MIAD Communication Design alumna Melissa Thornton ’02 designed a t-shirt in 2011 that said simply: MILWAUKEE HOME. She designed the shirt as a Christmas gift, and soon people began asking her friends where they got the shirt. Her gift turned into a full-time business for Thornton, who owns a store in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward where she sells the t-shirts.
Read more about Melissa’s success in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
A note from Alea Cross, Director of Advising
As the spring semester is underway, Academic Advising is excited to support students in their academic planning to develop them as creative minds and emerging professionals.
This semester, advisors have shared an action plan guide with your student. This guide will assist your student in developing and setting academic, personal and professional goals for the semester. MIAD encourages your student to take time to reflect on their plan for the spring semester. As educators, we know academic success aligns with personal satisfaction. To equip students, we are challenging each student to proactively meet with their advisors about their academic action plan during 4-week reports.
As parents and family, MIAD encourages you to be a supporting advocate for assisting your student learn how to plan life proactively. How can you help?
Talk with your student, using these guided talking points. Ask your student:
The importance of student success has been reflected in research addressing the challenges that shape young adults navigating college with effective decision-making skills. With advisors reaching out to students, we are performing a best practice that supports students being able to effectively plan for the future.
We encourage all students to:
For tips on how you can continue the support of your student adjusting to adulthood, consider reading Marjorie Savage’s You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years.
Also, download MIAD’s Creating an Action Plan PDF.
Students who will attend MIAD in the fall of 2018 need to fill out the 2018-2019 FAFSA to ensure continued financial aid. Tax data from 2016 can be used. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible.
See more information about the 2018-2019 FAFSA filing and financial aid process.
The spring semester is now underway, and there’s a lot happening at MIAD. Here’s a roundup of the important dates and deadlines you and your student should know from January through March 2018:
January 19 – Winter Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward
MIAD’s galleries are open 5 – 9 p.m. on Winter Gallery Night. A reception for “Humanly Possible: The Empathy Exhibition” will be held. Plus, “Chair^5: Five Perspectives on Form, Function and Innovation” is on view. See more about current and upcoming gallery exhibitions.
February 1 – Empathy Through the Visual Arts: An Artist’s Discussion
Three artists from “Humanly Possible: The Empathy Exhibition” (Lois Bielefeld, Tina Blondell and Gondrun Lock) along with curator John Schuerman and moderator and MIAD Professor Leslie Fedorchuk discuss the concept of empathy and its manifestation in the visual arts. Reception to follow. The discussion begins at 6 p.m.
February 8 – 4-Week Reports
Four-week reports are due for all first-year students.
February 13 – MIAD Creativity Series: Jaime Hayon
Iconic international artist-designer Jaime Hayon presents “Form Follows Function, and Then What?” February 13 at 6 p.m. While visiting, he will be working with students at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where he has an exhibition, “Jaime Hayon: Technicolor.” Learn more.
February 15 – Empathy, Connections and Borders: An Evening of Poetry and Storytelling
A night of visual and oral storytelling between artists and writers from Milwaukee and Minneapolis exploring empathy, creating human connections and crossing borders. The evening begins at 7 p.m. Learn more.
March 1 – 100 Lullabies (Lullaby Songs for Refugees)
An experiential platform for listening to stories of war, face to face with artists who grew up during war in the Middle East. Audience members will be invited to sing and record a song of comfort or lullaby in their own language for children who are affected or displaced from their motherland by war. The event begins at 7 p.m. and is part of the special programming for “Humanly Possible: The Empathy Exhibition.” Learn more.
March 12 – Midterms
Midterm grade reports are due March 12. If your student is struggling, encourage him or her to reach out for help through tutoring, counseling and other academic support resources at MIAD.
March 12-16 – Spring Break
No classes are held during spring break. Enjoy the break!
Parents and Family Members:
As the new semester begins, we are excited that students are back on campus and for the many opportunities available to them to develop their skills and prepare them to be innovators that meet universal challenges in new ways throughout their education and in their careers.
This semester marks the launch of the first courses in our new arts management minor, which is a series of coursework that prepares students to lead and manage arts organizations and events. Throughout the year, we’re also adding new technologies to our Maker Space, like our stereolithography 3D printers that turns liquid into models, prototypes, patterns and parts.
In addition, our Student Services and Advising areas are adding new events and programming. Plus, in February we will be opening a new self-service market in the Student Union to provide students with fresh and healthy food options during all the hours the academic building is open.
Best wishes for a wonderful semester,
Jeff Morin
President
The last three weeks of the semester are busy and can be stressful for your student. There are final projects to create, final papers to write and the stress of meeting final critiques and deadlines. So how can you best support your student during this time?
Listen. If your student calls or texts you and needs to vent her stress, let her. Listen and offer words of encouragement. Refer her to the Learning Resource Center or Counseling Services if she is struggling.
Don’t call too much. Remember this is a busy time for your student, so calling too often could add more stress. Check in and let your student know how proud you are of him or her—perhaps via a quick email or text.
Encourage good nutrition and hydration. While it’s easy to grab junk food when we’re stressed, it’s important for students to make healthy choices, especially this time of year. Eating nutritious food can energize students and help with concentration and retention. The brain works best when hydrated, and staying hydrated can help students avoid fatigue and headaches, according to a Huffington Post article.
Send a card or care package. This is a great time of year to send a card by regular mail or a care package to your student. It’s a great unexpected surprise that lets them know you care, and shows your support. Ideas for items to include in a care package include: food (especially home-baked goodies or favorite snacks), personal items (such as toothpaste, lotions, etc.) or a gift card to the BLICK Art Materials store (for any last-minute art supplies needed for final projects).
Great things are happening at MIAD! Here’s an overview of the important dates and deadlines your student should know about in November.
November 9 – Major Declaration & Celebration Day
First-year students get to declare their major today! If your student needs help choosing a major, encourage him or her to contact the Academic Advising Office. Learn more about MIAD’s five academic majors: Communication Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture + Design and New Student Practice: Fine Arts.
November 10 – MIAD Holiday Sale Student Registration Deadline
Students have the opportunity to sell their art and design work at the annual MIAD Holiday Sale. To sell their work, students must register to participate. Learn more.
November 14-16 – MIAD Creativity Series featuring Illustration Alumnus Rob Schrab
Rob Schrab (Illustration ’92) returns to MIAD to work with students in the classroom November 14-16 and give a public presentation on November 15 at 6 p.m. Schrab is an Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated writer and director. Learn more about the MIAD Creativity Series.
November 17 – Florence Study Abroad Program Grant Deadline
Students who are interested in studying abroad in Florence, Italy, in May/June 2018—and who want to be considered for a grant to help cover study abroad costs—need to submit their Study Abroad Grant Application by November 17. Learn more about this four-week study abroad program.
November 22-24 – Thanksgiving Break
No classes for students during this time. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 30-December 2 – MIAD Holiday Sale
A holiday tradition held every year during the first weekend of December, the MIAD Holiday Sale is your opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind art and design work created by MIAD students and alumni at affordable prices. It’s also a great opportunity to see MIAD students’ work on display. Learn more about the MIAD Holiday Sale.
December 15 – Last Day of Classes
Congrats! Your student made it through the semester. Let them know how proud you are of their achievements.
MIAD alumnus Dave Nelson ’02 first knew he wanted to be a designer after his grandmother introduced him to calligraphy in middle school. Today, he is the Principal Creative Director at Microsoft, leading a team that designs technology interfaces. Read more about Dave, his career and the design challenges he and his team face.
Each year MIAD students have two opportunities to sell their artwork—one at the MIAD Holiday Sale this fall and another at Creative Fusion in the spring semester.
The Call for Participation is now open for this year’s MIAD Holiday Sale, which gives students and alumni an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work to the public. This event is highly publicized, and we expect a fantastic turnout of art enthusiasts ranging from those looking for a deal on great art to serious art investors.
Any student (including freshmen through seniors) or alumni can participate. All mediums are welcome such as drawings, photographs, prints, paintings, furniture, design work, sculptures, jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, etc.
The deadline for students to register to showcase and sell their artwork in the MIAD Holiday Sale is November 10, 2017.
The MIAD Holiday Sale runs November 30 through December 2, 2017.
Learn more about the MIAD Holiday Sale and how students can participate!
The fall semester is well underway at MIAD and the campus is bustling with activity. Here’s a glimpse of the important dates and deadlines your student should know about in October:
October 5 – Professional Portfolio Symposium
Professionals working in art and design career field share their portfolios with MIAD students. All freshmen participate in this symposium; sophomores are invited to attend.
October 9-10 – Fall Break
No classes for students on these two days. Encourage your student to explore Milwaukee and take a break from their rigorous studies. Remember: All MIAD students get a free membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum and this break is a perfect time to use it.
October 20 – Midterms
Midterm grade reports are due October 20. If your student is struggling, encourage him or her to reach out for help through tutoring, counseling and other academic support resources at MIAD.
October 20 – AH213: History of Modernism: Design Class Field Trip
Sophomore design students are traveling to Chicago for a field trip.
October 25 – Freshman Field Trip
This all-day field trip takes freshmen and transfer students to the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wis., and the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
Fall 2017 Move-In Day and Orientation activities are complete! Students enjoyed everything from presentations by other students and a picnic in Catalano Square to a studio experience with faculty and mentors and the annual Sand Sculpture Contest at Atwater Beach. Click the photo below to see a photo album that provides a glimpse of the activities students participated in.
Hello, MIAD Parents,
Thank you for trusting MIAD with a new member of our community. Students arriving to campus are surrounded by caring, engaged professionals who are committed to student success.
I continue to be impressed with the quality of our students. They have a professional drive that is tempered with kindness and inclusion of those around them. They seek innovative solutions to problems. They create with courage and integrity. MIAD is genuinely that place where passion finds purpose.
Warm regards for a great year ahead,
Jeff Morin, President
MIAD wants to help make sure that your student’s college experience is a successful one. An important part of college life is money management whether your student’s focus is on student loans or living frugally on a tight budget.
To help you and your student feel more financially confident, we are providing MIAD AccessReady. MIAD Access Ready is a free website specifically designed for students and their families; it offers engaging videos and interactive tools to help you:
Continue reading A free money management tool for your student & you
As students meet with their advisors in the coming month to plan course selection, one of the most important topics for discussion then, and at every contact point with an advisor, is their career.
Planning is an integral part of MIAD’s Career Program of Study. Advisors work closely with the faculty and the Office of Career Services to help students progress through a targeted plan of specific career objectives during each year of study.
The tool, “Planning for Your Career, Your Design Profession, Your Artistic Life,” was designed by the Office of Career Services to provide students and advisors a “living four-year plan” backed by resources, services and experiences that lead toward a successful career. It is one of many pivotal linkages between the Office of Career Services and MIAD’s academic and advising programs.
Read more for a detailed list by year of study of the career-related activities students should discuss with their advisor during each of their four years at MIAD. After that, we’ll provide more information about MIAD’s career program.
Continue reading Career planning includes key steps each year!
This month, all students meet with their advisors and register for spring classes. Juniors and seniors register on November 8; freshmen and sophomores register on November 15.
Read further to see a bulleted list by class year of key questions and topics your student and advisor should discuss this month. These meetings are integral to your student’s academic and professional success. Continue reading Key questions during your student’s advising this month
This year, MIAD’s annual Parent/Partner Day on December 7 is part of MIAD’s Winter Weekend. All parents, students and alumni are invited to participate in the activities. These include the fourth annual Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale December 5 – 7 – an event eagerly awaited by the Milwaukee community – and Parent/Partner’s day of roundtables, workshops, tours and demonstrations on December 7. The Third Ward’s Christmas in the Ward activities are also that weekend, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Please encourage your student to participate in the Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale through the link in their River Rat e-newsletter, and watch for more information for parents on engaging with the entire MIAD community. Continue reading for the day’s schedule and links to an RSVP form (preferred but not required); a story about the Art & Design Sale; and the Historic Third Ward activities.
Continue reading Tell us you’re attending Parent/Partner Day Dec. 7; Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale
During the week of October 28 – November 1, your student will be asked by his or her professor to take a Student Satisfaction Inventory – a completely confidential electronic survey that asks questions about everything from their course of study to their quality of life at MIAD.
The last SSI was given to students in Fall 2011, the third of our biannual survey. The results provided much to celebrate. At the same time, they identified specific areas where we were able to improve the value and quality of our students’ educational and student life experience.
Some of the changes include: Continue reading Encourage your student to complete the 2013 Student Satisfaction Survey
At one time or another, almost all college students experience some form of stress. Some may experience it early in their college experience; others at various times and closer to their graduation.
But there are two kinds of stress: The kind that fuels inspiration, drives work and motivates students to succeed; and the kind that becomes overwhelming and impedes students’ progress in college.
It’s important to note that stress is a process that builds, and it is therefore more effective to intervene early rather than later. Without help, stress can become overwhelming. This column is intended to help you understand how we help your students, and how you, in turn, can help your son or daughter manage college. Continue reading Helping your student with stress
Sophomores from all of MIAD’s majors gathered with faculty and alumni to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the “Sophomore Experience,” ask questions about their majors and focus, and hear advice from successful alumni.
Core Coordinator and faculty Nicholas Frank, who is integral to shaping experiences designed specifically for sophomores, advised students that they are constantly in a period of definition, during which asking questions is critical to realizing the path they will take.
Alumni advised students to:
At MIAD, we pride ourselves on our inquiry-based environment, driven by you with our faculty. As we head toward a new academic year, we welcome all of you, especially our new students, and would like to share news and questions we’ve heard from some of you.
What do people think about my potential? The first internationally renowned creative to visit through the MIAD Creativity Series, Mark Rios, principal of Rios Clementi Hale Studios in Los Angeles, said the following after spending several days engaging with students across many majors:
“I’ve visited many art and design schools around the world and found an atmosphere and confidence at MIAD that are unique…. Students have a clear and well-deserved sense of themselves and their work, and that is a rare thing.”
Maintaining communication with your son or daughter when they are in college is important, whether they are a first-year student or a senior. College students want to be on their own, while, at the same time, often continuing to turn to you for support. By maintaining open communication with your student, you will have a better understanding of what they are going through and how you can offer support when it is needed.
Following are tips for communicating with your student to facilitate an open exchange of information. Below them are typical conversation topics that may arise throughout the year and how you can respond. Continue reading Openly communicating throughout the year