UCDA DESIGN AWARDS
The UCDA Design Awards recognizes the best of the exceptional design and creative work done by communication professionals to promote educational institutions (secondary, vocational, or higher education) and supports the exchange of ideas and information relating to the unique role of these creatives.

These coveted awards are judged by a hand-picked panel of peer jurors composed of designers, design educators, photographers, and illustrators working in or doing a significant portion of their work for educational institutions—they understand the environments in which you create.

Winning entries will be part of the UCDA Design Show on display during the 51st annual UCDA Design Conference and become a part of the UCDA Design Collection.

See full bios of all the judges.

QUESTIONS?
Tadson Bussey, Executive Director
Chris Klonowski, Assistant Director
info@ucda.com
615-459-4559
615-417-1464 (Tadson mobile)

Nikhil Ghodke, Design Awards Chair
nghodke77@gmail.com

Liz Chrisman, Design Awards Co-Chair
liz.chrisman@imba.com 

JULY 28, 2021—UPDATE

JUDGES CHOICE
We have averaged the scores from all the judges for all entries, and have selected the top 210 pieces for inclusion into the UCDA Design Awards Show. From these selections, we ask that each judges select a single "judges choice" from the categories that they reviewed (if you have not yet done so).

Design Awards—Design Show Portal

BEST OF SHOW
Of the 210 winning entries, following natural breaks in the judging scores, we have 7 Gold Awards; 24 Silver Awards; and 178 Excellence Awards.

We are now asking ALL judges to review and score ALL 7 Gold Awards on the same 5 point scale to determine if there is a "Best of Show" winner.

Best of Show Selection Portal
Best of Show Scoring Sheet (all judges are on a single sheet)

REQUESTED TESTIMONIALS
We are asking each judge to provide us with the following:

1. What was your overall opinion of the quality of work submitted for the competition?
2. What trends, if any, did you notice during judging?
3. What surprised you? 
4. What disappointed you? 
5. How do you see the impact of economic, cultural, and social developments reflected in design for education? 
6. Looking forward, what opportunities do you see for creatives working in and for an educational institution?
7. Overall comments and why did you choose your judges choice award? (If you are comfortable with being on camera, a video of your answer to #7 would be terrific.)
   
   

JUDGING OVERVIEW
If you missed one of the judging oviewview Zoom sessions, or just would like a refresher, feel free to watch this video.

JUDGING LINKS

DEALINE FOR ROUND 1 JUDGING: JULY 23

 

PHOTOGRAPHY JUDGES
Zhee Chatmon, Gallaudet University
Rick Hart, University of British Columbia
Jim Olvera, Jim Olvera Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines
Image Portal

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Zhee Chatmon
Rick Hart
Jim Olvera

ILLUSTRATION JUDGES
Terresa Moses, University of Minnesota
Sunny Paulk, Artist/Designer
Mark Saba, Illustrator

ILLUSTRATION LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines
Image Portal

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Terresa Moses
Sunny Paulk
Mark Saba

 

STUDENT JUDGES
Bonnie Blake, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Warren Lehrer, Writer/Designer
Kelly Porter, East Tennessee State University

STUDENT LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines
Image Portal

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Bonnie Blake
Warren Lehrer
Kelly Porter

 

PRINT JUDGES
Brad Hebebrand, Parallel
Courtney Windham, Auburn University
Jennifer Yucus, University of South Florida St. Petersburg

PRINT LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines
Image Portal

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Brad Hebebrand
Courtney Windham
Jennifer Yucus

 

DIGITAL JUDGES
Nitin Budhiraja, TracyLocke
Matt Glass, University of California
Joel Lustre, Indiana University Foundation

DIGITAL LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines (digital and video share the same guidelines)
Image Portal (digital and video share the same portal)

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Nitin Budhiraja
Matt Glass
Joel Lustre

 

VIDEO JUDGES
Steve Harper, This is Bona Fide
Lucas Ruderman, Arts Council of Rockland
Megan G. Wells, Two Birds Films

VIDEO LINKS
List of Categories
Judging Guidelines (digital and video share the same guidelines)
Image Portal (digital and video share the same portal)

SCORING DOCUMENTS
Steve Harper
Lucas Ruderman
Megan G. Wells