UCDA Design Conference Sponsorship

2025 UCDA Design Conference Sponsorship

Design Conference: November 10-13, 2025 - Pasadena, California

Visit the Conference Website Page

UCDA is going back to Cali! Join us in iconic Pasadena, California for the 55th annual UCDA Design Conference, November 10-13, 2025. For the UCDA 2025 conference, we draw inspiration from the strength of the communities in Greater Los Angeles and from the resilient spirit of individuals and communities across the country. We invite you to join us in celebrating Resilience.

As Southern California rebuilds its communities after the fires, we find inspiration from their resilience and adaptability as we face professional challenges within higher education design and the changing socio-economic landscape, which has and will continue to affect our profession. We are navigating rapidly evolving technological landscapes, shifting pedagogical paradigms, and resource constraints; our community’s landscape has also been altered by shifting constraints and expectations on institutions of higher learning overall. Our profession demands adaptability, creativity, strength, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to building a resilient, adaptable path toward the future. Together, as a community, we will chart that path.

UCDA is offering a special opportunity for your company to expand your brand visibility with our conference attendees as a distinguished supporter of UCDA. As a non-profit professional association, UCDA relies on its sponsors and partners as supporters. Our sponsors benefit from the incredible level of access to their target market, the ability to stay top-of-mind, build relationships, and maximize brand exposure.

Companies can choose from a variety of sponsorship levels that will amplify your presence among conference attendees, our entire membership, and our larger community of digital followers.

Join these great sponsors in supporting and participating in this year's conference.

Target Market Opportunity

Universities and colleges in the U.S. spend hundreds of millions of dollars on marketing and communications. If you are looking for a powerful way to introduce your company or grow existing business relationships with educational institutions, there is no better target audience than the UCDA membership, who are the influencers and decision makers affecting institutions' marketing expenditures and vendor relationships.

The annual UCDA Design Conference has become the single largest gathering of design professionals producing work for educational institutions in the country, drawing attendees from throughout the United States and Canada.

Becoming a sponsor of the UCDA Design Conference is a highly effective brand exposure and relationship building activity that aligns your product or service with designers in higher education and with their educational institutions.

Target Market Reach and Access

We are expecting over 175 attendees for the full conference, with that number growing to over 200 when factoring in single day attendees from local and regional area. Sponsors who attend the conference for a day or the full conference get unparralled access to our attendees in group settings and one-on-one interaction—providing valuable relationship marketing.

Our digital audience includes thousands of people in your target audience through website, social media, email, vitual events, and word of mouth recommendations. Our audience members are also repeat visitors, so our sponsors benefit from the power of brand repetition and frequent impressions as well.

Designers and other communication professionals attend for the opportunity to meet face-to-face, in person, and directly with suppliers in the areas of design hardware, software, photography, paper, print, and online resources, to name a few. Designers want to experience what's new and innovative before they make the investment to switch, upgrade, or partner. Vice versa, our sponsoring companies come back year after year because they know what a valuable audience our membership is for them, and they appreciate our inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.

Some of the most-requested products or services include:

demos of the latest software
tools for professional print and web designers
printing companies with capabilities to do unique projects or special effects
sources for stock photography, fonts, illustration, and video
papers and techniques for quality printing
software for tracking jobs, asset management, and
billing clients
professional development opportunities
digital / online tools, resources, sites, and platforms
UI/UX and ways to develop digital/online communication with print

Who Attends the UCDA Annual Conference?

UCDA membership comprises graphic designers, graphic design educators, art directors, creative directors, marketing and communications managers, directors of media services, photographers, and professionals associated with all aspects of visual communications. Most of these individuals work in institutions of higher education primarily in communications, marketing, publication offices, digital media offices, and alumni relations departments. Some designers work at private firms whose clients may be educational institutions. Others have academic appointments teaching design or work in educational institutions outside of higher ed.

Get to know UCDA members: nearly 1,000 members representing over 500 institutions

99% have in-house computer design capabilities
80% purchase art supplies and materials
84% specify paper stock for university or departmental identities
45% of member institutions produce more than 300 publications a year
58% specify text stock and cover stock
21% specify offset stock
49% spend more than $100,000 per year on printing
53% spend more than $10,000 per year on hardware and software
32% spend more than $10,000 a year on paper

Presenting Level Sponsorships

Design Conference Presenting Level Sponsor: This is available to only one (1) company. Put your brand above all others, stand out, and get noticed by making this the UCDA Design Conference presented by your company. All the benefits of Gold Level plus numerous points of access and promotional benefits above regular sponsorship including being featured at one (1) virtual Creative Conversation or Webinar. Customization is available. To discuss this opportunity, contact executive director Susan Matherne at susan@ucda.com.

Design Awards Presenting Level Sponsor: This is available to only one (1) company. Put your brand above all others, stand out, and get noticed by making this the UCDA Design Awards & Show presented by your company. All the benefits of Gold Level plus numerous points of access and promotional benefits above regular sponsorship including being featured at one (1) virtual Creative Conversation or Webinar. Customization is available. To discuss this opportunity, contact executive director Susan Matherne at susan@ucda.com.

Event Level Sponsorships: Gold, Silver, Exhibitor

Our sponsorships have been improved to provide ample brand exposure and numerous brand impressions leading up to the conference, during conference, and post-conference. The Expo and opportunities to be an attendee are also available to maximize personal access, as is the opportunity to provide a Design Pod presentation. There are numerous levels to accommodate to fit within any marketing budget. With add-ons and the ability to customize, sponsors can find the right option to maximize their support and involvement in this premiere target event.

Event Sponsor: Two levels—gold and silver—each with benefits and a cost point to meet your company's marketing goals and budget. A limited number of in-kind sponsorships are available at this level as well.

Design Expo Exhibitor: Place your company's representatives directly in front and in conversations with our attendees. At an incredible value, you get multiple hours with our attendees, plus breakfast, at this lively and much anticipated exhibition event.

Sponsorship Information, Prospectus, Pricing and Payment Link

Downloadable PDFS and Links - Coming Soon

Download Prospectus
Download Sponsor Benefit Sheet
Download Application Agreement

Pay For Your Sponsorship Online - Link Coming Soon

Contact us Today To Become a UCDA 2025 Design Conference Sponsor

Contact Executive Director Susan Matherne via email or phone.
Select your level, fill out the online form, pay via secure transaction online or by check.
Contact UCDA to share your logo, write up, photos.

Contact Information

Susan Matherne, Executive Director, susan@ucda.com
Stephen Russell, Sponsorship Director, ucdasponsorship@gmail.com

Contact Us Today

Susan Matherne, Executive Director, susan@ucda.com
Stephen Russell, Sponsorship Director, sponsorship@ucda.com

University & College Designers Association

501 Moss Street, 792507
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: (615) 459-4559

Print
Tag(s): conference design awards design conference sponsors sponsorship