91��ɫ

When Angeline Garvey �22 (Illustration) decided to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (91��ɫ), 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 Milwaukee�s .

Originally from Illinois, Garvey enrolled at 91��ɫ to 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 91��ɫ, Garvey worked as a barista for the popular Milwaukee-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 91��ɫ. �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 91��ɫ � 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 91��ɫ, Garvey prepared professionally for a role like this by pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

�[91��ɫ] 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 91��ɫ made 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 91��ɫ. �Feedback is important to daily critique at 91��ɫ. 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 91��ɫ�s Illustration and Communication Design programs!