Convince Your Boss—UCDA Design Conference

Tired of online meetings and need some inspiration? UCDA has you covered. Connect with your design community in person at the 2026 UCDA Design Conference!

Use our Convince Your Boss letter to advocate for your professional development by attending the 2026 UCDA Design Conference, Nov. 4-7, 2026, in Kansas City, MO. Learn more. 

Just copy and paste from the sample letter below!

SAMPLE LETTER

To: [boss’s email address/name]
From: [your email address/name]
Subject: Attending the 2026 UCDA Design Conference

Dear [insert boss’s name],

I'm reaching out to request your support for my attendance at the 2025 UCDA Design Conference, taking place November 4-7 in Kansas City, Missouri. As a graphic designer passionate about staying current in our field, I believe this conference—uniquely focused on creatives in education—will be especially relevant to my role and our team.

Here’s why I think attending would be a valuable investment for both my growth and our department:

I’ll bring back fresh insights and techniques from leading designers in educational settings. The conference features curated mainstage and breakout sessions that cover the full spectrum of our work, along with additional hands-on opportunities throughout the four days.

I’ll have the chance to connect and share ideas with higher ed design professionals from across the country. UCDA brings together people tackling similar challenges to ours—learning from their solutions could directly benefit our projects.

I’ll return inspired by award-winning work and new vendor partnerships that focus on educational institutions like ours.

I’ll have opportunities to network with vendors who understand the unique needs of education-focused designers. The vendor expo is a really efficient way to speak with multiple reps about printing, swag, specialty items for alumni and donors, digital asset management tools, and so much more.

Thank you for considering my request. I’m confident this experience will help me contribute even more creatively and strategically to our team’s goals. You can learn more about UCDA and the conference at www.ucda.com.