MIAD Future Creatives supports high school students and educators

Franklin Critique

Digital design students at Franklin High School say their class project through the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s Future Creatives program provided new skills in teamwork while increasing their awareness of career pathways in design.

Franklin High School is one of 11 area high schools that have partnered to date with MIAD’s growing Future Creatives program to receive a variety of free hands-on academic workshops tailored to each school’s needs in design or fine art and to introduce students to creative careers.

Guided by MIAD instructor Leah Good, the Franklin students explored the full design process for beverage labels – from research and concept development to sketching, digital creation and presentation. Good visited their classroom twice in October 2025 for project presentation and review, with students working in between her visits. Supplies, including a Visual Research Packet, were provided by MIAD.

“I absolutely loved my experience working with MIAD and having Leah come into our classroom,” says Franklin instructor Jean Mohr. “She did a fantastic job developing lessons around beverage label design, but what stood out most was her ability to make meaningful career connections for students. They especially valued the opportunity to connect with a local university.”

Student Abriana Staniszewski supported Mohr’s observation. “I felt that the hands-on experience was the most impactful…. I would use this to help or create a design for my future career’s logo or products.”

For student Brody Charles, “Teamwork was the most impactful, as it was fun to go through the steps of creating a design with partners, which was a whole new experience for me.”

To date, Future Creatives program high school partners include Brown Deer, Franklin, Nathan Hale, New Berlin Eisenhower, Oak Creek, Pathways, Ronald Reagan, St. Joan Antida, Wauwatosa West and Whitefish Bay. As a result of the program’s growth, MIAD is developing additional program initiatives.

To contact MIAD instructor Good, schedule a workshop or learn more, visit Future Creatives.