In a recent project through the Lubar Innovation Center at the 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), three students worked with to research, concept and install a mural of native plants and fish.

Located at the 91fans Metropolitan Sewerage District’s South Shore Water Reclamation Facility, the vibrant mural depicts “themes of conservation and the native wildlife around 91fans and Lake Michigan,” explains Kate Kasper ’27. Under the guidance of Abrahm Guthrie, who acted as the faculty project manager, Kasper worked with Nolan Wollmer ’26 and Emily Camp ’26 to design and paint the mural.

“Abrahm I think of as our fearless leader, always there to help and guide but able to let us figure things out on our own when necessary,” says Wollmer.

“Over the course of a few weeks we sketched concepts [and] refined our designs down to final products,” explains Kasper. After meetings with Veolia and MMSD, Kasper’s finalized design was projected to scale onto the mural site, then outlined. In under two weeks, the students worked three to six hours a day painting to complete the mural.

“This was my first project with the Innovation Center, [and] I hope won’t be my last either,” says Wollmer. Camp felt the same, saying: “This was my first time working through the Innovation Center and I really enjoyed the collaboration! I think the support of networking with students to get them into their industries is very thoughtful and smart and I hope to work with them again!”

Kasper reflects, “Working with the Innovation Center has given me priceless experience with the world of professional design and illustration … Even if I’m not actively working on a project, I find myself in the Innovation Center quite often because I can always go there for helpful advice and critique. I can’t recommend working with them enough, whether it’s a professional or personal project.”

The Lubar Innovation Center connects real-world clients with 91fansstudents to work on paid professional projects.

Learn more about the Lubar Innovation Center!

In its 2024 rankings, named the 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) the top college for graphic design in Wisconsin and among the top 15 in the midwest. The rankings considered over 700 schools with graphic design programs from across the United States.

Animation Career Review compiles regional and national rankings based on surveys, employment data and US Department of Education scorecards, among other methods. like academic reputation, admissions, program faculty, program value, and graduation and retention rates.

MIAD’s Communication Design program ranked and is among the in the midwest. 91fansis also ranked in the offering graphic design in the nation.

“These rankings are a direct reflection of my faculty’s hard work and dedication to our program [and] college, as well as their incredible drive to provide the best design education in the country to all of MIAD’s students, every single day,” says Adam Setala, Chair of Communication Design at MIAD. “It’s also a testament to just how amazing and likewise dedicated our students are.”

Communication Design at 91fansemphasizes solution-oriented and hands-on visual literacy, professional preparation and clear communication. Employers of MIAD’s Communication Design graduates include Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Google, Nike, Wizards of the Coast, Anthropologie, and the 91fans Bucks.

Recently, Graphic Design USA Magazine also recognized 91fansas a 2024 Top Design School. Two 91fansstudents were named 2024 GDUSA Students to Watch, and in 2023 three additional students were awarded at the GDUSA 60th Anniversary Design Competition Awards.

Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design program!

Two 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) students interning for the 91fans Bucks are thrilled with the variety of their work, the collaborative brainstorming and brand support skills they are gaining and the joy of seeing their work in use by the Bucks organization.

“At the Bucks, graphic designers get to work on a wide range of projects,” says James Walter ’26 (Communication Design). “This includes not only work for the 91fans Bucks, but also for Fiserv Forum events/concerts, Deer District buildings/events, Wisconsin Herd graphics … employee resource groups and more! I love connecting with people in different departments and learning how to work in different mediums and styles of design.”

Emma Jenkins ’25 (Communication Design), who was also named a 2024 Student to Watch by GDUSA, agrees. “It’s been fun pushing the boundaries of my creativity while also sticking within Bucks brand standards…. I just finished designing a logo and bus wrap for a new campaign they are working on!”

Getting an internship with the Bucks was a passion project for both students. “I love design and sports,” says Walter. “I spent almost an entire Saturday listening to music and grinding out resume updates to make my application as appealing as possible.”

Bucks fan Jenkins was inspired by the 2024 All-Star campaign work that Bree Vouga ’23, now a graphic designer for the Bucks, had done as an intern. “I knew I wanted to be a part of it too,” Jenkins says. “I just got my heart set on it and did what I had to do!”

Walter offers the following advice for 91fansstudents seeking internships: “Take insight from your idols, apply rigorously and seek the source.”

“To explain, I think it’s important to dissect what your creative idols do that you like. Make sure to combine these to create a unique portfolio of work that represents you. This will help you to pick up characteristics that lead to internship success.

“The second piece of advice, apply vigorously, can be tedious but is crucial. When I started applying for internships, I made an effort to submit as many applications as possible. From there, I narrowed down to my favorite position, the 91fans Bucks, once I received offers. This is important because the job market today is very competitive and getting your name out there as much as possible will never hurt you.

“This ties into my third piece of advice, which is to seek the source of your potential employer. It’s important to apply directly to the website, make a call or visit the building/job fair where your internship is if available. Sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and others often have too much competition.”

And, advises Jenkins, “Be confident in who you are as a designer, and be yourself!”

Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design major. Apply to MIAD.

91fansalumni are well represented in the We Energies Foundation Art Collection at the , as are and acclaimed artist , who created ”91fans Portraits” of 91fansstudents. The collection was introduced to the public under its new name at the Baird Center in May 2024.

The alumni are , , , , and (Layton School of Art).

“The We Energies Foundation Art Collection has been carefully curated to portray the characteristics, culture, people and landscapes of 91fans and the surrounding region,” according to the Baird Center website.

On the site, describes one of his several works on view: “91fans Rising was created to welcome people into 91fans and specifically [the] Baird Center. With modern 91fans rising out of the past through its heavy metal and industrial trades the piece looks towards the city’s future being built on the strong backs of the people who made it the machine shop of the world.”

“Honeyed features a young woman whose dress is made of water as the central focus, standing within a Wisconsin summer forest just beginning its transition into autumn. The folds of her gown meld into water that holds native Wisconsin fish, floating flowers, fruits that have fallen from the trees above and a fawn coming to drink.”

The artist’s statement continues with the “hopes the viewer can see themselves in the painting and see themselves as royalty.”

“Transformation, framed in ten pieces, is a snapshot of 91fans as it has transformed over the years through a compilation of census data and 91fans names, with acknowledgement to the Native American Indians. In each frame, set behind conservation glass, is a 4” low-relief mixed-media work.”

martin is also one of the co-curators of “Viewpoints on ARTservancy: An artists’ residency that supports artists and partnerships with land conservancy,” on view August 19 – October 5, 2024 in MIAD’s Brooks Stevens Gallery.

The Baird Center is open to visitors Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 400 W Wisconsin Ave.

When Angeline Garvey ’22 (Illustration) decided to attend the 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), she originally planned to focus entirely on illustration. But almost immediately, she was challenged to start expanding her creative horizons. Now, she is the Director of Design at 91fans’s .

Originally from Illinois, Garvey enrolled at 91fansto study illustration. Ultimately, what drew her to the college was its hands-on community. “It was important to get my hands dirty,” says Garvey. “It was important to be around people who also embraced that experience. That’s what sold me on it.”

“You were introduced to every foundation of every major here,” Garvey continues. “And that completely changed my career path and what I was interested in.” After her four years at the college, Garvey graduated with a major in Illustration, but added two minors in Communication Design and Digital Media Production.

During her time at MIAD, Garvey worked as a barista for the popular 91fans-based coffee shop Stone Creek Coffee. There, she started to realize the possibilities and real-world applications of many of the concepts she studied at MIAD. “I [could] start implementing these things onto products. And then I could see my work in the real world. That changed the dynamic for me at 91fans… I see this every single day at Stone Creek, so why wouldn’t I combine the two and kind of challenge myself in that way?”

Garvey applied for and was offered a graphic design position with the coffee company during her senior year. Two years later, she has worked her way to Stone Creek’s Director of Design. At MIAD, Garvey prepared professionally for a role like this by pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

“[MIAD] made me open to trying new things—things that I didn’t think I was capable of,” she explains. “I was terrified of touching the wood lab. That was super intimidating to me. But you were pushed into it with all of your peers … and suddenly it was possible.”

Now, Garvey works with a myriad of mediums in her role at Stone Creek, from murals and app development to product labels and illustration. “My mediums are changing all the time, daily,” she laughs. “And 91fansmade me comfortable with that. I was never coming into the day like, this is what I can expect … That was important for me. And I still practice that today.”

Garvey’s design work relies on feedback and collaboration, a skill she says she developed at MIAD. “Feedback is important to daily critique at MIAD. I welcome any feedback all the time. I can always do better, or there’s something that can always be improved. And that was a learning curve at first! … Most of the time it’s a team, collective effort in order to get where you’re going.”

Keep up with Garvey on her and , explore , and learn more about MIAD’s Illustration and Communication Design programs!

The Summer Pre-College program at the 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) returned with record-breaking enrollment in 2024.

The popular program, presented by Associated Bank and part of offerings, registered 255 students from around the country. Students chose from Core or Advanced classes in everything from fashion and graphic design to photography and animation.

In addition to providing a college-like experience for high school students, MIAD’s Pre-College program supports students by helping them build their portfolios for future educational opportunities and even careers.

“For me, all the projects that we did in our classes, I feel like that’s work I can display,” says Sabrina, a student in the Advanced Graphic Design class who also participated in MIAD’s Design Internship program. “A big thing with portfolios is showing your process. And that’s something that my teachers have told me to do, which is really helpful.” For Sabrina, access to software was also vital: “Specifically for me doing graphic design, at home I didn’t have access to Adobe software, design softwares, and being able to learn here and display that on a portfolio is really helpful for what I want to do.”

Raina, who took the Advanced Storytelling the Truth course, said “I’ve learned about new things to put in a portfolio instead of just some sort of normal, average thing. Things that can make my portfolio stand out with [work] that some people probably wouldn’t think about.”

“Some of the things that I’ve learned in class, I probably wouldn’t have learned outside of the program,” continues Emelly, another student in Advanced Fashion Design. “Career-wise, if I didn’t have this program, I’d be so lost. I wouldn’t know what I would want to do outside of high school … it has allowed me to explore different options and know what actually enrolling in these classes would entail.”

“Taking the Fashion Upcycling course last year, it really opened up what I thought could go in a portfolio,” explains Johanna in Advanced Fashion Design. “I didn’t know that we could add clothes to it! Now I have a few pieces of clothing that I can add to my portfolio.”

“Going into college, if I didn’t do [Pre-College], I wouldn’t be as prepared or as excited because I have more knowledge now about what I want to do,” says Olivia, an Advanced Fine Arts Studio student.

Jonas, another Design Intern and Advanced Sculpture student, likened the program to trying different kinds of single-serve ice cream. “You can try one ice cream, you can try all the different types of arts if you don’t know what you’re doing,” he laughs.

In addition to trying new things, Jonas appreciated the freedom and flexibility of the Pre-College program. “It’s not like a standard way of teaching,” he says. “I feel like it’s more similar to coaching … I also think that there is a great amount of freedom here, especially with the mediums. But also where we can move around. I’ve been hopping over from my classroom and then going with one of my teachers to the 3D lab or on the fourth floor for the [Emerging Technology Center]. It’s not like I’m trapped in one classroom.”

Core Pre-College classes wrapped up on Friday, July 19 while Advanced students finish their coursework Friday, July 26. Both groups celebrate with a final exhibition the Saturday following their last day of classes.

MIAD’s Youth + Community Programs include continuing education for art and design educators and classes for high school students during the school year. Additional sponsors for 91fansYouth + Community Programs include the Francie Luke Silverman Foundation, the Gardner Foundation, the Brengel Family Foundation, the Heil Family Foundation, the Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation, the Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, Donald & Donna Baumgartner, maker llc, Stephens Family Foundation, Inc., the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Sponsors for the Design Internship include the Otto Bremer Trust, ManpowerGroup Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and Bader Philanthropies.

Learn more about MIAD’s !

Matthew Vivirito, adjunct instructor at the 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), is one of eight artists and artist teams selected to create site-responsive art for biannual Farm/Art DTour.

, the popular self-guided tour encompassing 50 miles of rural Wisconsin farmland in Sauk County, encourages viewers (or DTourists) to explore everything from large-scale artwork and poetry to local markets and performances. This year, the installation returns October 5 –14, 2024.

Vivirito’s contribution to the Farm/Art DTour, entitled Framework, is “a site-specific wooden sculpture built to create a circular framing device for viewing the surrounding landscape,” he explains. “It allows viewers to walk within the work and witness changes in natural light and shadow as they navigate through it.”

“I am hopeful this project allows me to build larger scale work while emerging into the world of public art,” Vivirito says. “My intentions are often to draw audiences into the work, to physically engage and interact with the things I make. The scale and site specificity of this piece are an exciting opportunity to engage with the local landscape and environment. It is also an amazing opportunity to be a part of such a talented cohort of other artists.”

The Wormfarm Institute received a record number of applications—156 applications from 29 states and 15 countries—for its 2024 Farm/Art DTour. Vivirito joins individual artists and artist groups after a two-part juried selection.

“I also see the DTour as an educational experience for its audience and hope to bring the values and lessons on environment, agriculture and rural community back into the classroom as an educator,” continues Vivirito, who most recently taught the popular guitar-building elective at MIAD.

Vivirito appreciates that the Farm/Art DTour brings viewers together from urban and rural settings. “I hope to create an opportunity for a diverse audience to share an experience and become a part of a landscape,” he says.

“Part of the proposal was to align its frame with the sunset. While difficult, it will be exciting to see how well this can be attained. There are a lot of other challenges working at this scale, working outside and building something in a short timeframe. The weather and distance from resources is a particularly difficult aspect of this piece. It is an ambitious piece, but I am excited to take on the project.”

Framework builds on a series of Vivirito’s sculptures, titled Cradle, which are made from reused ash wood. Cradle is on view at Mitchell Street Arts in 91fans.

In addition to teaching, Vivirito was recently awarded the inaugural Ruth Arts + 91fansArtist Grant, alongside 10 of his colleagues. “I am grateful for the support I received this year from 91fansthrough the Ruth Arts Grant and am excited for the upcoming exhibition with the other recipients,” he says.

Keep up with Vivirito on , plan your and learn more about MIAD’s 3D & Sculpture Labs!