UCDA : connecting, inspiring, and supporting a creative community in education

UCDA Design Conference

Sep 29 - Oct 2, 2018

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503



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)
     
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


Featured Speakers

Kevin Budelmann
Kevin Budelmann
Kevin Budelmann is the president and co-owner of Peopledesign, a design innovation firm and a strategic partner to a variety of organizations. Kevin is interested in design theory and practice in the context of business, technology, and society. He holds a BA in design from Carnegie Mellon University and a …

Kevin Budelmann is the president and co-owner of Peopledesign, a design innovation firm and a strategic partner to a variety of organizations. Kevin is interested in design theory and practice in the context of business, technology, and society. He holds a BA in design from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Design Methods from IIT Institute of Design. He is the IxDA Global vice president and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University. His book, Brand Identity Essentials, is available in six languages.

Full Description

Kevin Buist
Kevin Buist
Kevin Buist is a writer, curator, and critic, and the artistic director of ArtPrize, where he oversees artists, operations, and design. Kevin writes and speaks on behalf of ArtPrize to arts-focused audiences around the country, and co-hosts ArtPrize panel programming for live audiences, web video, and live TV. His independent …

Kevin Buist is a writer, curator, and critic, and the artistic director of ArtPrize, where he oversees artists, operations, and design. Kevin writes and speaks on behalf of ArtPrize to arts-focused audiences around the country, and co-hosts ArtPrize panel programming for live audiences, web video, and live TV. His independent writing has been featured in numerous print and online publications including the Art:21 Blog, where he was a Blogger in Residence, as well as MNartists.org, Michigan Quarterly Review, and kevinbuist.com/blog .

Full Description

William Campbell
William Campbell
With a background in house framing, graphic design, and cabinetry work, William Campbell, owner of Anvil, moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2009 to design and build the interior of Bartertown Diner, a collective farm-to-table restaurant, putting his creativity to the test in order to stay within the Bartertown team’s …

With a background in house framing, graphic design, and cabinetry work, William Campbell, owner of Anvil, moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2009 to design and build the interior of Bartertown Diner, a collective farm-to-table restaurant, putting his creativity to the test in order to stay within the Bartertown team’s shoestring budget. In the following years, Will continued to refine his style and build his skills, taking commissions from local folks for a wide array of projects: furniture, light fixtures, countertops, camper interiors, even a kids’ play fort (for which he worked closely with an 8-year-old designer to get the whimsical aesthetic just right).

Full Description

David Dodde
David Dodde
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, David Dodde has successfully created products for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. Artist, designer, and printmaker at House Industries, David's credits include packaging for Kellogg’s, apparel for Disney, and as the creator of the 90s skate brand Stink Brand Skateboards. His skills …

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, David Dodde has successfully created products for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. Artist, designer, and printmaker at House Industries, David's credits include packaging for Kellogg’s, apparel for Disney, and as the creator of the 90s skate brand Stink Brand Skateboards. His skills as a master printmaker and his sensitivity to craft have made him the choice of professional artists and designers, including House Industries. David is a key member of the House Industries creative and production teams, having touched nearly everything House has made.

Full Description

Aaron James Draplin
Aaron James Draplin
Aaron James Draplin is a graphic designer at Draplin Design Company. Located in the mighty Pacific Northwest, the Draplin Design Co. proudly rolls up its sleeves on a number of projects related to the print, identity, and illustration categories. Aaron James Draplin makes stuff for Coal Headwear, Union Binding Co., …

Aaron James Draplin is a graphic designer at Draplin Design Company. Located in the mighty Pacific Northwest, the Draplin Design Co. proudly rolls up its sleeves on a number of projects related to the print, identity, and illustration categories. Aaron James Draplin makes stuff for Coal Headwear, Union Binding Co., Richmond Fontaine, Esquire, Nike, Wired, Dinosaur Jr., Timberline, Chunklet, Eaux Claires Music Festival, Poler, Incase, Sub Pop, Cobra Dogs, Jill Soloway, Sasquatch Music Festival, Rhett Miller, Old 97s, Nixon Watches, Patagonia, Target, Megafaun, Ford Motor Company, Woolrich, and even the Obama Administration, if you can believe that. Aaron has traveled the world telling their story, with over 360 speaking fiascos under his belt and counting! He co-created Field Notes with his older brother Jim Coudal, and the memo books are sold in over 2,500 stores worldwide, with limited-edition special editions shipped quarterly to a booming subscriber list. Their first book titled Pretty Much Everything came out in 2016, which incredibly, is in its seventh printing. Draplin Design Co. pride itself on a high level of craftsmanship and quality that keeps them up late into the wet Portland night.

Full Description

Jason Frostholm
Jason Frostholm
Jason is a dad, husband, designer, beer lover, and occasional brewer. By day, he is the creative director for Hargrove Engineers + Constructors, based in Mobile, Alabama. By night, he is co-creative director with his remarkably more talented wife, Tina, of Frostiki, a branding and design firm with a love …

Jason is a dad, husband, designer, beer lover, and occasional brewer. By day, he is the creative director for Hargrove Engineers + Constructors, based in Mobile, Alabama. By night, he is co-creative director with his remarkably more talented wife, Tina, of Frostiki, a branding and design firm with a love for mid-century Polynesian kitsch. He is also the host of the Creative South Podcast, a podcast that focuses on conversations with designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creatives.

Full Description

Mike Jones
Mike Jones
Mike Jones is the Head of Design at Aflac, co-founder of Creative South, and the founder of Serve Studios, and to all of this work he brings a spirit of southern hospitality and humble service to the people around him. Mike treats every design project like an opportunity to make …

Mike Jones is the Head of Design at Aflac, co-founder of Creative South, and the founder of Serve Studios, and to all of this work he brings a spirit of southern hospitality and humble service to the people around him. Mike treats every design project like an opportunity to make the world more positive and beautiful for the people who encounter it. He has been drawing since he could eat crayons, and this passion led him to The University of West Georgia’s graphic design program, and a professional design career that has spanned 17-plus years and included work for brands like Alfac, ESPN, WWE, Realtree, and the Atlanta Falcons. Although his taste in art and food have diverged since his crayon-eating days, the same spirit of creativity that fuels his work is also evident in his love of food (especially good southern barbecue) as an outlet for nourishing relationships with family, friends, and strangers alike.

Full Description

Yang Kim
Yang Kim
Yang Kim is the creative director and co-owner of Peopledesign. Yang draws on her experiences from Seoul to Washington, D.C., Carnegie Mellon to Herman Miller. Yang’s work has been recognized by her peers for its clarity, distinctiveness, humanity, and charm. Her no-nonsense style, her wit, and her devotion to her …

Yang Kim is the creative director and co-owner of Peopledesign. Yang draws on her experiences from Seoul to Washington, D.C., Carnegie Mellon to Herman Miller. Yang’s work has been recognized by her peers for its clarity, distinctiveness, humanity, and charm. Her no-nonsense style, her wit, and her devotion to her work have earned her long-standing relationships with clients. She is an AAF Silver Medal Award recipient, an AIGA Fellow, and was voted as one of the “50 Most Influential Designers Working Today” in a GD:USA reader survey.

Full Description

Nate Lau
Nate Lau
Nate Lau is the design director at Tegu, a toy company that sells simple magnetic wooden blocks and toys. Nate’s interest in design began at an early age with countless doodles and sketches. This passion blossomed into an education in Architecture and Product Design - the perfect combination to join …

Nate Lau is the design director at Tegu, a toy company that sells simple magnetic wooden blocks and toys.


Nate’s interest in design began at an early age with countless doodles and sketches. This passion blossomed into an education in Architecture and Product Design - the perfect combination to join a startup toy company with visions of changing the world through play.


From its humble beginnings, Tegu has since grown into an industry-recognized leader in design, with sales in over 80 countries around the world. Today, Nate is responsible for new product development, and oversees the look and feel of all things Tegu, including graphics, packaging, and visual branding.


Currently, Nate resides in Mountain View, California with his wife and two little girls.

Full Description

Sabine Lenz
Sabine Lenz
Sabine Lenz is the founder of PaperSpecs.com, THE online source for paper and print inspiration, information, and insights. An award-winning graphic designer with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S., Germany, and Australia, Sabine writes frequently for several industry publications and is also a speaker on the subject …

Sabine Lenz is the founder of PaperSpecs.com, THE online source for paper and print inspiration, information, and insights. An award-winning graphic designer with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S., Germany, and Australia, Sabine writes frequently for several industry publications and is also a speaker on the subject of paper and related topics.


Lovingly referred to as the “Paper Queen” by many of her followers, she combines a passion for paper and print with a hands-on approach to sharing her knowledge.

Full Description

Josh Morey
Josh Morey
Josh Morey is a senior graphic designer at Michigan State University. He is a designer, an illustrator, a creative thinker, and craft beer snob. Josh pairs logical, strategic planning with fresh ideation to turn any problem into a creative solution. You can usually find him obsessing over the perfect paper …

Josh Morey is a senior graphic designer at Michigan State University. He is a designer, an illustrator, a creative thinker, and craft beer snob. Josh pairs logical, strategic planning with fresh ideation to turn any problem into a creative solution. You can usually find him obsessing over the perfect paper choice, experimenting with a new style, doodling during a meeting, visiting a brewery, arguing why double spacing after a period is wrong, or starting random conversations with someone at the grocery store.

Full Description

Kyle Van Strien
Kyle Van Strien
Kyle Van Strien is the co-owner and co-founder of Grand Rapids’ first distillery, Long Road Distillers. Kyle is a graduate of both Calvin College and Grand Valley State University with degrees in Business, International Development, and Public Administration. In November of 2014, Kyle and business partner Jon O’Connor began planning …

Kyle Van Strien is the co-owner and co-founder of Grand Rapids’ first distillery, Long Road Distillers. Kyle is a graduate of both Calvin College and Grand Valley State University with degrees in Business, International Development, and Public Administration. In November of 2014, Kyle and business partner Jon O’Connor began planning Long Road Distillers with the goal of crafting world-class spirits from local ingredients in the city they call home. Since opening their doors in May 2015, Long Road Distillers has been recognized as “The Best Specialty Craft Spirits Distillery in the U.S.” (USA Today) and received numerous “Best in Show” and “Best in Class” awards from International Spirits competitions (San Francisco, New York, Berlin, etc.) Kyle serves as the Chair of the Grand Rapids Planning Commission and as a mentor for the Cook Leadership Academy at Grand Valley State University. He lives on the West Side, not far from Long Road, with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Addilynn (5) and Austin (3).

Full Description

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Addons

Guest Meal

Price$75.00
Options Opening Mixer, Dinner, and Reception

Guest Meal

Price$40.00
Options Networking Lunch

Carbon Offset

Price$18.00
Options Attendee

Carbon Offset

Price$18.00
Options Guest

Guest Meal

Price$30.00
Options UCDA Resource Center Breakfast

Date and Time

Sat, Sep 29 - Tue, Oct 2, 2018


Location

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

The Amway Grand is a member of Historic Hotels of America®, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across America.

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