UCDA Design Conference
The 48th Annual UCDA Design Conference provides you an opportunity to get an in-depth look at the issues facing the design and communication communities, both in and out of educational institutions, and gain inspiration for better collaboration.
Handcrafted—Whether you create in pixels or pastels, bytes or batches, the art of creation fuels your fire. You consider yourself a maker: you design, craft, write, cajole, and urge your vision into reality. For designers and design educators, thoughtful design is in the details, and it’s crafted by hand. It’s Art with a capital A, no matter how it’s created.
The UCDA Design Conference is your connection to inspiration: hand-picked speakers that engage, hand-crafted experiences to delight, hand-curated sessions that educate.
Connect with your fellow creatives and surround yourself with art and design this fall. Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to the world’s largest public art competition, is the home for the 2018 UCDA Design Conference. The often surprising, never mundane city hosts ArtPrize, an event, once experienced, will not soon be forgotten.
Inspiration abounds in Grand Rapids, and UCDA will be at its heart. Join us.
5 REASONS TO INVEST IN THE UCDA DESIGN CONFERENCE
1. Learn from others in your industry so you can face challenges with the right knowledge and support.
2. Hear creative inspiration and hard-hitting instruction from our stellar lineup of speakers.
3. Connect with the design community to build a successful career.
4. Gain inspiration from the award-winning work in the UCDA Design Show.
5. Attend some of the 30 sessions that cover the gamut of work you do—from print to web to interactive and integrated marketing.
REGISTRATION FEES
| Full Conference Registration (all prices in USD) |
Regular | Early Bird (by Aug. 1) |
Pre-register (by May 1) |
| Non-member/Subscriber | $1,200 | $1,075 | $950 |
| Reduced Conference Rates (become a member) |
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| UCDA Partner Member Rate (e.g. GDC members) |
$1,075 | $950 | $825 |
| UCDA Professional, Associate or Faculty Member Rate | $950 | $825 | $700 |
| Student Rate | $500 | $450 | $400 |
| UCDA Emeritus Member Rate | $350 | $300 | $300 |
| Single Day Registration (all prices in USD) |
Regular | Early Bird (by Aug. 1) |
| Saturday, September 29 | $450 | $400 |
| Sunday, September 30 | $450 | $400 |
| Monday, October 1 | $450 | $400 |
| Tuesday, October 2 | $450 | $400 |
| Optional Events and Guest Meals (all prices in USD) |
Attendee | Guests |
| Lettering with Personality Workshop (SOLD OUT!) | $50 | $60 |
| Learn, Make, and Take: Live Hands-on Block Printing Workshop (SOLD OUT) |
$60 | $70 |
| Opening Mixer, Dinner and Reception (September 29) |
included | $75 |
| Networking Lunch (September 30) | included | $40 |
| UCDA Resource Center Breakfast (October 1) | included | $30 |
| Carbon Offset (1-1/2 tons of credit) | $18 | $18 |
See UCDA’s cancellation policy.
THREE WAYS TO REGISTER
1. Online
Click the "REGISTER NOW" button at right to register online. You will be able to register for the conference as well as any optional activites (add-ons) including pre-conference workshops, publication swap shop, guest meals and more. Once registered, a link will be provided for you to select your sessions.
2. Printed Registration Form
Download a PDF of the registration form, complete and mail, fax, or email to UCDA.
University & College Designers Association
199 Enon Springs Road West, Suite 400
Smyrna, TN 37167
615-459-5229 fax
info@ucda.com
3. Call Us
Call us at 615-459-4559 and we can register you by phone. Please have your payment information available. Once registered, a link will be provided for you to select your sessions, or you may tell us those over the phone.
SESSION SELECTION
To ensure proper space for each session, you will be asked to select sessions after registering.
VOLUNTEER
Be sure to indicate “yes” on the Conference Registration form and a volunteer coordinator will be in touch. For more information, contact the UCDA Home Office at 615-459-4559, or email info@ucda.com.
SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
For more information on sponsorship or participating in the UCDA Resource Center, contact the UCDA Home Office at 615-459-4559, info@ucda.com or contact Amy Drill, 2018 conference co-chair at drill@lclark.edu.
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
EXHIBITORS
PARTNERS AND GOODY BAG
CONFERENCE SITE
The conference will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, discover the hotel’s historic charm and modern comforts. Nestled downtown by the Grand River for nearly a century, the hotel boasts original iron and woodwork, English Adams architecture, and a 29-story glass tower.
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
DISCOUNTED HOTEL RATES
The hotel is offering discounted rates for conference attendees at $189 (single or double), but these rooms will go fast. Consider taking advantage of these great rates and stay a few extra days before or after the conference to explore the many wonderful attractions Grand Rapids has to offer.
The Amway Grand is home to The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck—one of only two locations in the world. Visit Cygnus27 for South American cuisine and skyline views, and savor hand-selected steaks and homemade desserts at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Unwind in the GP Sports pub, and order room service anytime.
To make your reservation call 800-253-3590 or visit tinyurl.com/ucda-grandrapids. Mention you are attending the UCDA Design Conference to receive the discounted rate. Deadline to receive this rate has been extended to August 20.
The hotel stay is not included in the conference registration fees. You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations. Room blocks may fill before the hotel deadline and have sold out the last few years, so please make your reservation immediately to ensure the discounted rate and availability.
TRAVEL
Getting to Grand Rapids
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the closest airport to downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is approximately a 20-minute drive the hotel.
Airport/Ground Transportation
TAXI AND RIDE-SHARING
Taxi and ride-sharing services are available from the airport and throughout Grand Rapids.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTAION
Public transportation is also available, visit ridetherapid.org
To help you plan your travel and your stay, visit
www.experiencegr.com
CARBON OFFSETS
For $18, you may purchase and offset the CO2 created by your travel and conference attendance. All participants will receive a luggage tag and will be purchasing 1-1/2 tons, no matter the distance.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
With more than 40 sessions, workshops, and activities on the schedule, you are bound to find something that piques your interest.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
SCHEDULE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
SCHEDULE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 1
SCHEDULE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2
ABOUT ARTPRIZE
Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to the world’s largest public art competition, is the home for the 48th Annual UCDA Design Conference. The often surprising, never mundane city hosts ArtPrize, an event, once experienced, that will not soon be forgotten.
The UCDA Design Conference coincides with this remarkable festival. Learn more about ArtPrize.
HAND-PICKED SPEAKERS
The UCDA Design Conference is your connection to inspiration: hand-picked speakers that engage, hand-crafted experiences to delight, hand-curated sessions that educate. We have found some of the best and the brightest speakers for our pre-conference workshops, breakout sessions, and general sessions.
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn, Hand Lettering Artist and Illustrator, Shauna Lynn Illustration
Brian White, Principal/Creative Director, TriLion Studios
BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS
Kat Braz, Senior Director, Creative Communications, Purdue Alumni Association
Kevin Budelmann, President/Co-owner, Peopledesign
Liz Chrisman, Director of Photography, Arkansas Tech University
Meaghan Dee, Chair of Visual Communication Design, Virginia Tech School of Visual Arts
Daniel Dejan, Print and Creative Manager, Sappi Fine Paper North America
David Dodde, Artist/Designer/Printmaker, House Industries
Rob Fentress, Web Accessibility Solutions Designer, Virginia Tech
Erika Forsack, Social Media Strategist, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Jason Frostholm, Host, Creative South Podcast and Co-Creative Director, Frostiki
Diane Gibbs, Professor of Graphic Design, University of South Alabama
Yang Kim, Creative Director/Co-owner, Peopledesign
Joshua Morey, Senior Graphic Designer, Michigan State University
Kim Nelson, Director of University Creative Services, Western Michigan University
Mark Nichols, Senior Director of Universal Design and Accessible Technologies, Virginia Tech
Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn, Hand Lettering Artist and Illustrator, Shauna Lynn Illustration
Tim Pangburn, Owner/Tattooer, Art Machine Productions
Doc Reed, Owner, Reedicus and In-house Graphic Designer, Premier Inc.
Craig Tommola, Web Developer and Designer, Hope College
Brian White, Principal/Creative Director, TriLion Studios
Trish Witkowski, Chief Folding Fanatic, FoldFactory.com
GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS
Location:
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids
,
Michigan 49503