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UCDA Design Conference Sponsorship

2025 UCDA Design Conference Sponsorship

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

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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 want a powerful way to introduce your company or expand existing relationships with educational institutions, the UCDA membership is the best target audience since they influence institutions' marketing budgets and vendor choices. 

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- and relationship-building opportunity that aligns your product or service with designers in higher education and with their educational institutions.  

Target Market Reach and Access

Typical attendance for the full conference is 175, with that number growing to over 200 when factoring in single-day attendees from local and regional areas. Sponsors who attend the conference for a single day or the full conference get unparalleled access to our attendees in group settings and one-on-one interactions — providing valuable relationship marketing. 

Our digital audience includes thousands of people in your target audience through website, social media, email, virtual 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 communications professionals attend for the opportunity to meet in person and directly with suppliers in the areas of design software, hardware, photography, illustration, 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. Similarly, our sponsors come back year after year because they recognize the value of our members and appreciate our inclusive, welcoming atmosphere.

Some of the most-requested products or services include:

  • software demos

  • tools for professional print and web designers

  • printing companies with specialty capabilities

  • sources for stock photography, fonts, illustration, and video

  • papers and techniques for quality printing

  • project management, digital asset management, and billing software

  • professional development opportunities

  • digital/online tools, resources, sites, and platforms

  • UI/UX and ways to translate print publications to digital/online

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 design teams

  • 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 Sponsorships

Design Conference Presenting Level Sponsor: 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. 

Design Awards Presenting Level Sponsor: 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 these opportunities, contact sponsorship director Stephen Russell, sponsorship@ucda.com.

Event Sponsorships: Gold, Silver, In-Kind, Exhibitor

Our enhanced sponsorship packages are designed to maximize your brand's visibility and recognition throughout the entire conference experience—before, during, and after the event. Opportunities for direct engagement include participating in our Expo, upgrading to a full conference pass at a discount, or even hosting a private reception for attendees. We offer a range of sponsorship levels to accommodate diverse marketing budgets, and with our customizable options and add-ons, you can tailor your involvement to effectively achieve your objectives at this premier 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 of and in conversations with our attendees. At an incredible value, you get multiple hours with our attendees during this lively and much-anticipated exhibition event.

Design Expo Swag Bag: We understand budgets are tight. If your company recognizes the value of our audience but isn't able to attend, placing your promo item in our expo swag bag is a great option. Every attendee receives a bag filled with goodies from sponsors. Whether it's a promotional piece, sticker pack, fidget toy, gift card, or a brand new item you're excited to share, your business is guaranteed to receive attention. Digital swag items can be sent to attendees as well.

Sponsorship Information, Prospectus, Pricing, and Payment Link

Downloadable PDFS and Links  - Coming Soon

Download Prospectus
Download Sponsor Benefit Sheet
Download Application Agreement

Make your sponsorship payment online 

Ready to Become a UCDA 2025 Design Conference Sponsor?

  1. Contact UCDA by email (preferred) or phone. 
  2. Select your level, fill out the online form, and pay via secure transaction online or by check.
  3. Share your logo, company profile, and photos. 

Contact Information

Katharine McCann, Interim Executive Director, katharine@ucda.com
Stephen Russell, Sponsorship Director, sponsorship@ucda.com

 

University & College Designers Association
700 Broad St
P.O. Box 689
Altavista, VA 24517
Phone: (615) 459-4559