Design Studio Discipline
Design courses offer students autonomy and agency in the face of an ever-changing cultural landscape. The study of graphic design, design methodologies, modes of production, and design histories, provides our students with the skillsets required to actively participate in visual culture, commerce, and communication.
Students build a body of work demonstrating their mastery of tools, media and concepts to effectively communicate ideas to a target audience. The curriculum includes coursework in composition, typography, strategy and design process, design methodologies and research, portfolio development, web and multimedia design, design entrepreneurship and real-world internships in local design firms. Risk-taking, experimentation and productive criticism are central to our program. Our curriculum works as an on-going design laboratory.
First Year Program
We don’t expect our new students to figure out college life on their own. Our First Year Program is designed to help new 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.
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 & 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.
Art & Design Programs
Art & Design studio disciplines are connected to a variety of academic programs, including majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs. This is a full list of all programs offered by the Department of Art & Design.
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 follow the link 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
- larsenw@uwm.edu
- 817-805-3409
- Kenilworth Square East 545
- Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- lmoline@uwm.edu
- Art Building 417
- Lecturer, Design & Visual Communication
- Faculty Advisor, AIGA UWM
- amryan@uwm.edu
- Art Building 417
- Teaching Faculty II, Digital Fabrication & Design
- Technician, Digital Fabrication & Design
- vivirito@uwm.edu
- Kenilworth Square East 368
- Lecturer, Design & Visual Communication
- szweifel@uwm.edu
- 414-940-7615
- Art Building 417
Undergraduate Scholarship Priority Applications
Fall: December 15
Graduate Applications
Fall: January 25
Those eligible for the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship (AOP) should apply by December 10.
Undergraduate Programs
Katie Martin-Meurer, art-admission@uwm.edu
Graduate Programs
Jessica Meuninck Ganger, art-grad-admission@uwm.edu
General Info & Questions
Contact Form | 414-229-4763
