https://www.ucda.com/grandrapids/
UCDA Design Conference: Know Before Your Go
Thank you for registering for the 48th Annual UCDA Design Conference. As we descend on Grand Rapids, Michigan in two weeks, we hope this information enhances your conference experience and your time in Grand Rapids.
Connect with others who are attending: download list of attendees.
Grand Rapids, Michigan has been named one of America’s Super Cool Cities (Expedia), 1 of 52 Places to Go Worldwide (New York Times), the #1 U.S. Place to Visit (Groupon, 2015) and America’s #1 Travel Destination (Lonely Planet).
Voted Beer City USA in national polls and named Best Beer Town and Best Beer Scene by USA TODAY readers, Grand Rapids is the perfect place for your next beercation. Our Beer City Ale Trail boasts 80+ breweries – that’s more incredible craft beer per square mile than just about anywhere else on earth.
GRAND RAPIDS AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
Average September high temperature: 73° F
Average September low temperature: 53° F
Average October high temperature: 60° F
Average October low temperature: 42° F
To ensure you’re comfortable both inside and out, dress in layers.
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.
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.
GETTING AROUND
If you are looking for something specific or want to explore while you are here in Grand Rapids, check out these maps available on Experience Grand Rapids website: Interactive Map; Beer City Ale Trail Map; Convention Campus Map; DASH - FREE Downtown Shuttle; Downtown Charging Stations (with instructions); Downtown Highway Map; Downtown Parking Map; Downtown Restaurant Map; Downtown Shopping Map; 28th Street Map; Food Trail Map; Music Trail Map; Kent County/Greater Grand Rapids Map; Kent County Trails and Parks; Michigan’s West Coast; and Michigan’s West Coast Beach Map. experiencegr.com/trip-planning/maps
ArtPrize is an open, independently organized international art competition which takes place for 19 days every other fall in Grand Rapids. More than $500,000 in prizes are awarded each year, which include a $200,000 prize awarded entirely by public vote and another $200,000 prize awarded by a jury of art experts.
FIND ART AND HOW TO VOTE
Visit ArtPrize at artprize.org to learn more about the schedule of events including where to find art and how to vote.
Let your friends, colleagues, and family know you are going! Share your experiences and photos before and during the event.
Here is an image to help you get started (download [control-click and save image] and share!):
CONFERENCE LOCATION
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
REGISTRATION
Saturday, September 29, 1 p.m.
Be sure to pick up your name tag and conference registration materials at the registration desk located in the Crown Foyer on the second floor of the hotel. If you are registered for one of the pre-conference workshops, registration will be open between 8-9 a.m.
Name tags must be worn at all UCDA events.
SILENT AUCTION OPENING
Saturday, September 29, 1 p.m.
Each year we ask our members, speakers, sponsors, and anyone in our profession to submit items to be auctioned off at the annual conference. Proceeds from the UCDAF Silent Auction at the UCDA Design Conference will directly benefit UCDA.
Objects made by our members including photographs, paintings, drawings, prints, posters, jewelry, ceramics, weavings, cards, books, etc., are especially well-received by conference attendees. Also, quirky and unusual items such as pop-up books, collectibles, and objects d'art do extremely well in the silent auction. And, donated items from the conference city will forever remind the winning bidder of the wonderful time they had while attending the UCDA Design Conference.
Bring an item or two to donate for the silent auction: drop items off at the registration desk.
This year, the auction is opening early to you will have more time to check out and bid on the array of items.
OPENING MIXER
Saturday, September 29, 3-4:30 p.m.
Stop by after you register to mix and mingle with other conference goers. Partake in refreshments, print your own conference T-shirt, meet old friends and new contacts with our Networking Game (for a chance to win a free conference registration for 2019), and enjoy your first drink on us!
Don’t forget to get your Polaroid picture taken for our Conference Community board where you can include your business cards (bring plenty for the UCDA Resource Center, too!) and meet other attendees. You can also share ideas and ask questions throughout the conference.
Also, don’t forget those at home—send a postcard to loved ones, friends, or co-workers. The postage is on us!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
When registering, you signed up for breakout sessions. We currently anticipate being able to accommodate flexibility for changes in your session choices, but some sessions are proving to be very popular. We recommend arriving early to guarantee your seat.
CITY WALK, COFFEE TALK, OR INSTAMEET
Sunday, October 1, 7-8 a.m.
Why not enjoy an early start with a walk around downtown Grand Rapids? Join UCDA leaders, colleagues, and friends for an invigorating beginning to your day.
More interested in coffee at 7 a.m.? Come join colleagues, friends, and UCDA leaders for some down-to-earth coffee talk.
Are you an Instagrammer? Bring your camera for a stroll through Grand Rapids as you discover and share your photographs through Instagram. Tag your pics with #UCDA2018.
PUBLICATIONS SWAP SHOP
Sunday, October 1, 5:30-6 p.m.
Share your work and pick up some samples for inspiration in this limited-time event. Doors will open for one hour, and once the samples are gone, they’re gone! Bring or send ahead approximately 30-50 samples (or as many as you can spare). If sending, please ship them to yourself at the hotel and drop off at the UCDA Registration Desk.
The Swap Shop is a run and get ’em sample exchange. The doors open, and it’s a free-for-all. Sort of like a bride’s bargain basement sale, only with publications instead of dresses, designers instead of brides, and the publications are free.
Those bringing or sending materials for the swap will receive a “priority pass” to be at the head of the line!
Send them to:
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Attn: Your Name (hotel guest)
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
UCDA RESOURCE CENTER
The UCDA Resource Center includes an exhibition by various companies. Visit with company representatives, get answers to your most pressing questions, and see the latest techniques, products, and services.
Special thanks to all our sponsors, exhibitors and partners!
The city of Grand Rapids wants to make sure you get the most out of your time here, both inside and outside the UCDA Design Conference.
CONFERENCE ATTENDEE DISCOUNTS
Be sure to check out the Grand Rapids Dining Deals Map and Shopping Deals Map at the registration desk for some great savings. You can also receive discounts at many restaurants and attractions simply by showing your conference badge. www.experiencegr.com
CRAIG TOMMOLA
Hope College, Holland, MI
UCDA member and breakout session speaker
Some of my personal favorite food places (not in any certain order):
• Donkey Taqueria
• New Hotel Mertens
• Citizen
• Sovengard
• Butcher's Union
ALEXIANNA MUNDY
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
Heritage Hill is an excellent neighborhood. View some amazing historic homes, tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House, and check out little shops scattered around.
Uptown would be an equally cool neighborhood. This is near Heritage Hill. It includes the areas of East Hills, Eastown, Fulton St. and Wealthy St. It’s walkable, has tons of cute shops, cafés, decor, and charm. Some gems of food and coffee joints in this area are Little Africa, Marie Catrib’s, Sparrows, among many others.
Some ways to check out Grand Rapids area are by walking, taking a bus or trolley, and doing some paddling on the river. GR Paddling has guided kayaking and canoeing on the waterways around here.
Decent museums are the GRAM, UICA, Grand Rapids Public Museum, and Frederik Meijer Gardens (this one is a bit outside of downtown).
JOSH MOREY
Michigan State University
Breakout session speaker
Museums
• Grand Rapids Art Museum
• Frederik Meijer Gardens - huge outdoor gardens and sculpture collection. Not downtown but outside of the city. I have never been but still on my bucket list.
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
• Meyer May House - Frank Lloyd Wright House!
Breweries! There is a reason why they call it Beer City. Some of these offer tours.
• Founders
• Brewery Vivant
• New Holland
• Greyline
• City Built
• Perrin - north in Comstock
• Speciation
• Railtown
• Pike 51
• Mitten Brewing
• Brass Ring
• Grand Rapids Brewing Company
• Hopcat (small brewing, mostly a bar with 100+ taps)
• Plus a lot more.
• There is also an app based passport for them
SAMANTHA (SAM) BRUIN
Hope College, Holland, MI
UCDA member
Well, we are Beer City USA! Some great breweries right downtown in walking distance are Founders, Grand Rapids Brewing, Hopcat, Bob’s Brewery, and many more in surrounding neighborhoods!!
The Downtown Market is a great place to visit too.
RICHARD (RICK) LUCE
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
UCDA member
Dinderbeck (community printshop, 1/2 mile from host hotel)
Frank Lloyd Wright home tour (1 mile from host hotel):
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is a 158-acre botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan in Kent County. Commonly referred to as Meijer Gardens, it has quickly become one of the most significant sculpture experiences in the Midwest and an emerging worldwide cultural destination.
Grand Rapids Art Museum (less than 2 blocks from host hotel)
Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Art Museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED Gold certified status. GRAM has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper.
Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA) (easy walk from host hotel, they also have workshops and movies).
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is home to 20+ indoor market vendors, 2 full service restaurants, monthly outdoor market events, hands-on cooking classes, private event venues, a state-of-the-art incubator kitchen, rooftop greenhouses, and more…welcome to your next fun food experience! (approx. 8 blocks from hotel)
20 Monroe Live for live music (2 blocks from hotel)
The Intersection for live music (5 blocks from hotel)
JILL SCHNEIDER
KCAD
Highlights to take in are:
• Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
• Saugatuck Center for the Arts
• ArtPrize
Grand Rapids also has:
• The Gerald R. Ford Museum
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
We are also located about 30 minutes from the shores of lake Michigan. Both Saugatuck and Grand Haven have great little downtowns with galleries and shops. The lake is a sight to be seen for those from the East and West coast who have never experience it before. If you go to Saugatuck you can experience the dunes as well.
The city is also well known for its breweries, cideries, and restaurants.