisconsin, and 80 percent of MIAD graduates stay in the state on graduating, an honor like “Top Design School” helps transform Wisconsin into a “Best Design State.”