https://www.ucda.com/creative-conversations/
Creative Conversations
Creative Conversations are topic-based discussion events held virtually each month. The format allows for attendees to ask questions to fellow UCDA members who have specialized knowledge on the session topic, and to share their own experience and expertise.
Creative Conversations happen via Zoom, typically on the third Thursday of the month. Attendees must register for each monthly event, and will receive a unique Zoom link to each event. Registration ends at midnight the day before the event date. If you have suggestions for future topics, please contact us.
Free for UCDA members | $15 non-members
Upcoming Creative Conversations
December 18, 2025
Jingle and Mingle: Holiday Party
Join your fellow UCDA members and friends for our annual end-of-year virtual holiday gathering. Discuss your successes from the year and your goals for 2026. This event is BYOE (Bring Your Own Eggnog). You can share your holiday card design. You can even wear your favorite "ugly" holiday sweater. We will provide the holiday cheer. Register
January 15, 2026
New Year Meet & Greet: Meet the UCDA Board and Executive Director
Kick off the new year with a meet and greet with our new UCDA Executive Director and say hello to the new UCDA board members. Share your professional goals, resolutions, and strategies for 2026. Register
February 19, 2026
Accessibility, But Make It Creative
Designing 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 accessible PDFs, we’ll talk about what’s working, what’s frustrating, and how to level up your team’s inclusive design game.
March 19, 2026
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 efficiency boosts. We’ll talk prompts, policies, pitfalls, and how to keep the “human” in an AI-supported creative process.
April 23, 2026
Flip the Script: Digital Flipbooks That Don’t Flop
Love 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 flipbook is actually the right storytelling tool for your institution.
May 21, 2026
Affinity Suite vs. Adobe: Choose Your Fighter
Whether 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, your pain points, and your tips for working across platforms without losing your mind (or your file formats).
June 18, 2026
Creative Org Charts & The Chaos Between Them
Who does what? Who reports to whom? Who’s been remote since 2020 and exists only on Slack?
Bring your questions and your organizational quirks to an honest conversation about structuring creative teams in higher ed—roles, responsibilities, communication norms, and the ongoing puzzle of hybrid collaboration. Expect real talk and real solutions from folks doing it every day.
July 16, 2026
Creativity on a Shoestring: Design Under Constraints
Tight budgets? Short timelines? Limited staff? Welcome to higher ed! Join a candid discussion on making magic with fewer resources—prioritization strategies, creative hacks, time-saving systems, and real examples of doing a lot with a little. Let’s celebrate the scrappy brilliance that keeps our campuses looking good.
August 20, 2026
Project Management for People Who Didn’t Ask to Be Project Managers
You’re a designer, so why are you scheduling, tracking, herding, reminding, and circling back? Join this session for practical tools, workflows, and coping strategies for managing projects in higher ed’s fast-paced, approval-heavy environment. From intake forms and timelines to feedback cycles and communication hacks, we’ll break down how creatives can stay organized without losing their spark.
September 17, 2026
DAM It, We Need a Better System
Digital asset management: the neverending quest for organization, sanity, and actually finding that one photo. Let’s talk DAMs—what platforms people are using, what’s going well, what’s driving everyone wild, and how to build systems your whole campus can stick to. Swap workflows, metadata strategies, and tips for herding campus cats.
October 15, 2026
Template Temptation: Creating Systems That Actually Stick
Templates can be a lifesaver—or a landmine. Join fellow designers to talk through what makes a template successful, scalable, and actually usable across campus. We’ll dig into branding, flexibility, guardrails, and how to avoid the dreaded “someone destroyed the master page again.” Bring your best template wins—and your horror stories.
November 19, 2026
Design Conference Recap
Whether you missed out on this year’s design conference or just need a refresher, join the conversation as we unpack the key takeaways, memorable moments, and standout highlights. Share your perspectives, gain fresh insights, and engage in a collective recap of the valuable knowledge and experiences gained.
December 17, 2026
Jingle and Mingle: Holiday Party
Join your fellow UCDA members and friends for our annual end-of-year virtual holiday gathering. Discuss your successes from the year and your goals for 2027. Wear your favorite holiday sweater, share your holiday card design, and bring a cup of holiday cheer.