Design Internship
Define your journey. Design your path.
2026–2027
Define your journey. Design your path.
MIAD’s free, year-long Design Internship program empowers motivated high school students to explore creative careers through a series of meaningful, connected opportunities. Designed to build pathways into the world of design, the program combines accessibility, mentorship, and handson experience.
Structured around accessibility, mentorship, and sustained engagement, students build foundational design skills through MIAD faculty-led workshops and tuition-free Summer and Weekend Pre-College courses. They also complete a 50-hour paid internship with a professional partner, gaining hands-on experience and industry insight.
Mentorship opportunities provide additional access to the MIAD community, allowing students to experience Wisconsin’s premier art and design college and gain the tools to design a path from high school to college to career.
Design Internship
Professional Partners
Past & Present
• Boelter + Lincoln
• Core Creative
• Cramer-Krasselt
• Engberg Anderson Architects
• Eppstein Uhen Architects
• Hanson Dodge
• Harley-Davidson
• HGA Architects and Engineers
• Hoffman York
• JWD Creative
• Maker LLC
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Ocupop
• Plunkett Raysich Architects
• Rinka
• Weyco Group
→ View our 2026–2027 Design Internship professional partners at miad.edu/designinternship.
After the internship, I realized that a career in design—and art itself—was possible, even realistic... [The internship] ended up being one of the best... decisions I’ve ever made. I can say whole-heartedly this program changed my life. I never dreamed of doing art for a career, but now I look forward to it.
Liz Hagie
Cudahy High School, Class of 2026 Intern at Maker LLC
This internship allowed me to experience what my future might look like. ...Working at a real firm nd taking pre-college classes, I’ve been able to get a feel for what a career in architecture (and my college life) holds.
Jodie Jasmin Oak Creek High School, Class of 2027 Intern at Plunkett Raysich Architects
2026-2027 Programming
The Design Internship program includes:
• A required Kickoff Session on February 21, 2026, at MIAD
• A required program orientation on April 18, 2026, at MIAD
• A free MCTS bus pass
May 2026
• Weeknight & afterschool training classes
June 2026
• 2-week paid internship
July 2026
• Free tuition to MIAD's Summer
Pre-College Program
August 2026 –May 2027
• Free weekend classes
• Workshops
• End of year celebration in May 2027
How to Apply
• Complete the free online Design Internship application at miad.edu/designinternship
• Include your statement expressing what excites you most about design and this internship program on your application.
→ View our 2026–2027 Design Internship professional partners at miad.edu/designinternship.
Important Dates
• Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
• Kickoff Session (required): February 21, 2026
• Program Dates: April 18, 2026 – May 1, 2027
Jumpstart
Nurture. Inspire. Grow.
These are the cornerstones of MIAD’s Jumpstart Program.
Jumpstart provides opportunities for creative high school students to learn from MIAD faculty, gain access to MIAD Pre-College programs and engage with leaders in the design industry. Originally created in response to the tremendous interest in MIAD’s Design Internship program, Jumpstart engages participants to develop their creative and professional skills, and strengthen their path to college.
The Jumpstart program includes:
• A professional, design project with MIAD faculty in May and June on campus.
• A $500 scholarship to 2026 Summer Pre-College in July
• Tours of professional design firms in Milwaukee
• Free tuition to weekend Pre-College courses in fall 2026 and spring 2027
• Free MIAD student Mentorship opportunities
• Invitations to Design Internship events during the academic year
• Networking with creative peers from various high schools
How to Apply
Selected applicants from the Design Internship program are invited to participate in MIAD’s Jumpstart Program.
• Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
