UCDA Events

February 13, 2026: Developing a Research Agenda Ever wondered how to turn your creative practice or personal curiosities into a meaningful research path? Join us for an engaging conversation about clarifying the distinctions between practice-based and scholarly research within the …

Accessibility, But Make It CreativeDesigning for everyone doesn’t mean designing less—it means designing smarter. Join fellow campus creatives to unpack practical accessibility strategies, tools, and workflows that keep your work compliant and compelling. From color contrast to alt text to …

March 13, 2026: Scholarship - Publish or Perish Join us for our conversation on Publish or Perish. The phrase has long been part of academic life, but it’s really about how we share ideas, advance knowledge, and build professional credibility. …

AI on Campus: Your New Design Intern (Sometimes)AI won’t replace designers, but it can replace some of the tedious stuff. Explore practical, ethical, and creative ways to incorporate AI into your workflow—from brainstorming and layout variations to image cleanup and …

April 10, 2026 : Rank, Tenure and Promotion Join us for a conversation on promotion and tenure. While the process can sometimes feel complex, at its core it’s about demonstrating growth, consistency, and impact. Each faculty member’s path is unique—whether …

2026 UCDA Creative Summit Tuesday, April 14 & Wednesday, April 15, 2026 The 2026 UCDA Creative Summit is a two-day virtual event providing inspiration to refill your creative fuel tank. Programming is curated to spark your imagination and facilitate ideas …

Flip the Script: Digital Flipbooks That Don’t FlopLove them or hate them, digital flipbooks aren’t going anywhere. Let’s chat about how to make them purposeful, engaging, and—dare we say—delightful. We’ll cover UX considerations, accessibility pitfalls, best practices, and when a …

May 8, 2026: End of the School Year Faculty Hangout!  Join us for a virtual hangout exclusively for design faculty! It’s a relaxed online space to casually connect with colleagues, share ideas, talk about the semester, or just chat about …

UCDA 2026 Design Education Summit: Horizon Expanding boundaries, exploring new possibilities. The horizon represents both a limit and a possibility—a boundary that invites us to imagine what lies beyond. "Horizon" serves as a metaphor for exploring the future of design …

Affinity Suite vs. Adobe: Choose Your FighterWhether you’re Team Adobe, Team Affinity, or Team “Please Stop Changing the Interface,” this one’s for you. We’ll compare features, compatibility, and the shifting landscape of design software on campus. Share your success stories, …