Digital Academy: CollabQuest
An in-person program connecting creative learning to real-world professional environments.
Ages 14+ | In-Person | Intermediate to Advanced | $410 per CollabQuest
Because Digital Academy has prerequisites for participation, please email our education team to discuss your potential participant and their interest prior to registering them for their first class.
What is CollabQuest?
CollabQuest is developed in partnership between Islands of Brilliance and a professional organization.
Each experience begins with a site visit that introduces participants to a real-world creative environment. Participants then design and create their own individual projects inspired by the challenge, context, and insights gained from that visit.
Participants work alongside peers, sharing feedback and ideas, while maintaining ownership of their work.
What Participants Will Learn
Creative and Technical Skills
Interpreting real-world creative prompts
Translating inspiration into original ideas
Applying tools and techniques independently
Iterating based on feedback
Presenting creative work
Personal Development and Growth
Confidence in professional contexts
Comfort sharing work with peers
Problem-solving through real-world challenges
Seeing creative skills applied beyond the classroom
CollabQuest Is a Good Fit For
Participants curious about creative careers
Learners who benefit from real-world context
Creators who prefer in-person experiences
Participants new to Digital Academy
Program Details
Format: In-Person
Time: Varies by Season
Sessions: One On-site Location Tour + Three 2-Hour IOB Studio Sessions
Tuition: $410 per CollabQuest
Ages: 14+
Our Next CollabQuest…
Planetarium Poster Design
Community Partner: UWM Planetarium
Project Objective
Calling illustrators and designers! The UWM Planetarium is offering a stellar opportunity to develop the visual language for its 2027 season. Participants will step inside one of Milwaukee's most beloved science and storytelling spaces to design the background illustrations and design elements that will be used in the marketing for the 2027 shows.
The kick-off event will happen at the UWM Planetarium, where participants will tour the space, catch a preview of what's coming in the 2027 season, and learn directly from the planetarium team about the shows they're bringing to Milwaukee audiences.
This project will focus on turning the ideas, themes, and imagery of the 2027 shows into original background illustrations and design elements that can be adapted into the promotional posters the planetarium prints and distributes throughout the year.
This experience offers both portfolio development and real-world insight into designing for a public-facing cultural institution.
Each participant's final design will be considered for use in the 2027 promotional materials, and participants will have the opportunity to build connections with the team behind one of the region's most enduring science and art destinations.
Project Details
Format: In-Person
Dates and Times:
Kickoff Session: MONDAY, October 26, 10:00–11:30 am
Studio Sessions: Saturdays, October 31, November 7, and 14, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Duration: One Kickoff Client Experience + Three 2-Hour IOB Studio Sessions
Price: $410
Locations:
Kickoff Session: UWM Planetarium, Physics Bldg, 1900 E Kenwood Blvd, Room 139, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Studio Sessions: IOB’s Studio at the Eagleknit, 507 S 2nd St, Suite 305, Milwaukee, WI 53204
What to Expect:
Inside the World of Science Communication: Meet the UWM Planetarium team and learn how a public-facing science space designs its stories, shows, and visual identity for Milwaukee audiences.
Real Client-Inspired Brief: Get a behind-the-scenes look at how promotional design supports live shows, from concept to printed poster.
Illustration & Poster Design: Create original background illustrations and design elements that can live inside the 2027 promotional posters.
Procreate-Forward, Medium-Flexible: The project is built for Procreate, but participants are welcome to bring other creative applications and workflows they love.
Visual Storytelling for a Season: Explore how illustrators and designers translate a show's ideas, themes, and mood into imagery that pulls audiences in.
Feedback & Iteration: Share your work, receive guidance from IOB and the Planetarium team, and refine your design across multiple studio sessions.
Portfolio Takeaway: Build a strong portfolio piece that shows both creative thinking and applied illustration skills in a real-world format.
Creative Networking: Connect with the team behind one of Milwaukee's most distinctive cultural and educational spaces while learning more about careers in illustration, design, and science communication.
FAQs
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Do participants need prior Digital Academy experience to join CollabQuest?
No. CollabQuest is designed to be accessible to first-time Digital Academy participants as well as returning participants.
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How does the site visit work?
Each CollabQuest includes one in-person visit to a professional or creative environment. Details about location, timing, and logistics are shared in advance.
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What kind of projects do participants create?
Projects are inspired by the professional partner and site visit. Past projects have included animations for stadium screens, custom packaging designs, and 3D printed objects. Each participant creates their own individual project based on the professional challenge explored.
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How much collaboration is involved?
CollabQuest is a partnership between Islands of Brilliance and a professional organization. Participants create their own individual projects while working alongside peers. Collaboration happens during the IOB Studio sessions through shared discussion, idea-sharing, and feedback, with mentors supporting the process.
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Is CollabQuest appropriate for participants who prefer structure?
Yes. CollabQuest includes clear goals, defined timelines, and mentor guidance, making it supportive even for participants new to group projects.
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Not sure if CollabQuest is the right fit?
We’re happy to talk it through. Connect with us before registering.
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