Our Denver conference was unlike any conference we’ve had before. We were back live and in-person after last year’s virtual conference. We asked five attendees to tell us about their experience at the UCDA Design Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Here’s what they told us.
Left to right: Harley Stickney in front of Denver’s Union Station; Denver street shadow by Sue Samuelson; conference attendees surrounding the Blue Bear; Winston Vanderhoof, middle, with former students Matt Krob and Aimee Felter during the UCDA Design Awards presentation; and Yadesa Bojia visiting Red Rocks while in Denver.
Elizabeth Lord, Art Director, Utah State University
Who was your favorite speaker at the conference?
Jeremy Slagle's workshop and presentation. His workshop highlighted a particular piece of design craft I'm currently working on—vector illustrations—and the techniques and Adobe tips from that workshop were priceless. His presentation during the conference—our design journey in tandem with our personal journey—was so beneficial. For his messages about embracing our personal or professional journeys, and ways to improve our craft along the way, combined with his approachable and humble personality, he became the standout presenter.
What piece from the show did you love and what did you love about it?
This may sound strange, but the winning pieces for Covid messaging really spoke to me, because my team is currently struggling with how to reach students in our current marketing phase on this topic. It gave me ideas of how to be more creative within the topic I hope we can pull from for future campaigns.
What was the best tip or takeaway you got from the conference?
It was a more personal than professional takeaway, but it can tie into both. The idea of accepting that our paths as creators are not going to be linear and embracing the changes from that path that life will throw at us. That we can veer greatly on our journey and be the better for it. This is an old message, but for some reason, the group of speakers assembled this time really managed to hit that home in a fresh way.
Tell me a connection you made at the conference.
There was a person that I met during UCDA's first online book club that also attended the conference. Getting to meet them live, and build a deeper friendship in person, was invaluable. It is a connection that I hope develops into a lifelong friendship, and it's thanks to UCDA that the connection even happened.
What was your favorite thing you brought home with you?
The button activity let me play with an idea for a personal design project I've been kicking around for a while. It was lovely to see it take shape in button form, and hopefully it is the beginning of a new creative outlet.
Jeremy Slagle (left) and attendees enjoying the UCDA Design Awards (right). Photos by Matthew Lester Photography.
Yadesa Bojia, Graphic Designer, University of Washington and UCDA scholarship winner.
Who was your favorite speaker at the conference?
I have to say there are many favorites but Sonia Avila’s presentation about creative teams and culture was very powerful and informative. I find the practice in Southwest Airlines to have a company and employee promises created a lasting bond that will benefit both and creating a culture of appreciation, trust and a common goal.
What piece from the show did you love and what did you love about it?
Again, there were a lot of great pieces in the conference, but I have to say the videos made by the University of Utah was very impactful and executed professionally. I personally admired the writing, the video shoot and how the content really speaks about the Universities mission and goal.
What was the best takeaway you got from the conference?
“Good design has no victims.” — Rick Griffith
What was your favorite thing you brought home with you?
I have to say the thing I brought home with me is not necessary a thing. It is a renewed sense of the importance of design in shaping the future. The effect we all have in narrating and highlighting what matters. Yes, designers usually do not seat around the table to make decisions, yet we are the stew-makers. Our goal must be using our craft to highlight the strengths and shortcomings of our society using art as a vehicle.
Sonia Avila speaks with conference attendees (left) and Rick Griffith (right). Photos by Matthew Lester Photography.
Sue Samuelson, Director of Creative Services at the Community College of Denver and former UCDA Board Member
Who was your favorite speaker at the conference?
While all the sessions were so inspiring and educational, I have to say that my favorite was Keith Gilbert. His Inside InDesign session was chock full of helpful hints and tricks to make working in InDesign faster and easier, even garnering gasps and applause from the audience. I’ve already used one of his tricks!
What piece from the show did you love?
I loved the Prize Winner & Donor Displays created by the Rockefeller University. Taking the donor wall beyond basic into the 3-D realm really inspired me to think beyond the flat wall for a donor wall I’m currently working on.
What was the best takeaway you got from the conference?
Marty Gregg’s advice to call an inspiration/mood board a “Visual Positioning Board” and elevate the research we do to a more professional level, instead of it feeling like something a teenage girl would do.
Tell me a connection you made at the conference.
I enjoyed meeting Anna from Fort Lewis College in my home state of Colorado. Although she’s six hours from me, we discussed the idea of setting up UCDA-Colorado hangouts, and I’m looking forward to her being the conference chair next year in New Mexico!
Keith Gilbert (left) and Marty Gregg (right). Photos by Matthew Lester Photography.
Harley Stickney, Graphic Designer, Tennessee Wesleyan University and UCDA scholarship winner
Who was your favorite speaker at the conference?
My favorite speaker from the conference would have to have been Jesse Wilson and his talk "Creatively Making a Difference". I have always felt really drawn to volunteer work. I love giving and I love helping. I think that Jesse really embodies what it means to take the skills that you have and make a lasting impression. He doesn't do it for the money or the fame, he does it because he cares. I think the world could use a whole lot more of that right now.
What piece from the show did you love and what did you love about it?
I think the "Don't Go Viral" campaign from Boston University stood out to me the most. The colors were great and eye-catching. However, I just really enjoyed the play on the phrase as well. The "F*ck It Won't Cut It" campaign by students for students that went along with this campaign was great too.
What was the best takeaway you got from the conference?
I think that the best thing I took away from the conference was not really a phrase or tip, but a sense of belonging. I am a solo designer at my institution, two years out of art school. It really encouraged me to meet people who have worked at their institutions for many years and to hear how much they love what they do. In design school, we didn't talk about the long-term. Hearing stories from others really made me excited for my future as a designer.
What was your favorite thing you brought home with you?
My favorite thing that I brought home with me would have to be the books that Jeremy Slagle illustrated and signed! Being able to introduce him made that even cooler.
Jesse Wilson (left) and conference attendees during one of the Design Pods" (right). Photos by Matthew Lester Photography.
Winston Vanderhoof, Senior Art Director, Truman State and former UCDA Board Member
It was such a great conference! Mainly because I got to see (including hugs!) old friends and getting to meet new ones. It is tough to pick one speaker as standing out as they all were very informative, knowledgeable and entertaining. Jamal Collins brought the tear to your eye with his work with kids. The 2020 graduation at Arkansas Tech. Heartstring tugs by Jeremy Slagle for his work as a sponsor for international kids.
What was the best takeaway you got from the conference?
My takeaway is my fuzzy warm heart. (OMG, I think I'm going to puke!) No, it was truly great to see all the participants. Smiles, hugs and handshakes. Loved it.
Tell me a connection you made at the conference.
I made contact with new Missouri education designers, Kallen Brown and Kennedy Englert, both from Missouri State University.
UCDA Foundation Krider Prize for Creativity recipient Jamal Collins (left0 and Donna Talarico (right). Photos by Matthew Lester Photography.
Didn’t attend the conference? The Virtual Encore is now available.
We understand that many had road blocks to getting to the in-person event, whether it was budget- or travel-related—or for health or safety concerns. So, for the first time, we have recorded the main stage speakers and are offering you a way to take advantage of all the great content we were able to offer.
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