UCDA inspires designers working in academia in North America and around the world by delivering relevant programming and benefits in a personal and thoughtful way. The organization provides for the professional and personal growth of its members, and advocates for designers’ and educators’ roles within their institution. UCDA works to elevate the importance of design overall.
UCDA: connecting, inspiring, and supporting a creative community in education
UCDA Events
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Creative Conversations: Creativity on a Shoestring — Design Under Constraints
Creative Conversations
Zoom
Creativity on a Shoestring: Design Under ConstraintsTight budgets? Short timelines? Limited staff? Welcome to higher ed! Join a candid discussion on making magic with fewer resources—prioritization strategies, creative hacks, time-saving systems, and real examples of doing a lot with a little. Let’s celebrate the scrappy brilliance that keeps our campuses looking good. Thursday, July…
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Faculty Forum: 2026-27 Academic Year Kick-Off
faculty forum
Faculty Forum
August 7, 2026: 2026-27 Academic Year Kick-Off Please note this in on the first Friday of the month. Share what you did this summer and your plans for the school year, as well as ideas and suggestions on topics for upcoming Faculty Forums! Registration closes August 6 at midnight.
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2026 UCDA Design Conference: Duality
2026 design conference kansas city
Kansas City
Missouri
Join us in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 56th annual UCDA Design Conference: November 4-7, 2026. The creative world has been reshaped by the rise of AI-driven tools, challenging the balance between authenticity and the expectation to rapidly create. As these technologies become embedded in everyday workflows, questions around authorship, originality, and creative voice are more pressing th…
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UCDA JOURNAL
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Meadville Lombard Theological School’s Design Renaissance: Crafting an Inclusive Identity
July 16, 2025At a time when many institutions rely on tradition to define their brand, Meadville Lombard Theological School saw an opportunity to do something different—something deeply personal. Their new visual identity, anchored by a honey badger mascot named Theo, isn’t just a logo refresh. It’s a full-on e…
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The Value and Benefit of Being a UCDA Member
April 15, 2025It is more important and valuable than ever to be an active member of a professional association such as UCDA. Only UCDA offers specific professional development, community, networking, and resources for designers who work in education and for design educators. This article shares in detail the val…
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