2025 UCDA Creative Summit

Tuesday, April 1 & Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The 2025 UCDA Creative Summit is a two-day virtual event providing inspiration to refill your creative fuel tank. Programming is curated to spark your imagination and facilitate ideas that can help be a catalyst for your next project or even give you the inspiration to seek out and try new techniques or embark on a new creative path.  

Attendees engage virtually in a casual, friendly setting with creative professionals across North America and beyond. Illustrators, photographers, designers, and creative thinkers will share their inspiring work and stories. We also include workshops and hands-on activities as well as time for open discussions to share experiences and ideas. The virtual format makes it easy to attend from your office, studio space, or home. Come prepared to learn, share, and grow your creative potential—you will walk away with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and inspiration to fuel your next creative endeavor.

The UCDA Creative Summit is an opportunity to discover, create, and connect.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

While UCDA’s programming is designed for creative professionals working in education, design faculty, and students, the Creative Summit is for anyone who needs a creative boost. If you’re a writer, marketer, creative manager, illustrator, photographer, or any other creative professional (or student), this event is for you!

TOP REASONS TO ATTEND THIS SUMMIT

Education: Carefully curated presentations and workshops over two days
Community: Connect and exchange ideas with the folks who do what you do
Affordable: Without the need for travel or lodging, the UCDA Creative Summit is budget-friendly. 

AGENDA

The Creative Summit takes place over the course of two days. All times are in North America Central Standard Time (CDT). We start mid-morning at 10 a.m. CDT (we have found this is the best overall time to allow those in different time zones to join us). Given this start time, we have only scheduled short breaks between sessions (no long lunch break), so plan to have water, coffee, and snacks on hand.

We’ll begin each morning with a keynote presentation with an opportunity for Q&A with the speaker, followed by casual conversation with fellow attendees and exercises to get your creative juices flowing. We’ll round out the day with a hands-on workshop to help you flex your maker muscles. 

SCHEDULE

Join us for two fulfilling days of creativity and inspiration:
Tuesday, April 1, 2025: 10:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (CDT)
Wednesday, April 2, 2025: 10:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (CDT)

SPEAKERS & SESSIONS

Reginé Gilbert James Weldon Johnson Professor, New York University	Megan Roy Author & Illustrator	Jon Stapp Founder & Creative Director, atomicvibe design lab	Peter Donahue Designer, Educator & Color Theorist, The Creativity Department, LLC

Reginé Gilbert | Keynote Presentation
The Access Blueprint: Where AI Meets Humanity
Join Reginé Gilbert as she unfolds a fresh approach to designing digital spaces that celebrate human ingenuity and welcome everyone to participate fully. Through lived experiences and practical insights, she'll share how designers and creators can build bridges between diverse human needs and emerging technologies, ensuring our digital future remains richly accessible, intentionally inclusive, and deeply rooted in human connection.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Megan Roy | Workshop
Breaking the Block: A One-Hour Creative Reset
This workshop session is your all-access pass to busting through creative blocks with flair and fun! Using The Endless Art Challenge card deck, we’ll shake up your routine, spark fresh ideas, and prove that creativity is always just a shuffle away. All you need to bring is your imagination—because this hour is all about turning “stuck” into “sparked”!

Jon Stapp | Keynote Presentation
Delta Ducks Brand Development: Process Overview
In mid-2023, Delta College, a community college near Bay City, Michigan, partnered with atomicvibe design lab to reimagine their athletics and spirit brand, culminating in the creation of Duck, a vibrant and unifying mascot. Over the course of six months, we strategically developed Duck’s persona and designed the character’s look, along with a cohesive brand tone and voice, and a comprehensive visual identity system. This presentation offers an inside look at our thoughtful process, showcasing how we brought this dynamic symbol to life and fostered a deeper sense of pride within the Delta community.

Peter Donahue | Workshop
Harmonizing Colors—with Science!
Join Peter Donahue for a hands-on workshop exploring fresh, research-backed ways to create beautiful color combinations. First, we’ll break down classic harmony rules (like complementary and triadic schemes) to see why they don’t always work. Then, you’ll discover how perceptual color intervals and a “character-first” approach can help you build palettes that convey mood, meaning, and style with confidence.

REGISTRATION

Registration Deadline: March 25  

Digital recording available for a period of not more than one year.
See UCDA’s Cancellation Policy
See UCDA’s Inclusiveness, Code of Conduct, and Anti-harassment Policy.