For the past eight years, Kesslers Diamonds has partnered with PSOA’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing program to provide students with opportunities to create industry-grade work. What began as a collaboration has grown into a sustained investment in student success, offering real-world job experience, internship opportunities, and significant scholarship support.
Illustration Undergraduate Certificate
Become more than just an illustrator—become a visual storyteller with the skills to turn your creative ideas into impactful works of art. Whether your future lies in editorial illustration, entertainment, advertising or beyond, our illustration certificate will prepare you to make your mark in a world that thrives on visual communication.
This certificate program for graphic design is a well-rounded guide to mastering the craft of illustration through both traditional and digital techniques. You’ll learn to develop your personal style, hone your ability to visually convey your vision, and begin a professional portfolio showcasing your unique talents. As an add-on to your arts degree, this certificate offers the right amount of flexibility for you to choose courses that inspire you and support your creative goals.
Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
The arts are for everyone
A minor or certificate in the arts provides a well-rounded education. That’s because the arts foster creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They enhance communication and presentation skills, which are valuable in any professional setting. Engaging in the arts also increases empathy and understanding of diverse people and perspectives. Plus, they bring a unique selling point to your resume by demonstrating a versatile skill set.
And let’s be honest: The arts are also a lot of fun, adding stress relief and variety to your college experience.
89%Executives agree that creativity is a top skill
91%Americans agree the arts are vital to education
73%Americans say the arts help them understand others
45Minutes of art making can reduce stress levels
Illustration Certificate Details
The illustration certificate program provides a focused sequence of courses, blending foundational training with advanced creative exploration. You’ll start with core classes in drawing and design, then build your skills through digital painting and illustration-specific courses. Electives let you tailor the experience by choosing from courses in typography, painting, printmaking and book arts.
This program culminates in a capstone course where you’ll develop a professional illustration portfolio and explore your role in the industry. With both analog and digital approaches available, the certificate is ideal for students who want to sharpen their voice as illustrators while gaining tools to succeed in visual storytelling fields.
Explore the Illustration, Undergraduate Certificate requirements in the Academic Catalog.
You may also be interested in our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design & Visual Communication to use your illustration skills alongside a full graphic design degree.
Art & Design Studio Disciplines
Led by expert artist faculty, our art and design studio disciplines are content areas that provide focus to your creative research, practice and degree. We offer the following studio disciplines: Ceramics, Creative Technologies, Design, Digital Fabrication, Fibers, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Painting & Drawing, Photography & Imaging, Printmaking & Book Arts and Sculpture.
First Year Program in Art & Design
We don’t expect our new students to figure out college life on their own. Our First Year Program is designed to help new art and design students. In addition to specific coursework carefully chosen to foster success, we connect students to the many resources and opportunities found within a research university. Plus, we surround students with individualized support as they dive deeper into their program and find their way.
Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series
Throughout the fall and spring semesters, the Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series welcomes a diverse group of nationally and internationally recognized artists working across traditional, hybrid and emergent disciplines. Join us to explore and expand boundaries of creative visual practices alongside others with an interest in contemporary visual art.
Galleries & Exhibitions
Our art and design programs host many galleries and exhibitions both on campus and throughout the community. Our campus is home to four permanent art galleries, each with its own unique mission. All of them are free, open to the public and accessible for everyone to enjoy.
Milwaukee is also home to dozens of galleries and museums. All students in an art and design degree program receive a free annual membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM). That means you can visit MAM and its events, including the popular MAM After Dark series, free of charge while you are a student.
Internships & Opportunities
Students work and intern professionally with Milwaukee’s leading art museums and galleries, creative agencies, corporations and nonprofits. They also find internships across the country and beyond. Discover where your education can take you. Learn more about internships and opportunities.
Student Organizations & Clubs
Meet like-minded people in a wide variety of student organizations and clubs who inspire creativity and will support your aspirations. Collaborate and create, network with professional artists, and deepen your connection with faculty, mentors and fellow students outside of the classroom.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Art & Design Alumni Stories
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Kesslers Diamonds continues its support of Jewelry & Metalsmithing students through grants and internships
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How Steve Teeple’s childhood interests shaped his career as a digital artistAs a child growing up in Wisconsin, Steve Teeple was drawn to fantasy worlds. Books, films, and comics filled with mysticism, science fiction, and manga sparked an early fascination that would later shape his creative career. Today, the UWM alum, known professionally as Teeps, is a Los Angeles-based digital artist working across the realm of 3D art. …
Art & Design Careers
- 3D Animator / Modeler
- Advertising Director
- Animator
- App Developer
- Art Critic / Writer
- Art Dealer
- Art Director
- Art Gallery Owner
- Art Historian
- Art Therapist
- Artisan Solutionist
- Artist in Residence
- Artists’ Agent
- Arts Administrator
- Augmented Reality Designer
- Blacksmith
- Ceramicist
- Commercial Artist
- Community Artist
- Community Organizer
- Consultant
- Costume Designer
- Creative Services Manager
- Curator
- Design Manager
- Designer
- Director of Community Engagement
- Educator
- Entrepreneur
- Exhibit Designer
- Fabricator
- Fashion Designer
- Fine Artist
- Floral Designer
- Font Designer
- Freelance Artist
- Furniture Designer / Restorer
- Game Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Graphic Artist
- Illustrator
- Industrial Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Interior Designer
- Jewelry Designer / Maker
- Lighting Designer
- Makeup Artist
- Marketing & Sales Director
- Metalsmith
- Mixed Media Artist
- Muralist
- Museum Director
- Packaging Designer
- Painter
- Photographer
- Photographic Stylist
- Photographic Technician
- Printmaker
- Product Designer
- Production Artist
- Program Director / Coordinator
- Prop Maker
- Public Artist
- Public Relations Director
- Sculptor
- Set Designer
- Sketch Artist
- Stylist
- Technical Designer, Apparel
- Textile Designer
- Toy Maker
- User Experience / User Interface Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- Visual / Special Effects Artist
- Web Designer / Developer
Illustration Certificate Faculty
Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Art & Design faculty and staff please click the button below.
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- grame@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4258
- Art Building 430B
- Associate Professor, Digital Fabrication & Design
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Area Head, Digital Fabrication & Design
- hawk@uwm.edu
- Art Building 430B
- Assistant Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- larsenw@uwm.edu
- Kenilworth Square East 545
- Lecturer, Design & Visual Communication
- Faculty Advisor, AIGA UWM
- amryan@uwm.edu
- Art Building 417
- Teaching Faculty II, Digital Fabrication & Design
- vivirito@uwm.edu
- Kenilworth Square East 368