UCDA Design Conference

Pre-registration now available!

2012-02-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

Why pre-register?

Save up to an additional $100 off the early-registration fee, and up to $200 off the regular registration.

Be the first to select sessions when they become available.

Be the first to choose from the pre-conference and optional activities when the become available.

2012 Conference Site Announced

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

OLD + NEW. TRADITIONAL + REVOLUTIONARY. WORK + HOME. What exists in-between is where we flourish. It's where we find collaboration within our work environment, where print + digital projects are paired together, where our personal life meets our work life to find balance. Within this mélange is just the right blend of design + culture.

The 2012 UCDA Design Conference will bring together communication professionals from across Canada + the US (and beyond) to connect in Montreal, a city with it's own mix. European charm + North American energy along with bilingualism make Montreal the perfect place to explore working together across boundaries to converge with great panache.

See you in Montreal -- oo la la!

UCDA Design Conference 2011: What to wear, what to eat!

2011-09-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Desert Apparel

The conference is just three weeks away, and it’s time to get packing! So... what should you wear?

Conference speaker Dion Zeuss, from ecoLingo, provided some great information and tips, and you can expect the temperatures to be in the 80s and 90s. Dion says Phoenix celebrates summer all year long, so t-shirts, shorts and sandals will definitely be appropriate. (You may need a sweater or light jacket for attending sessions in the air conditioning). Fashionistas, don’t worry about wearing white after labor day or fall colors, because everything goes in the desert!

The opening kick off party is outside and casual. The ground at Hidden Valley, the site of the party, has a pea gravel and sandy surface, and when I wore sandals there, I had to shake the sand and pebbles out, so be advised.

If you haven’t checked out the site for Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs, take a look at all the amenities. There are lovely pools throughout, so bring swimwear if you want to take advantage of the water features. There's an onsite gym, and speaking of working out, the resort is located on the side of a mountain so a good hike around will also be good exercise.

Good eats

There are several onsite restaurants where you can get a decent meal at fairly reasonable prices, including a small gift shop for snacks and beverages. If you plan to rent a car, then Dion Zeuss suggests these choices:

AJs is an upscale grocery store with a cafe/coffee bar, deli, fromagerie, and a bistro (lunches and hot meals). There’s an AJ’s very near the Resort, located at 13226 N 7th St.

Also in the same direction, (heading North on 7th Street) then turning right (East) at the first light on Thunderbird, will take you across the State Road 51 and onto Cactus Road to Paradise Valley Mall where one can shop, eat, etc.

Probably the best collection of good restaurants in one stretch would be South of the resort on the Camelback Road corridor, which includes the Biltmore area. You can check out general restaurant info.

And then there is the Biltmore itself, it’s a great place for evening cocktails on the patio. But if you are looking for an elegant and upscale venue for dinner, consider the resort's Different Pointe of View, which features delicious food and wine with an incredible view of the valley.

If you want to get out and experience local, one-of-a-kind favorites, Dion suggests these establishments located in the Camelback/uptown Phoenix area. Click the links for more information:

LUX coffee bar
Luci’s Healthy Marketplace and Coffee Bar
La Grande La Orange cafe/grocery (super cute place to grab a bite, sit on the patio and peruse the gift shop).
La Grande La Orange Pizza
Postino Wine Cafe
Smeeks (A cute little sweet shop, and while you are at Smeeks, check out Frances Vintage next door)
Churn (artisan ice cream)

So there you have it... Leave the office behind and relax in shorts and summer gear, and sample some great cuisine. De-stressing will surely get your creative juices flowing. You'll return to work inspired and ready to put into practice the many things you’ve learned!

Creativity and Collaboration: Wil Heywood. Kevin Smith. Cindi Farmer

2011-09-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I hope that you have had a chance to read through these posts for insight on the speakers we have lined up for the 41st Annual UCDA Design Conference.

When I started organizing this year’s event, I researched the topics from past surveys where members indicated what they'd like to learn about. Not surprisingly, at the top of the list were new technologies.We have planned programming to address everything from best practice and theory to the technical nuts and bolts of new technology. A second theme emerged from the surveys, which was basically, “how do we be creative, stay creative, and stimulate creativity” at a time when enonomic pressures have left many of us with smaller staffs and increased workloads?

Back in May, I highlighted our opening keynote, Bob Hambly of Hambley and Woolley. Bob will start the conference of with an inspiring speech on creativity. We have two more speakers that will also address this topic, Dr. Wil Heywood of Arizona State University, and Kevin Smith of Auburn University. And Cindi Farmer from ASU will tell how collaborating among designers resulted in a better photo-sharing solution.

Designers are uniquely qualified to help their institutions harness the power of creativity, technology and communication to prosper and grow, but sometimes we need a little help in how to convey our ideas, and how to collaborate with campus partners.

Dr. Wil Heywood comes highly recommended by ASU designers who have taken his course on creativity. He has an interesting background as a Clinical Psychologist, and at present his research and practice explores the role of team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design education and critical visual thinking.

Join Dr. Heywood for his session, “Creativity, Confidence & Collaboration.” This is a session for those who understand the need to bring more creativity, playfulness and flexibility into their work. The ability to respond creatively to new challenges is demanded by everyone, but making the switch from imitative and rule-bound behavior to creative innovation and flexibility requires a profound change in our attitudes about ourselves and our capabilities. Learn how this energy can be applied with confidence in your individual work and collaborative efforts with others.

Kevin Smith, an educator from Auburn University, will present his session, “IDEATION: Generating Idea Bubbles.” Ideation is the process of forming and relating ideas, and relating them to design which is the visual sum of these ideas. Tap into your creative juices and find out what idea generating methods are new, what methods have stood the test of time and which methods seem to work best.

In addition to teaching, Kevin also runs a small design studio, which, just like all of us, found themselves in the position of having to adapt to new technologies and online expectations. His session “Small Studio Transitions from Traditional Print Media to a Multimedia Studio,” will tell how, with limited resources, they were pressured to be more creative and resourceful in a multimedia environment. He will outline the studio’s path to become a successful multimedia studio, and the tips and tools he used to get there.

Our last speaker to be profiled is Cindi Farmer, from Arizona State University, who will present “Flickr Photo Management.” ASU struggled for years with how to manage and share a sprawling photo library at their large university. Several designers worked together to find a solution and decided the best solution for them was to use Flickr. She will share their experience, and talk about the models and processes that have worked for the community of designers at ASU. Come join the conversation.

The conference’s theme of “THRIVE” truly resonates with me. We all must do everything we can to stay on top, and the past few years for colleges and universities have been challenging to say the least. Armed with resources and knowledge, I do think that it is not only possible to survive the current crisis, but to evolve, grow and thrive.

Use what you learn in Phoenix, because you can be a great resource for your institution!

Featured School: Northern Arizona University. Susan Kirtland

2011-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Inspiring Online Insight

Continuing with our theme of “Thrive,” we have some great presentations on online practices that will help keep you on the cutting edge to help you reach your audience...

For our featured school presentation, join Sandra Kowalski and Trey McCallie from Northern Arizona University for their presentation, “Elevating the Digital Experience.” NAU recently undertook the gargantuan task of revamping their entire system, taking 300 web sites that were under performing, to make them into something that helped them achieve their mission and strategic roles. Sandra Kowalski leads the University Marketing and Printing Services departments at Northern Arizona University, and Trey McCallie is the university’s web master. They’ll show you how the team conducted research and changed management strategies that influenced the design, photography and content creation, resulting in a more relevant, revitalized web presence.

Susan Kirtland, of Propeller Communications, will present “What Your Visual Messaging Really Says About You.” She is a nationally recognized expert in strategic marketing and positioning. Susan will demonstrate how a more powerful approach to brand positioning includes the identification and use of accurate visual cues that will trigger the desired perceptions you want for your college or university. Through the use of actual case studies, she will explore the five elements of successful visual messaging. Learn the important role graphic design plays in your institution’s brand positioning and how it directly impacts target audience perceptions.

Another key aspect to success is your website’s usability. Susan presents “Do-It-Yourself: Testing Your Website’s Usability.” Learn how to use in-house resources to test your institution’s website for effectiveness and ease of use. Topics include how to assemble a concise questionnaire to achieve optimal feedback, how to conduct the testing on your campus and how to use the data to determine the appropriate refinements to make a positive impact.

The Means for Great Magazines

2011-09-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

Schedule change: Domenica Genovese and Brenda Foster from Greatest Creative Factor, a firm that specializes in marketing for education, will present two sessions to replace Marc Oxborrow’s sessions scheduled for Monday, October 17.

The new programming should give designers who are searching for quality content on magazine design something that will not only be extremely helpful, but also inspiring. This programming provides The Means for Great Magazines...

So, alumni magazine designers and editors, what are your issues with your magazine? Too little time? Too much copy? Too little budget? Too many cooks? Join Domenica Genovese, partner and creative director at GCF, for her session, “Having Issues?” This presentation will focus on ways to make great magazines in spite of the obstacles you may face. Topics include designing a flexible grid, beginning with great covers, creating memorable feature stories, using contrast, pace, and rhythm, and more. Domenica will encourage you to participate in the discussion with your own thoughts, observations, and success stories.

We’re all on this speeding train known as “technology,” and it’s becoming a clear expectation to have your magazine available online...

Do you ever wonder how your online magazine compares to others? Are you interested in ways to make your magazine more compelling? Should you keep or kill the print version of your magazine? Brenda Foster, partner at GCF, explores these questions and more in her presentation, “100 College Online Magazines.” She shares results of a survey she led last year, where survey participants from 100 online college magazines answered 24 questions in five categories—the landing page, marketing, design, navigation, and technology. This data was analyzed and supported by interviews with alumni magazine editors who spoke about their specific challenges and successes. The presentation will reveal the do’s and don’ts and best practices for creating and launching a great online publication.

I’m excited about this great new programming. See you in just 4 weeks!

Elizabeth Scarborough. Aisling Kelliher. Lauren Candito

2011-09-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

In today’s economic environment, designers must work smarter than ever in order to thrive. This might mean using research and data to your best advantage, or finding new ways to connect with your audience. The trio of speakers showcased here can give you that smarter edge...

Working smarter with research data

Elizabeth Scarborough will present a general session, “Bridging the Gap: Building Design Strategy on Marketing Research Data.” An engaging speaker who is an industry leader, Elizabeth promises to prove, once and for all, that data geeks and graphic designers can live together in harmony!

More and more, colleges and universities are conducting comprehensive, multi-audience marketing research in order to establish a brand positioning strategy. And once the positioning strategy is established, a creative concept needs to be developed to bring that brand to life. But, how do you really bridge the gap between research and creative? How can data lead to design?

Elizabeth will present powerful case studies to illustrate how colleges and universities on the cutting-edge of higher education marketing have drawn creative concepts directly from market intelligence. She’ ll highlight the research findings and then walk through the creative concepts that spawned from lively discussions!

In addition to clocking more cell-phone hours in airports and rental cars than George Clooney in Up in the Air, Elizabeth Scarborough is CEO and Partner of SimpsonScarborough, and is a nationally recognized expert in the use of research to drive marketing and branding efforts, with 18 years of experience in providing strategic solutions to colleges and universities.

Working smarter with an emotional connection

Telling stories is a fundamental element of what makes us human. It is also a highly intuitive way in which we make sense of our everyday lives. From the earliest cave drawings to Polaroids, blogs and tweets, we have always used a rich variety of media and technologies to represent and understand our lived experiences. Join Aisling Kelliher, media systems designer from Arizona State University, for her session, “Mediated Storytelling: Telling Something to Someone about Something.” An expert in her field, Aisling will explain how today’s social media platforms, mobile applications and hybrid physical/digital environments present rich opportunities for creating new forms of storytelling experiences. Join her as she demonstrates how to design, build and evaluate engaging mediated storytelling platforms.

Working smarter with social media

Lauren Candito from Social Media Solutions offers two sessions that will help you reach your audience using today’s tools and practices. Her first session, “Game Changers: How Educational Institutions are Using Social Media,” explores the advent of new technologies, such as the internet and mobile, which have given rise to an inter-coupling of relationships across vast numbers of digital social networks. The speed at which these communications take place, their lack of geographic or social boundaries, and their ability to convey complex information and synthesize millions of viewpoints into easily digestible formats is unprecedented in the history of man. Higher education has not been immune to these changes, and our traditional educational systems find themselves buffeted by social media and the various technologies that it rides upon. Learn how higher education institutions can leverage social media to your advantage.

Lauren will also present “How Today’s Students Use Social Media.” Today’s college students use social media (i.e., Facebook, Myspace, Twitter), cell phones, blogs, and instant messaging at higher rates than people from other generations.Yet faculty members generally lag behind students in their use of technology. While some embrace it, most faculty have negative views of newer technologies, believing that technology use hurts students academically and socially. Nevertheless, research shows that students utilize newer technologies that are beneficial to them. Recent research has shown that students who use Facebook at high rates have more positive educational outcomes. And the use of blogs, cell phones, and instant messaging have all been shown to promote student academic and psychosocial development. Learn the trends so that you can “talk the language” of your key audience and communicate effectively!

Check back soon to learn how your online presence can be the best it can be. Sandra Kowalski and Trey McCallie from Northern Arizona University recently revamped their entire online system and will share insights and lessons learned from their experiences. Susan Kirtland, of Propeller Communications, with present two sessions about what your visual messaging says about you, and how to to a self-audit of your website’s usability.

Photography Workshop. Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich & Matteo Federico Bologna.

2011-08-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Photography Workshop

Now that you’re coming to Phoenix, be sure to check out the photography workshop that precedes the conference on Saturday— “Create an Effective Mood.” We’re trying something different this year by offering this programming before the conference so that you can add this on with minimal additional expense. If you have always wanted to try one of UCDA’s photography workshops, here’s your chance!

You know those clients, the ones that say, “I know what I want when I see it?” Working with such a vague direction can require unnecessary work and endless revisions. This workshop will show you how to start a conversation about the visual direction of a project before you fully invest in a design. Using a digital camera, you will explore the pre-conditions to design and learn how digital mood boards can creatively kick start the design process. With your visual tools, evoke feelings or tones that will engage the client early in the design process, improving communication and creating work flow efficiencies.

Exercises will help you “get out of your own way” as you explore color, light and texture and refresh your approach to your own work. This workshop is for all levels of digital camera experience, and you supply your own camera, computer, etc.

This workshop actually begins online on Monday, October 3. You will have several photographic assignments on your campus and/or surrounding areas and online discussions, culminating in the half-day workshop in Phoenix with presenters Richard Jividen and Jody Zamirowski.

Fee $75. Includes online program starting October 3 and boxed lunch. Pre-registration required and space is limited to 25 participants.

Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich
Matteo Federico Bologna

The art of typography is a powerful form of communication. For instance, have you ever noticed posters in a different language that are so striking even though you can’t read them? Now imagine if you could read them, only to discover they are advertisements for something different than you thought, or something that you find offensive. You might not like it as much, but the visual power still drew you in.

Since English is the second language for Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich and Matteo Federico Bologna, they say in their refined accent ... ‘hummm, like ahhhh, rrrreading is rrreally overrated.’ What is their solution? They communicate with type. And boy, do they! They are masters of typographical illustrations, and their inspired work with type garners international praise. Matteo is principal at his design studio Mucca Design, with a focus on branding for big and small corporations, including Victoria Secret and Rizzoli. Roberto is president and receptionist of his own design studio, deVicq, that specializes in restaurant and publication design. Come and try to understand what the hell they are talking about with their general session, “English for me is Greek.”

Matteo and Roberto will also present a breakout session, “Typographical Survivor.” If you didn’t have the chance to experience their session in San Diego in 2005, you won’t want to miss this in Phoenix. Imagine this—you have no budget, the computer has hiccups, and the artwork was provided by the (air quote) gifted (air quote) three-year-old daughter of your client. Enter Typography to save the day! In this session, you'll explore the versatility of creating type from thin air.

Lois Ellen Frank. Dion Zeuss. Trish Witzkowski.

2011-07-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Krider Prize for Creativity: Lois Ellen Frank

The winner of the Krider Prize for Creativity this year is Lois Ellen Frank. Lois has successfully navigated the worlds of photography, advertising design and publishing. Most recently, she embarked into uncharted territory, pursuing a doctorate in anthropology and creating Red Mesa Cuisine with its mission to promote Native American, local and sustainably sourced foods.

Monday, October 17 at noon, this remarkable chef will present a presentation on photography and Native American and indigenous foods with a lunch that she personally designed for UCDA. The menu consists of Corn Soup, Stuffed Quail with Strawberry Sauce and Flourless Chocolate Torte. The use of unusual and quality ingredients promise that this will be a unique and memorable culinary experience. Be sure to register early as seating is limited, and there is a fee for this event.

Lois has just published a must-have cookbook featuring this work, Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations, and copies will be available at the conference. Be sure to check out both of these websites: Lois Photography and Red Mesa Cuisine .

Created in 2009 by the UCDA Foundation, the Krider Prize for Creativity honors creativity wherever it may be found. Recognizing that designers draw their inspiration and influences from a broad range of fields and experiences, the Krider Prize provides access for UCDA members to a variety of creative people and organizations.

Dion Zeuss

On the subject of sustainability, many of us are wondering, “now that I’m using FSC and recycled paper, and I've reduced my print as much as possible ... what’s next? Dion Zeuss is on board to present “Why Sustainable Design is Smart Design.”

Dion is the Creative Director of ecoLingo, a Phoenix design firm that specializes in sustainable design, and she is passionate about what they do. Her award-winning studio is dedicated to green design, blending design ecology, style, and sustainability. And out of thousands of submissions and only 230 design firms selected, two of ecoLingo’s projects were showcased in The Big Book of Green Design.

In her presentation, she explains that smart design thinking conserves resources, energy and money. Explore how to rethink your design role, gain tips to “work smarter” (what changes can you make in just your office that could make a difference?) and gather inspiration from samples of world changing design solutions from around the globe.

Trish Witkowski

Think you know all there is to know about designing brochures? Trish Witkowski, Chief Folding Fanatic at the Fold Factory is about to reveal more about folds than you ever thought possible with her session, “Escape the Tri-fold Funk.”

Ever seen a twist fold, a snake fold, a reveal folder, an angled roll fold, a swinger fold or a bidirectional accordion? Trish will share her passion for all things folded. Learn how to leverage the folded sheet to communicate your message and get results that will maximize the success of your projects. Explore exciting new solutions and learn from the industry’s leading expert in creative folding solutions for print.

Be sure to check out the Fold Factory website which is full of helpful videos and tutorials. There’s something for everyone at all stages of a design career.

It's in the Mail!

2011-06-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

By now, you should have received the 41st Annual UCDA Design Conference brochure!

You’ve seen the lineup of great speakers and subjects, and you really want to attend this conference. How do you convince your boss? Professional development is an investment that pays back, and here are a few points for the argument:

1. You’ll connect with the design community to build a successful network of higher education experts, learn from others in your industry and share ideas so you can face challenges with the right knowledge and support. UCDA is the only organization geared specifically for designers working in higher education.

2. Learn hard-hitting instruction from our stellar lineup of speakers. From lessons learned, you will know how to:
• Transition traditional media to mobile (including iPad, social and web)
• Find out how to use market data to influence decision makers and build design strategy
• Learn the importance of good content and rich storytelling
• Get up to speed on video training and techniques
• Learn to effectively collaborate with colleagues
• Recharge your creative batteries

4. Gain inspiration from the award-winning work in the UCDA Design show. Come away with fresh insight and ideas to create appealing communications that work.

5. Visit vendors at the UCDA Resource center to learn about new products that will enhance your work and production capabilities.

How will you THRIVE?
The past few years have been challenging to say the least. The truth is, it is not only possible to survive the current economic crises, but to also evolve, grow and THRIVE. Institutions that use design thinking can increase the significance of their brand, compete more effectively for students and resources and enhance their reputation. It will not be the smartest or the strongest that survive the arid landscape, but the ones most adaptable to change. Come to Phoenix for the 41st Annual UCDA Design Conference, and take new thinking back to your institution. THRIVE.

Garrick Chow & Creative Workshops

2011-06-22T07:34:00.001-07:00

Garrick Chow

Garrick Chow spoke to the UCDA audience in Savannah and Seattle, garnering rave reviews. He returns to present Preparing Your InDesign Documents for the iPad. As the popularity of digital eBook readers continues to grow, it’s become increasingly important for you to offer your publications in a format that’s friendly with devices like the Kindle and iPad. In this session, lynda.com author Garrick Chow walks you step-by-step through the process of tweaking your existing inDesign documents and converting them into the ePub format for viewing on the iPad. Garrick will also provide an overview of the options that are available for distributing your publications to the iPad, and how to convert them to other eBook formats for use on devices like the Kindle and Nook.

Garrick also will present iMovie in an Hour. These days, video is a must-have option for creating that rich media experience, and Apple iMovie is the easiest way to import, edit and share videos. In this session, Garrick will show you everything you need to know to go from raw footage to final product, including how to edit video and audio, and how to share your movies over a personal website or via facebook and YouTube. It’s easier than you think to get started creating video content!

Optional activities: Creative Workshops

There are many optional activities planned—from tours and mini workshops to morning walks and publication speed dating. Check the blog often for more information on these amazing options. The Creative Workshops will help you create elements that can have many applications:

Light Painting Workshop: The Dutch Masters knew what they were doing in their use of light, and that drama was best achieved if only a part of the painting was lit. With a few simple tools, it’s possible for anyone with a camera and an imagination to make painterly, artistic still life images. Join photographer Earl Richardson, and leave this session with an image and the skills to make even the most mundane of items look beautiful. Its simple and it’s fun, and you’ll come away with a technique that has unlimited potential for it’s use.

Watercolor Workshop: Join artist and illustrator Dale Cochran, who is also senior creative director at Clemson University, for a watercolor painting workshop on the patio (weather permitting). Dale will walk you through basic tips and techniques for painting an Arizona-themed still life. Come away with a new appreciation for this painting medium and a keepsake work of art.

Workshops have additional fees, and space is limited so register early!

Lori Schmidt and Todd Haynie. Brad Mitchell

2011-06-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

Lori Schmidt and Todd Haynie: When is Creative “Too Creative” for Admissions Campaigns?

You’re a designer. You crave those opportunities to exercise your creative chops and push the design envelope. On a college or university campus, new recruitment campaigns present just that opportunity!

Or do they? Today’s prospective students have definite ideas about being “marketed” to when it comes to their college or university selection process. How conceptual can you really be with your creative direction? At what point does design need to take a back seat to clear marketing messages? And what visual trends are resonating with students?

Lori Schmidt, of Lime Twig Group, and Todd Haynie from Eastern Arizona College will show you how they’ve balanced eye-catching design with primary marketing messages to resonate with the right students.
Eastern Arizona College is Arizona’s oldest community college and has a unique set of marketing distinctions. The college profiles more like a private, four-year residential college in many ways.

Everyone can learn from this interesting case study, and they’ll take a look at other campaigns that have resonated well with students, and some that haven’t. Come prepared to share your thoughts and ideas!

Brad Mitchell: Transitioning Alumni Magazines from Print to Web, and Ten Tips for Creating Online Video.

Our design landscape has certainly changed rapidly in the past five years. Technology moves at a rapid pace, and everyone needs tips and strategies to keep up!

Brad Mitchell and his team from Missouri State University used an easily customizable WordPress ttheme to launch their print magazine online, and they did it with just a few staff members and students.

Many institutions have ‘gone digital’ with their alumni magazines by posting simple PDF versions or by paying third-party vendors to create Flash page-flip versions. Brad will demonstrate how Missouri State University designed and built their new magazine website. The presentation will cover the challenges of transitioning from print to web, the design and implementation process, social media integration and interactivity with readers.

And once you have that great site, you’ll need video content. Brad also presents “Ten Tips for Creating Online Videos.” Video is not only is it the fastest growing mobile application, it is also the fastest growing medium in the history of the world. So what are you waiting for? In this session he’ll cover basics like necessary equipment and setup costs; how to interview students, faculty and alumni to get authentic answers and quotes; and finally outline best practices for utilizing free tools like YouTube, Vimeo and iTunes U to host and spread your videos via social media outlets and your institutional websites.

For the next blog, I’ll outline the sessions from Garrick Chow. Garrick offers a session on iMovie, which is great beginning if you’ve never attempted video. With Garrick and Brad’s sessions, you’ll come away with the confidence to get started making your own video content.

Garrick also has an amazing session planned on how to publish to the ipad... Stay tuned!

Keynote Speakers: Bob Hambly and DJ Stout

2011-06-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

June 7, 2011

We have a lineup of great speakers, so in the next few weeks, I'll highlight these individuals on the blog. I am excited about our keynote speakers, and I think you'll be inspired by their presentations.

Keynote Speakers

Opening Keynote Session: Bob Hambly on "Creativity."

When I first spoke to Bob about his session on Curiosity, I wondered what inspired him to prepare this lecture, which was first presented to the R.G.D. of Canada. He’s been thinking about the idea of curiosity for a quite a long time—about how it can be nurtured and encouraged, rather than feared and under-valued.

Bob Hambly is the creative director of Hambly & Woolley Inc., a Toronto-based, multi-disciplinary graphic design firm he co-founded with his partner, Barbara Woolley. Over the past 20 years, the firm has received over 350 national and international design awards—an impressive number by any standard.

When asked to prepare a lecture on any topic he desired, Bob jumped at the chance to delve into what intriques us. The result has been popular on the road, and lecturing to different audiences—architects, graphic designers, interior designers, MBA students and design students—one thing has been clear, the topic of Curiosity resonates with everyone.

Bob will isolate 5 areas where improvements will help spur your creativity. Learn new techniques, or refresh your current habits and thrive with fresh ideas.

Grand Finale Keynote Session: DJ Stout, "Content is King."

When I was preparing for this conference, I reviewed survey comments that attendees had made after past conferences, and under the question, “who would you like to see as a speaker?” the popular response was DJ Stout. Long a fan myself, I was unsure about how to approach this icon of the design world. Email? Formal letter? Phone call? I decided an email would be a good start. “Absolutely,” he replied to my very first email, and with that generous spirit, I knew we were in for a treat.

DJ Stout is a sixth generation Texan, born in the small West Texas town of Alpine. He studied graphic design at Texas Tech University, and began his graphic design career working for Robert A. Wilson Associates in Dallas. After moving to Austin, he was the award-winning art director of the nationally respected and critically acclaimed Texas Monthly magazine. In January 2000 DJ joined Pentagram, where DJ’s wide-ranging expertise encompasses the design and redesign of a variety of publications including magazines, books and catalogs. He and his team also specialize in identity design, branding, packaging, exhibitions and website design.

DJ will emphasize the importance of depth with “Content is King.” All publications are about content. Sure, a magazine, a college view book or a website could look marvelous, but it is not going to survive long if it doesn’t have something to say. Every publication needs to understand who their specific audience is and they need to understand how to create vital content that resonates with their particular constituency. Vital content is more than just good writing, it can be that of course, but the most effective publications deliver content through powerful conceptual photography, thought provoking illustration and a fluid combination of all those elements.

Veteran designer DJ Stout will talk about strategies and techniques for creating publications that look great and actually say something too!

As impressive as our keynote speakers are, the breakout session speakers are equally impressive. Check here for more profiles each week...

Breakout Session Overview

2011-05-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

We all need to keep up with technology and follow communication trends, and we can use techniques to refresh our creativity, too! The breakout sessions at the UCDA Annual Design Conference will provide tools to help us keep our edge and thrive in the higher ed market.

Here's a brief overview of the Breakout Sessions:

Lauren Cantido, of Social Media Solutions will provide valuable insight on how social media is being used. Check out Game Changers: How Educational Institutions are Using Social Media, and How Today's Students Use Social Media. You'll come away with information to help you take advantage of this fast-paced media platform.

Brad Mitchell, from Missouri State University transitioned their print magazine to online with minimal in-house staff and just a few students. Learn how they did it with Transitioning Alumni Magazines from Print to Web. He will also provide Ten Tips for Creating Online Videos.

With over a decade of design experience in eco design and visual communications, Dion Zuess from ecoLingo Studio believes that designers have a unique opportunity to integrate talent, communication strategies, and social responsibility. Join Dion for Why Sustainable Design is Smart Design, and explore opportunities to rethink design roles, gain tips to "work smarter" and gather inspiration from world changing design solutions from around the globe.

Trish Witkowski is Chief Folding Fanatic at FoldFactory.com. Ever seen a twist fold, snake fold, reveal folder, angled roll fold or bidirectional accordian? Trish will show how fresh new solutions can maximize the success of your projects in her session, Escape the Tri-fold Funk.

When is Creative "Too Creative" for Admission Campaigns? You're a designer. You crave those opportunities to exercise your creative chops and push the design envelope. New recruitment campaigns present just that opportunity! Or do they? Lori Schmidt of Lime Twig, and Todd Haynie from Eastern Arizona College will talk about the definite ideas today's students have about being "marketed" to. EAC is a campus with unique marketing distinctions, and their recent marketing strategy pairs eye-catching design with primary marketing messages to reach the right students. Explore this successful campaign and others that have resonated well with students.

Wil Heywood is a Clinical Psychologist whose recent research explores the role of team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design education and critical visual thinking. In Creativity, Confidence and Collaboration, find out how to bring more creativity, playfulness and flexibility into your work.

You're looking at that really bad photo that you just to have to use... Can you fix it? Join photographer Earl Richardson to learn techniques from his session, Lipstick on a Pig—tips that can help salvage that problem photo.

Along the same lines of working smarter, join Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich and Matteo Bologna for their Survival Type session. Imagine this scenario: You have no budget, the computer has hiccups, and the artwork was provided by the (air quote) gifted (air quote) three-year-old daughter of your client. Enter Typography to save the day! Explore the versatility of creating type from thin air with this class exercise.

Garrick Chow, from lynda.com presents two can't miss sessions. He will revisit the popular iMovie in an Hour which he presented at the 2008 Savannah conference. iMovie is the easiet way to import, edit and share videos, and Garrick shows you everything you need to know to go from raw footage to final product.

Garrick Chow also is presenting Preparing Your InDesign Documents for the iPad. He will walk you step-by-step through the process of tweaking your existing inDesign documents and converting them into the ePub format for viewing on the iPad. Garrick will also provide an overview of the options that are available for distributing your publications to the iPad, and how to convert them to other eBook formats for use on devices like the Kindle and Nook.

From Auburn University, Kevin Smith is an educator who teaches design and runs a design studio. His studio faced the same pressures of adapting to a multimedia environment that we all do, and he'll share the tips and tools he used to get there. Kevin will also present his session, IDEATION, Generating Idea Bubbles. This session will explore the process of forming and relating ideas, and design is the visual sum of these ideas.

Check out Do-It-Yourself: Testing Your Website's Usability. Susan Kirtland, of Propeller Communications, will present how to use in-house resources to test your institutions website for effectiveness and ease of use. Susan will also present a session, What Your Visual Messaging Really Says about You. Through actual case studies, you'll explore the five elements of successful visual messaging.

Telling stories is a fundamental element of what makes us human. It is also a highly intuitive way in which we make sense of our everyday lives. From the earliest cave drawings to Polaroids, blogs and tweets, we have always used a rich variety of media and technologies to represent and understand our life experiences. Today’s social media platforms, mobile applications and hybrid physical/digital environments present rich opportunities for creating new forms of storytelling experiences. Join media system designer Aisling Kelliher for Telling Something to Someone about Something, as she demonstrates how to design, build and evaluate engaging mediated storytelling platforms.

Arizona State University struggled for years with how to manage and share a sprawling photo library. Several designers worked together and found a solution by using Flickr. Cindi Farmer will talk about the models and processes that have worked for the community of designers at ASU wiht her session Flickr Photo Management.

Okay, folks, this was long, but we have such exciting sessions planned, I wanted to give you all an overview of what's to come. Next week I will begin to share in-depth session reviews and bios for our speakers...

Get ready for Phoenix!

2011-05-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

It's time to grow, evolve, and THRIVE!

We're well on our way to another great UCDA Annual Design Conference in Phoenix, October 15-18th, 2011! The lineup of speakers will inspire, educate and provide the relevant tools that you need to THRIVE in your job.

Check this blog weekly for updates and insights on programming and activities. You can find detailed information on the UCDA website as well, just follow this link: http://ucda.com/conference.lasso, and click on the conference activities listed on the left side.

General Session highlights include:

Keynote speakers Bob Hambly, of Hambly and Woolly Inc., with his session, "Curiosity: The Designer's Secret Weapon;" and from Pentagram, D.J. Stout with "Content is King."

Bob Hambly's session will take a close look at Curiosity, and how it can be nurtured and encouraged rather than feared and undervalued.

D. J. Stout will talk about the importance of content. The most effective publications deliver content with good writing, powerful photography and thought-provoking illustration in a fluid combination of all these elements.

General session speakers include Elizabeth Scarborough of SimpsonScarborough, Sandra Kowalski and Trey McCallie from Northern Arizona University, and Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich and Matteo Bologna, masters of typography.

Elizabeth Scarborough promises to show how research findings can spur creative concepts that prove, once and for all, that data geeks and graphic designers can live together in harmony.

How do you take 300 web sites that underperform and make them into something that really helps you achieve your strategic goals? Sandra Kowalski and Trey McCallie of Northern Arizona University will present a fascinating case study of the NAU process.

Because English is the second language for Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich and Matteo Bologna, they communicate with type. Come experience the power of typography and visual imagery.

Next up, breakout session highlights...

See you in Phoenix!

UCDA Design Conference: Thrive (2011 conference trailer)

2011-01-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

The past few years for colleges and universities have been challenging to say the least. The truth is, though, that it is not only possible to survive the current crisis, but to evolve, grow and...







Inspired, Smart Designers = Happy Clients + Strong Institutions
Institutions need to turn to one of their greatest untapped resources: their designers. By using "design thinking," institutions can increase the significance of their brand and compete more effectively for students, resources and enhanced reputation.
Designers are uniquely qualified to help their institutions harness the power of creativity, technology and communication to prosper and grow.

Thrive in Phoenix
Experience the only major design conference in North America specifically created by and for designers working in education. Programming is in development that targets the topics you told us were most important to you. UCDA consistently delivers a top-notch conference experience at a competitive price.Come be inspired.

UCDA Design Conference
October 15-18, 2011
Phoenix, Arizona

Light Rail

2010-09-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to think about packing my bags for Minneapolis and head north, way north for me. I'm checking out the weather (highs in the mid-60s perhaps even 70, lows in the high 40s, far better than last December!) and I'm remembering my trip back to the airport on light rail.

On the way in, I took the Super Shuttle, which was OK but took a long time to get to the hotel and so on the way back, we decided to try the light rail.

Light rail is such a bargain! For around $2, you can get from the airport (btw, love the cute blonde family on the home page!) down close to the hotel, then you can easily walk. You can even walk mostly inside, if need be, because of all the bridges and such that connect buildings. That was a wonderful thing in the cold weather as well. It was about one block over and two blocks down, not any longer than any airport concourse walking trip, so extremely do-able.

Once there, buying tickets from the kiosk was also a snap.

The part that was NOT a snap was competing for room on the train with all the Vikings and Bengals fans. See, there was a playoff game the weekend we were there. Every restaurant was crowded with fans all weekend long. And the trains ... well they looked like they'd been stuffed with purple and gold cloth. We waited in the 16 degree weather for a train to be less full and finally, after we skipped the first two trains, the conductor said "YOU BETTER GET ON THIS TRAIN." So Winston and I took our suitcases, shoved them through the doorway and snuck on. Two stops later, we had the train to ourselves, which took us directly into the airport.

Fortunately for all of us, the Vikings have a bye week! So, one of my very few Minneapolis tips: take the light rail!

See all of you at the end of the week! Lots of surprises and fun and of course, lots of networking and learning to be had. Can't wait! My favorite time of year: UCDA time!

The Big Picture 5.0: Doing More with Less Means Being More Imaginative and Less Static

2010-09-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Another note from the UCDA "buzz" team....

For many of us, we are the only design/communications professional in the entire unit, office, department, etc. Even if you're part of a design/communications/publications/web team, there are only a few of you, and there are many more jobs than you can count. This requires you be efficient. Creative. Innovative. Effective. All that.

With that (and you) in mind, each year UCDA puts together their annual Design Conference to Inspire us. Educate us. Train us. Motivate us. Equip us.

This year is no different. What with the demands of designing for and communicating via integrated marketing campaigns, social media, and video, I know that without UCDA I would still be driving 35-mph in the new Web 5.0 world. (Yes, as of May 20, 2009, according to PR LEAP, Web 5.0 has begun.) And HTML5? It's already here.

This year's breakout sessions bring you the gamut of how to design multi-touch, coherent communications campaigns. Finding ways to do things more efficiently and spread the message across multiple platforms won't be a mystery when you have the right tools and tips. Check out what who can learn from this year...

Designing for WordPress
Mike Richwalsky, John Carroll

No Country for Old Marketing Methods...
Sini Stjernsward Ross, Sexton Strategic

Connecting with Coherence: Three Satellites Point the Way
Rick Bailey, Richard Harrison Bailey/The Agency

Getting Started with XML
James J. Maivald, XML for Designers (His book is a must-have! Designer's Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML)

Thinking Dynamic-ly? Know your P's, Q's (and your XML's ...)
Chris Edwards, Quark

Technobabble or Technobrillance: 21st Century Digital Strategies for Higher Education
Fritz McDonald, Stamats

Until October then, it's shoulder to grindstone. See you in Minneapolis!

sarah

Bidding war

2010-09-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Silent Auction is always a good time at the conference. The bidding war that goes on until 10:15 on Tuesday can get really intense! If you're looking for oddities or hand-crafted items, you will find a wide array of items at the auction.

So what should you bring as a contribution? Just about anything works! We've seen everything from leather wallets and Pantone necklaces and hooked rugs and beaded jewelry to tshirts and books and letterpress cards and odd knick knacks. You name it, someone has contributed it to the auction. In fact, the auction grows throughout the conference as people go out and buy things to contribute.

My contribution is always knitted. In the past, I've made unusual hats. This year, it's the texting gloves! (Sorry guys, I made 'em pink.) We met in Minneapolis in December last year, and boy this Southern girl was cold. COLD. One morning, it was negative 3. Like, below zero cold. I wear gloves when it's 40 degrees outside! So I furiously made a pair of texting gloves to survive the visit and I made another pair when I returned, just for the auction. Some lucky soul will win the bid here, and hopefully the bids will be good to raise some money.

And you're raising money for a great cause! Our very own UCDA Foundation uses the monies raised for scholarships and sponsoring programs or other special projects that we share with members. So in the end, you're really helping yourself keep programming affordable, or even available to several lucky designers a year who might not otherwise be able to attend.

What will you bring or send in for the auction this year?

Prepare for Minneapolis

2010-09-09T13:02:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all! (Do they say that in Minneapolis?) I finally downloaded my conference attendee information from the Home Office. (If you didn't get one, let them know.) And if you haven't registered, you still can! Lots of fun and networking and oh yeah, great sessions that will help you connect your design skills to the tools you'll need in the future. (And yeah it includes print!)

In the PDF, there was a nice little list of 40 must do activities in Minneapolis, which reminded me that had been posted ... way way back before anyone was thinking "what will I do when I'm at the conference?" Oh sure, you could search for it, but I thought I'd make it easy for you.

AND ... coming or not ... participate in our silent auction. What is the silent auction? It benefits the UCDA Foundation, which it turn uses it for special projects and scholarships and programs and so in the end it benefits you as well. I'll blog more on that later, so I can include a picture of this year's donation. Last year, I made a fish hat, since we were in Seattle. This year, something a little more practical. I had thought about making a Mary Tyler Moore tam, but I went with something more useful. Tune in tomorrow!

Beginnings

2010-09-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

This past week, I've been immersed in the UCDA history with a little project I've been doing. Interesting history, to be certain. We were started because Lee Kline, from Illinois State, decided it was time we had something for university designers, as there just wasn't anything out there for us at that time. I won't repeat the rest of the history, which you can read here.

Boy, the early days must have been something. They had impressive programming at these events, to be certain, (Milton Glaser? Saul Bass? Margo Chase?) but even more so than the programming, it is clear that the chance to get together was vital. When you talk to Lee, and you can this year, he'll tell you it was an opportunity to drink beer and commiserate. Someone who attended those early days told me "It was kind of their Woodstock every year." It's clear as you go through the old letters and pictures that deep, important friendships were made, and are still made, through UCDA. I meet so many of you that work in offices as the sole designer. Especially for you, UCDA can give you colleagues. I see it on the listserv (really? 40+ messages of road songs, people?) and on Twitter all the time. You support each other and that's what we're supposed to be all about.

To me, the heart of this organization is summed up in this membership brochure from 1977. Here's the intro: "You say the publications editor in your department thinks design is something you cut out of a clip art book? That the dean considers $300 for 5,000 copies of a full color three-panel brochure "absolutely outrageous" and suggests you use the mimeo machine in the future? That your budget's been cut back so far you're having your department secretary fill old magic markers with food coloring you bought with your own money? And that your last request for a creative project was to have the college catalog (with a return reply card) reprinted on the inside of a matchbook flap? Well, take heart friend. The University and College Designers Association is here.

"We can't do much about the publications editor's attitude, the dean's tightfistedness, your budget problems, or the never-ending series of ridiculous publication design request you'll get.

"But we can get you together with other designers from across the country who've already faced -- and handled -- problems like your, and who can tell you how they've coped. With designers who've had their share of successes and failures and would like to share success formulas, and the funny failure stories, with you."

If that doesn't sum up, 33 years later, who we are trying to be, I don't know what does.

The other thing that hit me as I sifted through the more than 1,000 names of speakers over the past 40 years, is the caliber of the speakers. To add to Milton, Saul and Margo, there are other impressive names that jumped out at me, including: Charles Spencer Anderson, Steven Heller, Didi Katoni (the very first speaker I ever heard at a UCDA event), Annie Leibowitz, our good friends Brenda Foster and Domenica Genovese from GCF, D.J. Stout (twice). And right next to those names, more than a few of our own: John Krider (Washington University), McRay Magleby (Brigham Young), Amy Charron (Oregon State), Bob Winward (currently Utah State), Tom Hope (Univ. of Central Florida) and Amanda Fetterly (Univ of British Columbia). It's a wonderful meld, isn't it? A mix of the well-known commercial world along with our peers, teaching each other what we've learned.

So as the conference nears, I am excited to see all of you: from our founding members Lee Kline and Bud Deihl, to our very newest members. And I'm just as excited to see Matt Banbrough from Utah Valley University as I am the NBA in-house events team.

Nice spread!

2010-09-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

Have you been swimming in class notes and page counts? Searching for just the right cover shot? Trying to figure out how on earth to get your beautiful print magazine onto the web?

As the Creative Director of Marketing at Utah Valley University and the Art Director of the UVU Magazine, Matt Bambrough has been there. As he tells it, "We have a very talented team and have a lot of creative people that contribute to the final project. I work directly with the editor and all of the designers, photographers, and illustrators. I love doing editorial design, it is one of the favorite things about my job, and I am continually trying to make things better. It is always changing and evolving."

Matt has also proven he's pretty talented. He's the recipient of several UCDA Design Competition Awards. Last year alone he won Awards of Excellence for both Recruitment/Other, Magazine-Complete Unit, and Magazine-Editorial Spread.

When I asked him about presenting at this year's conference, Matt was instantly interested. They completed a redesign in 2008, and they're implementing a new approach to moving the magazine online. It sounds like there's always something interesting going on. As Matt puts it, "It is always changing and evolving and hopefully getting better."

So if you're looking for a relevant, useful case study of a successful higher ed magazine, you need to be in Minneapolis this October! Learn more about the conference and see what other breakouts will interest you: http://ucda.com/breakoutsessions10.lasso

And be sure to check out Matt and his team's award-winning work with the UVU magazine.

The Wilde Years

2010-08-27T05:14:00.001-07:00

Dave Yakley from Malone College found this terrific video on Richard Wilde, the chairman of the BFA program at School of Visual Arts in NYC. It's a celebration of 40 years as chairman of the program. I was already excited to hear what he has to say, and it's just so cool that he's got 40 years in and we too have got 40 years in. I'm sure we'll hear much about how things have changed in 40 years, along with how to inspire yourself to be different and push yourself. I love this quote from Richard in the video: "The enemy is the fashion of the day. The fashion of the day is the cliche of tomorrow."

See him in Oct in Minneapolis, and then we'll celebrate together with a big dance party. Bring your rainbow afro wig! (OK, just do that in spirit, not for real.)

You're in-house. He's in-house. It's a good thing.

2010-08-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Let's face it: being in-house is something special. Agencies, studios, freelancers…it's a different world. We navigate our day, our product, and our jobs very differently in some ways. That's where Glenn Arnowitz comes in.

The first time I saw Glenn's name, it was connected with the company InSource, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the understanding, impact and value of in-house design. Then I found a long list of conferences he has presented at, including HOW, and contributions he has made to Dynamic Graphics, The Creative Group, and GD:USA. And his presentations had great titles like, "In-House Ad-Ventures" and "The In-House Bucket List."

So he knows how to talk to and about in-house creatives. But does he walk the walk? You can be sure.

Glenn now serves as creative director of an award-winning team of six designers at Pfizer. Before that he spent 20 years working jobs such as typesetter, assistant art director and manager for a variety of international companies. AIGA includes him in their roster of expert in-house design speakers, and his bio reads, "Glenn is passionately committed to helping in-house creatives achieve design excellence and recognition within their companies and the business community."

So he not only knows in-house, but he works really hard to help all of us do better, work better, be better. To navigate the business from within. He really gets it.

Actually, three of our five general session speakers are in-house creatives. My first conversation with Julie De Jesus from the NBA included a brief discussion about all of those in-house issues and topics we all face: expectations, budgets, turnaround, respect. You deal with that, too? I asked. Oh yes, she said.

Mark Vukelich from Century College is enjoying the implementation of his award-winning branding efforts, and speaks with twenty-five years of experience in marketing, branding, advertising, public relations, media relations and government relations.

Several conference breakout speakers are in-house as well. Mike Richwalsky from John Carroll (video/Wordpress), Matt Bambrough from Utah Valley University (magazines), and Glenn Asakawa from the University of Colorado at Boulder (photo archives/Extensis) will all be sharing their expertise, straight from the field.

It's comforting to share our trials as much as our triumphs. Our best practices and our to do lists. Our frustrations and our victories. And it's even better to hear, "I really know what you mean." This year's conference is the perfect place.

From paper to post to tweet to IM. UCDA can help. Really.

2010-08-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

[Hi from a new guest UCDA blogger! I'm Sarah Dolinar from the College of Media at the University of Illinois.]

Stop me if you've heard this one...

"We need a brochure."

Really? Seems like forever since I heard that one…

"We need a brochure, a website, an email campaign, a mobile strategy, a viral video, and a social media plan."

Ah, now that sounds more like it. At least, in my office it does.

Overwhelmed? Don't be.

For one, like Christine pointed out in the last post, we have each other in UCDA. We've all been through it all. And if you think you haven't, you will.

I look forward to the UCDA Design Conference not only to learn new tips, tools, and tricks, but also (and maybe most importantly) to get a glimpse of what's to come. (Okay, I admit, it's also a chance to commiserate with my colleagues who have been through what I've been through. We're a plucky bunch, that's for sure.)

This year's conference is chock full of sessions about digital tools for enhancing our integrated marketing strategies to communicate with all our audiences. We're bringing experts to speak about how to meet that challenge like the pro that you know you are.

From video production for the web, to blogging tools, to using Quark and Adobe for cross-platform design, and back to email strategies, we've got it for you.

Sneak peek of a UCDA Conference Breakout Session

"Today's consumers are in charge and demand design that engages them through print, web, social media, video, and more." -- Keith Wiegold, Nutlug Content Marketing, UCDA Connect presenter

Having talking to Keith once or twice, I know that by "consumer," he means all those prospective students who have never known a world without email. And that includes all those current students who want announcements, deadlines, and course change notifications tweeted to them so they can see it on their mobile phone, while they sit in class (yes, we all know those students). And don't forget the alumni who want a print and online magazine that inspires and a website that makes giving easy.

Don't be overwhelmed. Join us in Minneapolis in October and join the UCDA community. (Get a preview of all the Breakout Sessions.)

We've all been through it.

Why I love UCDA

2010-08-12T04:28:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! I'm sitting in a hotel in Champaign, Illinois and I woke up just inspired and in love with this organization for which you've all given me the honor of being president this year.

Why, may you ask, am I in love with an organization while sitting in a hotel room? And why am I in Champaign, Illinois in the first place, a 1,000 miles from home?

(BTW, if you wanna skip all the gushy stuff here, you can skip to the bottom and get to the homework assignment.)

In short, we have this insane bid system that means one of the most important jobs I do all year -- the major undergraduate piece -- may be sent anywhere. When I started having to press check this job 10 years ago, I frequently was bored and restless, lonely and anxious for the experience to end. The past two years, I've been in Nashville and Champaign. I'm happy to say that both experiences were good, with a chance to see some old UCDA friends. (And the print piece came out nicely too, btw.)

This year, I've really gotten to know a LOT of UCDA members on Twitter: Ryan Zundell, Jason Mayeu, Stacy Herrick, Penny Frank, Steve Hartmann, Andrew Volk, Kevin Garcia, Jes Gagnon, Erica Endicott and Rex Whisman, along with others who I'm just overlooking. Through this, I've gotten to be a brand champion (via @rwhisman.) I've found an ear when I needed to vent about the buyers of my house (thanks @kg_creative) and support when I needed it (thanks @stacialynch, @ckilgore and @jasonmayeu for last Sunday!) I've even ended up with a Stuckey's Pecan Roll on my wall (thanks @creativille.) And there's loads more too.

An overnight press check so far away could be a nightmare of boredom or restlessness. But instead, I contacted some of my best Twitter buddies, Stacia Lynch and Christy Kilgore-Hadley of Eastern Illinois University. And they drove up from Charleston (Illinois, not SC) and we ended up at a place called KoFusion. It may be the first time I ate sushi on fire, but it was very good. And we ended up closing the place. Seriously, it was one of those nights where they're wiping down the tables and stacking chairs and stuff like that. We're like "oh, I think they want us to go" because for 3.5 hours, we talked about everything. We talked about our kids, in which we have cover the gamut, from college student down to pre-K. We talked about running, which Stacia is doing Team in Training and running a marathon and I was so inspired, I started running and plan to run a half marathon in October. We even talked about sticky bras and back fat and all that girl stuff that you can only do with the closest of friends. And we talked a LOT about design and designing in education and all that goes with that.

So I'm so grateful to UCDA for giving me so many colleagues, all over North America (talking to you @jesgagnon) along with the multitude of ways to converse with them. And I hope and hope and hope they can come to our 40th anniversary too, so I can give them a hug and tell them how much they've meant to me. I want to tell them that in my 15 years of designing for higher education, it's because of them and UCDA that I'm the designer I've become. (I mean this in a positive way, I promise.) I want to say "thanks so much for telling me I could run an hour after all and with you at my back, I did it." I want to stay up too late talking about design and uptight administrators and crazy faculty and nutty bid systems and commiserating about our challenges, just like Lee Kline, Bud Diehl and Gene Church used to do. It was a big big reason for them to create UCDA: so we could all sit around over a beer and compare our experiences. (I'm happy to say that is still an important part of UCDA and we've kept true to our core beliefs.)

SO, it wouldn't be a good entry if I didn't end with a call to action, would it. So I have a few homework assignments for you:
1. Get on the listserv if you're an email junkie. Loads of support and love out there too. You'll learn a lot, I promise. If you're an educator, find the educator listserv.
2. Tweet me that you're a UCDA member and you're on Twitter. I'll add you to the list. And you can find lots of UCDA members at the UCDA member list.
3. Come to the conference. I could push content in this post, because there's a ton of content to see this year. Some really awesome programming, I promise, and so relevant. Seriously, give it another look if you haven't. But come to the conference and meet the people who started this great little organization, as well as the newest of members. And come dance with me on Saturday night, but you have to wait. My first dances are going to be with my Twitter buddies.
4. Follow us on FB too. If you enjoyed the post, you'll like the Facebook page, because it's a lot of me posting UCDA stuff and crazy links that I find and the like.
5. And lastly, get involved. Seriously, don't roll your eyes, do it. Make this organization your organization, not just for yourself, but for us. Contact any board member. We need you.

Thanks for being there for me, you UCDA peeps. I love you man.

informative + entertaining + inspiring: Pechu Kucha for Educators

2010-08-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Informative + entertaining + inspiring: this is the combination needed for a successful presentation. Speed it up a little and that is what you get with Pecha Kucha. When they were first developed in Tokyo, Pecha Kucha Nights were a way for designers to meet, share work and ideas, and network. The fast format was often set as 20 seconds per 20 slides per presenter. Seven years later, there are PKN in over 250 cities around the world.

And now, we have a Pechu Kucha afternoon event specifically for educators! With the help of Steven McCarthy of the University of Minneapolis' College of Design, we've planned a pre-conference Pechu Kucha on Friday, October 1. You'll spend the afternoon with design educators throughout the region, each presenting their work and their programs. Then share questions, feedback and discussion. Being able to interact with people "in your boat" is one of the biggest benefits of the UCDA conference. How often can you hear right from your peers about their challenges, ideas, methods, stories, inspirations, history? This is a chance to teach and inspire—to learn and to be inspired.

Steven will also conduct a breakout session later at the conference, "Twenty-five Years of Design Authorship: Expression, Communication and Activism." Over the years Steven has sought opportunities to expand the role of graphic design from a neutral client-oriented service to an integrated practice. His bio mentions that he's been published in Graphis Posters, AIGA annual, and Provocative Graphics. His work has been in numerous juried and invitational exhibitions across the country, and he has conducted scholarly presentations across the globe.

And, when you see him in October, be sure to ask about his recent travels to Birmingham, England, where he investigated the original artifacts designed and printed by John Baskerville!

BlueFuego on Fire

2010-08-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Been looking into BlueFuego and why we need to hear their talk in Minneapolis. Boy, they really get higher education. Just looking at their most recent blog entry gives a treasure trove of information about social media and the web.

But, I know what you are thinking. Why should you go to a conference to hear a sales pitch? It’s not a sales pitch. Brad J. Ward has spoken a lot, worked with a lot of higher education clients and plans to show actual case studies, with ideas and techniques you can take back to your office. Heck, even the legendary (at least on Twitter) Chris Brogran brags on Brad, saying, “When I spoke at the Stamats event in Tampa, I was excited that so many people in the audience were really tuned in to the notion of what social media could do for their higher education marketing. But who stole the show, in my eyes, was Brad J. Ward. His speech [The Recruitment Long Tail] was both passionate and value-driven. You could do something with his speech. And that lesson, adding value to the passion, is what I took away from that part of that event.”

Plus, Brad comes from working within higher ed. He gets it. You won’t hear the usual “sometimes you have to fire the client” or other things you hear that really don’t work in the world of in-house higher education design. He’s been working in higher education, either as a student, or employee or consultant ever since attending college.

And they’re just great guys. Christy Kilgore, at Eastern Illinois University, gives her stamp of approval on hearing Brad. She says, “BlueFuego is really good at giving concrete ideas for how to take social media out of theory and into practice. I also love that they can help give validation to the people who are doing social media work when it comes to administration. Basically, they help prove your worth, and give you a lot of great direction. I love those guys.”

Check out more of the fun on their Facebook site too.

The good stuff before the good stuff

2010-07-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

Here are three interesting facts about two of the pre-conference activities. They're both design-inspired…and design-inspiring!

Triple Treat: Museum Tour

• The Minneapolis Institute of Art was designed by the preeminent New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, and the original building opened its doors in 1915. Their permanent collection has grown from 800 works of art to around 80,000 objects.

• Opened in April 2005, the new Walker Art Center (formally established in 1927) highlights ideas from different disciplines and art forms and is seen as a model for cultural institutions of the future. A key aspect of the design is a "town square," a sequence of spaces that draws people for informal conversation and interactive learning.

• Adjacent to the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden opened in 1988 and was immediately heralded by the New York Times as "the finest new outdoor space in the country for displaying sculpture." The Garden's centerpiece and most popular work is by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

University of Minnesota Day

• The founders of the Goldstein Museum of Design, educators and art collectors (and sisters) Harriet and Vetta Goldstein, worked with a design philosophy that stressed the inter-relationships between aesthetics and lifestyle: "As we surround ourselves with beauty, art actually becomes a part of our life and personality."

• The Goldstein Museum's graphic design collection includes early twentieth-century journals such as PM and A-D, the complete set of Emigre magazine from the late twentieth-century, and issues of Push Pin Graphic, Octavo: A Journal of Typography and News of the Whirled.

• Some of the wood type that will be used for the hands-on letterpress are well over a century old and on loan from the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Wisconsin.

For more info, or to sign up for one of these activities when you register, visit http://ucda.com/activities10.lasso.

Green Minneapolis

2010-07-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis launched a huge bike-sharing program last month—it's currently the largest bike-sharing program in the nation! Nice Ride is just one of MPLS's many 'green' initiatives. They have a flex-fuel city vehicle fleet, microgrants awarded to residents and businesses as motivation to reduce their carbon footprints, LEED building support, and others.

It's only fitting that we're in MPLS this year, with a handful of 'green' speakers on hand!

• Steve Dussair from Monadnock Paper will discuss their Field Guide, which offers information in support of the idea that sustainable design and print can be done in a cost-efficient and environmentally sensitive way without compromising quality.

• Angela Ferraro-Fanning of 13thirtyone will help us to adopt greener design practices when it comes to paper, printing, inks, and overall design strategies—with real world examples. She'll also share tips on creating a greener workspace.

• Roger Dziengeleski from Finch Paper will reduce the complexity surrounding "green" paper choices and the processes that get us there. A master forester, he helps Finch manage their forests responsibly while educating people about the process.

You can also purchase carbon credits again this year! Check the registration form for more details.

So…what are you doing lately to be 'green'?

Photo by Alyssa Graham

Using the Road (and Other Cool Stuff) as a Canvas

2010-06-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Nike Chalkbot? It's a fully pneumatic robot and a really cool way to deliver graphics that mean something. During the 2009 Tour de France, the Chalkbot chalked up to 100,000 messages of courage, hope and action.

Not all of us will be able to afford a chalkbot, but the idea of guerrilla marketing is alive and well, especially during this time of economic unrest. Fritz McDonald from Stamats will be sharing his ideas about guerrilla marketing at the conference this October. Stop by ucda.com/conference.lasso to find out more and to register.

Until you can enjoy Fritz's presentation, you can enjoy these:
• The Nike Chalkbot
• One of my favorites (though really just for fun), Improv Everywhere's "Can I Get a Napkin, Please?"
• And this excellent VW promotion, shared by UCDA friend Herbert at Guerilla Communication

Five not so "general" sessions

2010-06-11T05:48:00.001-07:00

Many of you attend the annual conference to gain creative inspiration and hear hard-hitting instruction from our lineup of speakers. This year we're pleased to announce we have 5 stellar General Session speakers:

• An educator of 40 years and "Guru of Design Thinking" according to Critique magazine

• A leader of in-house creative management and co-founder of in-source.org

• The "Chief Explosion Officer" who can help you embrace technology for higher education

• A 25-year veteran who just launched an award-winning brand campaign

• An in-house VP facing the same challenges in the entertainment world as we face in higher ed

Find out more at: http://ucda.com/generalsessions10.lasso

365 Things To Do In The Twin Cities

2010-04-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Looking for things to do in Minneapolis this fall at the conference? Join this fan page in Facebook!

40 Inspiring Things to Do In and Around Minneapolis

2010-04-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

List Compiled by UCDA Members
Illustration by Powerchild Creative

UCDA will celebrate its 40th UCDA Design Conference in 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Plan now for an extra day or two to experience these Minneapolis must-sees.

THE SIGHTS
The American Swedish Institute
www.americanswedishinst.org
Step into the heart of Swedish America. The American Swedish Institute is a historic house, museum, and cultural center located near downtown Minneapolis.

Mill City Museum
www.millcitymuseum.org
Built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, Mill City Museum is located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront. Here, learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
garden.walkerart.org
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of Minnesota’s crown jewels and its centerpiece, the Spoonbridge and Cherry, has become a Minnesota icon. The Sculpture Garden is essentially a free museum in a park.

Walker Art Center
www.walkerart.org
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences. Focusing on the visual, performing, and media arts of our time, the Walker takes a global, multidisciplinary, and diverse approach to the creation, presentation, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art. Walker programs examine the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts
www.artsmia.org
Inspiring wonder through the power of art.

Guthrie Theater
www.guthrietheater.org
Called “a 21st century dream factory” by Time Magazine, the new Guthrie boasts three stages, a full-service restaurant, pre-show dining, numerous bars and some of the best views of Minneapolis to be found in the city.

Uptown Theater
www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Minneapolis/uptowntheatre.htm
Watch a classic movie—from the 40s or the 80s—at midnight on Saturdays.

Mary Tyler Moore Statue
In downtown Minneapolis there is a statue to honor the news girl (Mary Richards) from the Mary Tyler Moore show. Statue has her throwing her hat, made famous from the opening titles of the show.

Weisman Art Museum
www.weisman.umn.edu
The country’s only art museum by visionary Frank Gehry will undertake an 11,000-square-foot expansion designed by Gehry himself.

The Basilica of St. Mary
First Basilica in the US. Gorgeous downtown Basilica, near the Sculpture Garden.

Lakewood Cemetery
www.lakewoodcemetery.com/History_Chapel.html
Huge, beautiful memorial park. Uptown location. Mosaic-lined chapel is an architectural gem and on the National Historic Register. Famous people buried there include Hubert Humphrey, Pillsburys, Paul Wellstone.

The Star Tribune
www.startribune.com
See it while they’re still printing newspapers!

Northern Clay Center
www.northernclaycenter.org
Gorgeous pottery work on exhibit and for sale. A couple miles from downtown, but worth the trip.

Minneapolis Photo Center
www.mplsphotocenter.com
Weekly lectures, usually free.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
www.mnbookarts.org
Downtown. Has a gift shop and coffee shop. Often has a public exhibit.

The Fitzgerald Theatre
fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org
OK, it’s in St. Paul. Home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.

THE SOUNDS
The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant
www.dakotacooks.com
The Dakota serves up great food and awesome jazz, with local musicians and big names like Boz Scaggs and Shawn Colvin.

First Avenue
Immortalized by Prince in the movie Purple Rain, this now-iconic club has a storied history. In addition to launching “His Royal Purpleness,” First Avenue served as the hub of the Minneapolis punk scene. Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements regularly packed the house.

THE TASTES
Al’s Breakfast
From Michael Stern (Roadfood): “Al’s is Nirvana for those of us who spend our lives in search of great diner breakfast. It is smaller than small, wedged perpendicular to 14th Avenue among the shops of Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota. Customers waiting for one of the fourteen stools at the counter stand hovering just above and behind those who are seated and eating.”

Hell’s Kitchen
www.hellskitcheninc.com
In their own words: “In the heart of downtown, you’ll discover Hell’s Kitchen serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks 7 days a week. Rather than over-the-top fancy food, we just serve real food, carefully prepared from scratch. Food writers have best described our offerings as “unique but not fancy; interesting but not fussy.” We follow no trends, we don’t chase awards (but we ARE proud that customers have given us over 67 “best” awards since 2002.) We just crank out damn good food.”

The Red Stag Supperclub
www.redstagsupperclub.com
The Red Stag Supperclub strives to be a good local and world citizen by serving local and organic foods as much as possible, conserving resources and composting waste, and by always being on the lookout as to how to better its business practices.

Rustica Bakery
Absolutely divine baked goods. French style pastries.

MASA
www.masa-restaurant.com
Contemporary Mexican cuisine.

“Eat Street”
For a culinary tickle, stop on Nicollet Avenue between Grant and 29th Street. Nicknamed “Eat Street,” the Avenue offers dozens and dozens of ways to entertain your palate. You’ll find some of the best Vietnamese and Mexican eateries in town, along with other Asian, Greek, German, and American specialties.

Pancho Villa
www.panchovillasgrill.com
Great authentic Mexican restaurant in the Eat Street area.

Barbette
barbette.com
Uptown, owned/run by the same person as Red Stag. Smaller, funkier, Frenchier.

First Course
firstcoursebistro.com
Small, intimate neighborhood restaurant a couple miles south of downtown. Menu changes weekly, but is never disappointing. Reservations needed.

Ichiban Japanese Steak House
www.ichiban.ca
Teppanyaki cooking in a Japanese garden atmosphere. All meals prepared tableside by knife-flashing chefs. Largest sushi bar in town. Tempura also available.

THE OTHER
Minneapolis Light Rail
www.visitingdc.com/airports/minneapolis-light-rail-map.asp
Light rail stop just blocks from the UCDA Conference hotel. Can’t beat it for $2!

Skyways
Seem a little quiet on the street? Minneapolis and Saint Paul are both home to a unique system of glass “tunnels” located one story above ground. They call them skyways-—you can just call them convenient. Downtown Minneapolis’ 8-mile system will get you almost anywhere in climate-controlled bliss.

Ditch the coat in the hotel room and go exploring in this lively thoroughfare filled with specialty shops, restaurants, and services.

The Depot Rink
www.thedepotminneapolis.com/icerink
Named one of the top ten best places in the United States to ice skate by the USA Today and MSNBC, The Depot Rink is a historic downtown Minneapolis train shed that now houses a modern-day, indoor rink with floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcasing views of the downtown
city skyline.

Minnesota RollerGirls
www.mnrollergirls.com
Amateur roller derby with a charitable bent.

Wabasha Street Caves
www.wabashastreetcaves.com
Experience gangsters, ghosts, or maybe just fun night out.

THE RETAIL Surdyk’s
www.surdyks.com
Discover vintage wines and hundreds of regional artisan cheeses at the Midwest’s largest liquor store. Founded in 1934, Surdyk’s offers everything from beer and wine to a legendary deli.

Nicollet Mall
In the heart of the city, this pedestrian mall is host to the upscale boutiques of Gaviidae Common, sidewalk cafes, cozy book stores, Target, Neiman Marcus, and more.

Byerly’s
www.lundsandbyerlys.com
Push a smooth grocery cart through ridiculously wide earth-toned carpeted aisles lit by throngs of crystal chandeliers. Hungry folk can enjoy hearty meals in the attached diner, read the in-house publication and enjoy regional signature specialties like Byerly’s Wild Rice soup.

Warehouse District
This historic area is home to an emerging “design district” with hip lofts and show rooms for home-decor and artistic pieces.

Midtown Global Market
www.midtownglobalmarket.org
Internationally themed public market featuring fresh and prepared foods, restaurants, and a selection of arts and crafts from around the world.

Wild Rumpus Bookstore
www.wildrumpusbooks.com
Extensive collection of children’s books, plus tailless Many cats and a chicken for good measure.

Ingebretsens
www.ingebretsens.com
Midtown—on Lake Street. The Scandinavian store in Minneapolis. Gift shop and small grocery. Fresh meats and cheeses. Yup, they sell lutefisk and lefse.

Southern Girl in Minneapolis

2009-12-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all! Your 2010 president is back from January weather in December in Minneapolis. I was certain it would kill me but I managed to survive. I wasn't sure as we walked around in -3 degree weather, but it got positively balmy after that. It was even 28 degrees outside, briefly!

Anyway, I tell all of you this to say that if this southern gal can survive that, everyone can do it in October. It'll be worth it. From Target to Legos to the Walker Museum and the great Swedish and German heritage (you might be able to hang around for an Oktoberfest, perhaps), there will be so much to be inspired by. It's the 40th year of your organization, so come for the big kickoff party before we sink our teeth into the issues we'll face in the next 40.

We've got a great team together and I know Penny and Winston are going to do a bang up job planning this event. They need your help, so get in touch with them with your ideas, connections and thoughts. This conference and organization belongs to you, so help us out!

And, it's totally worth going up there for the breakfasts. Holy cow, do they do breakfast up there in style. The shot I've attached is from Hell's Kitchen, a great little spot easily hit from the hotel, 2 blocks away past the Mary Tyler Moore statue. And, for those that are fans of Ralph Steadman, the entire place is decorated with his artwork.

Silent Auction Reminder

2009-10-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

Josh Berger, this year closing session speaker has generously offered a 6-month subscription (a $99 value) to plazmthread.com for inclusion in this year silent auction. Remember to bring your goodies to include in the auction and bid often. The proceeds go to a great cause, helping the UCDA Foundation fund conference scholarships.

Urban Eats

2009-09-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

Throughout October, "Urban Eats" offers you 3-course dinners (appetizer, entrée and dessert) for only $30 at 39 of the Seattle's most esteemed eateries. A good deal for a great meal. Available Sunday-Thursday nights.

Check out the list of participating restaurants:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/urbaneats/

Welcome to Seattle

2009-09-30T08:03:00.001-07:00

Opening night!

2009-09-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Am drooling over the opening night caterer's site, so I thought I would share. Expect heavy hors d'oeuvres along with drinks for our always awesome opening night. What a wonderful opportunity to meet others in a very unique space, while noshing on delicious finger food. As great as the carnival in the square was last year, enjoy the upscale tone of this event. And, bring a pen! You'll want to participate in our icebreaker game, so be looking to find 12 people who match the Seattle-themed criteria we've created.

We'll see everyone next week! Can't wait!

Thinking about next year!

2009-09-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

So excited to see everyone in Seattle next week, wow! I need to devour these great blog entries about what to do and see in Seattle. In the interim, I've gotten this email from Tasting Table about Minneapolis. And if you can't make it to Seattle, or you know you're going to be in Minneapolis next year, start dreaming about enjoying this food next year.

In the mood for french food?

2009-09-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Just had the most amazing brunch at Cafe Campagne in the Pike Place Market. This place was voted best breakfast brunch in Seattle for 2009 by Zagat.

The picture is their signature dish. Oeufs en meurette.

Two poached eggs served on garlic croutons with pearl onions, bacon and champignons in a red wine and foie gras sauce served with pommes frîtes.

Does not look like much, but tastes amazing.

The cafe is a 10 minute walk from the conference hotel and serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday until 4:00 PM.

Help Josh Help You

2009-09-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Joshua Berger is the principal of Plazm, an innovative and influential Portland, Oregon based design firm. Josh is deeply concerned with the culture and environment in which we live and work and wants our help in understanding what we as institutional designers do to find meaning in our worlds. Here's the question:

Every day we make decisions and take actions, large and small, that influence our lives and the world around us. What do you do, personally, that helps create meaning in your life and your work? What everyday habits do you cultivate?

Post your responses here or feel free to email them directly to Josh at josh@plazm.com. Please let Josh know if he can use your name in the presentation or if you'd prefer to remain anonymous. (Thanks Josh for going the extra mile to make your topic connect. Can't wait to hear the results.)

UW Recommendations

2009-09-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Laury Phillips and her colleagues at University of Washington for the latest batch of hot Seattle tips, most within walking distance from the Marriott Waterfront.

Great place for a late night beer with friends:
Virginia Inn
Corner of Virginia and 1st (3 blocks)

Amazing pastries and bread (I can vouch for this one):
Macrina Bakery
1st between Battery and Wall (5 blocks)

Cozy french restaurant (this has now shown up on a couple of lists so draw your own conclusion):
Le Pichet
1st between Virginia and Stewart (3.5 blocks)

Cute jewelry shop:
Fancy
2nd near Stewart (5 blocks)

Great sushi:
Saito's
2nd near Lenora (3 blocks)

Out of the way cocktail lounge:
Alibi Room (how can you not resist that name)
Post Alley near Pike (about 5 blocks)
...across from the gum wall??? don't ask me.

Of designer interest:
http://paperhaus.com
1st and Virginia (3 blocks)

Pike Place Market highlights:
• DeLaurenti Specialty Food (great dolmas)
1st near Pike (about 5 blocks)
• Market Spice (green seafood herb)
1st and Pike (about 5 blocks)
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese (I'm afraid I can attest to this one as well--dangerously good mac 'n cheese)
Pike Pl. and Pine (4 blocks)
• Le Panier Very French Bakery
Pike Pl. and Stewart (3 blocks)
• Piroshky Piroshky Russian bakery (apple tarts)
Pike Pl. near Stewart (3 blocks)

More later. Gotta go find something to nosh.

80 degrees in September

2009-09-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are experiencing some very warm weather for this time of year. Usually we are in the rainy season. Keep your fingers crossed that this trend continues into October.

Photo taken from I-5 heading north to downtown Seattle at 12:00 PM 9/12/09.

Sponsors, Exhibitors and Goody Bag Participants

2009-09-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to all our sponsors, exhibitors and Goody Bag participants that will be taking part in the upcoming conference. Be sure to mark your calendar for Monday, October 5 and make your way to the Resource Center to load up on all sorts of goodies!

Get Schmancy

2009-09-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

UCDA member Tom Rask (designer at Case Western Reserve University) contacted us about a fascinating little store not far from the conference site and Pike Place. The name of the store is Schmancy. The owner Kristen Rask, who by coincidence is Tom's daughter, carries a line of quirky toys, collectibles and original art that should get any designers heart racing with excitement.

A great place to visit during free time, and a local Seattle toy shop owner would love for any designers to stop by.

UCDA mourns tragic loss

2009-08-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Leo Obstbaum
1969-2009

UCDA was deeply saddened to hear the recent news of the tragic passing of Leo Obstbaum. Our hearts are with the family he leaves behind and all those who called him friend and colleague over the years. As Design Director for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver the creative legacy Leo leaves behind will soon be witnessed by millions as the world turns its attention to Vancouver.

Leo's presence will surely be missed at the 2009 UCDA Design Conference. Plans remain in place for Derek Baxter to present the work of hte Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) but Leo's absence will weigh heavy even as we are inspired by his work. The full affect of this untimely passing are undoubtedly not yet fully realized by all those that worked alongside Leo and we will post updates if there are any subsequent changes to the conference schedule.

Student Rate for the Conference!

2009-08-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Annual UCDA Design Conference has a unique opportunity for design students in the Pacific Northwest!

Full Conference (Opening keynote plus three full days of program)
$400 Student Rate ($850 Full Rate)

Single Conference Days
$200 Student Rate ($350 Full Rate)

Keynote and Reception Only
$40 Student Rate ($60 Full Rate)

We're excited about our 39th annual design conference in Seattle. Our theme of Navigate acknowledges the challenges facing designers in today's complex organizational landscapes, the confusing maze of media options, sustainability choices, and budgetary pressures.

To address these concerns, we've brought together more than 20 experts and offer five general sessions, 24 breakout sessions, and many additional workshops, reviews, tours, and discussions. Speakers include Anne Traver and Dale Hart from Methodologie; Joshua Berger from Plazm; and several prominent design education panelists. Other offerings include photographers, marketing and communication agencies, university designers, and award-winning magazine art directors, as well as speakers from Adobe, Quark, iStockphoto, and Campaign Monitor.

Call 615-459-4559 to register or for complete speaker and schedule information visit http://ucda.com

Brand Champion of the Day

2009-08-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

From conference speaker Rex Whisman's Brand Champions Blog:

"Every Monday and Friday I feature people and organizations who understand what it means to be a brand champion. Today I am pleased to highlight David Dryden and Tadson Bussey from UCDA."

"I was first introduced to UCDA several years ago when I was working in a communications and marketing department at a private university. Several of my staff were members. I become more familiar with the organization when I had the opportunity to facilitate a pre-conference workshop two years ago in Toronto. That experience led me to become a champion of their brand. I am honored to have the privilege to present at their upcoming conference in Seattle this October. Today David and Tadson share their views on what they think it means to be a brand champion for UCDA."

Interesting camera gear?

2009-08-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Small world. Apparently conference presenter Max S. Gerber works maybe three blocks from my home here in sunny Pasadena, but I came across his name through referrals by Pam Fogg at Middlebury College in Vermont. Max just sent me his latest email promo, "(the latest shot)," featuring photos of speedcubers capable of solving a rubik's cube in something like 12 seconds, and I see that the genesis of these images goes back to an assignment done for Pam. Now he carries a "cube" with him everywhere in his camera bag and when he's not loosening up subjects with it he solves it himself in about a minute. Someone's goin' to have to test this in Seattle.

IE demonstrates power in words

2009-08-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Among the recognitions IE Design + Communication recently received from the 24th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards was a gold honor for their USC Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Program direct mail design.

IE's work for USC beautifully demonstrates their dedication to smart solutions that integrate visual and verbal narrative. Marcie Carson and Corey Baim, IE principals, will be presenting a pair of sessions not only highlighting the role of words in their design, but are planning a collaborative workshop where participants can explore for themselves the power of words in overcoming visual hurdles.

Foodie friend recommends...

2009-08-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Just got a list of Seattle recommendations from a politico friend that travels quite a bit and always eats very well...

Macrina Bakery and Cafe, 2408 1st Avenue, for coffee and pastries, sanwiches, soup, etc. Only a few blocks from the hotel, and for those that do the walk, talk and shoot to the Olympic Sculpture Garden this is my recommended lunch stop right on the way back.

Etta's, 2020 Western Avenue, one of famed Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas's locations, conveniently located between the hotel and Pike Place Market.

Gelatiamo, 1400 Third Avenue, downtown--always something new and unusual to taste ("try the rice")

Matt's in the Market, Pike Place Market, hard to find but cheap eats--try the hot albacore tuna sandwich.

A couple of other nicer Belltown recommendations I know nothing about but will pass along, Mistral at 113 Blanchard and Lampreia at 2400 First Avenue.

Enjoy!

Oregon State "powered by orange"

2009-08-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

In March of this year Oregon State University launched a new social media campaign, Powered by Orange, offering a network of alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends and fans a place "to tell your story and connect with the other practical idealists who are Powered by Orange."

In their June 25 blog mStoner featured the site calling it the "most comprehensive university social marketing campaign that we’ve seen to date" and eduStyle awarded the site the Jadu Best Integration of Social/Networking award. Mashable featured the site in their must-see article 10 Ways Universities Are Engaging Alumni Using Social Media.

Amy Charron will be representing Oregon State as this year's "featured school." I'm sure I'm not the only one in UCDA that often feels overwhelmed trying to figure out how these new tools fit into our patterns of work and strategies for marketing. Can't wait to see what Amy has to share with us.

On the right track

2009-08-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for another way into Seattle when you arrive?
Give our new light rail system a try.

The main terminal from the airport won't be complete until December. You can, however, take a free shuttle bus or walk to the terminal and from there it's a short 34-minute ride to downtown Seattle.

From the Westlake Mall Downtown Seattle station, you can take a 10-minute cab ride or a 15-minute walk to the conference hotel. This will drop you right into the heart of the shopping district.

During your 34-minute ride into the city you will pass through the historic neighborhoods of Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, SODO (home to the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners), the International District (Chinatown) and Pioneer Square.

If the weather isn't too cloudy, you will also see some amazing vistas of Mount Rainier.

Healthcare and Cupcakes?

2009-08-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Seattle cupcake maven Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale, was featured this past Friday in a Morning Edition story on healthcare. Who am I to question NPR?

Okay, I probably can't buy into health benefits from cupcakes, but my mind is open...however, can't wait to make a trek to one of Cupcake Royale's four locations to do my part "to support healthcare benefits."

Conference registration deadline extended.

2009-08-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

We know budgets are tight. So we're extending the early-bird registration and hotel deadline to August 15 in order to save you a few bucks.

Get to it!

Are you a runner? Seattle is for you!

2009-07-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

Another mention of Seattle for you! Check out Chris Guillebeau's list of best cities for running ... Seattle is one of the few American cities listed. My director Dave is a runner and he has started a runner's group that gets a little exercise in before everyone starts to exercise their minds in our sessions. Get in touch with him if you're interested! You can find his contact info on the Board of Directors page.

And if you don't know who Chris Guillebeau is, he's a very interesting person who writes the "Art of Nonconformity" blog. I'm sure he'd find me utterly boring, but he's an interesting read nonetheless.

Registration has been extended! With that and the lower hotel rates, get signed up now. We've got a terrific lineup for you, so you want to take advantage of learning about the latest and greatest in our changing landscape.

A reason to travel!

2009-07-30T08:44:00.001-07:00

Hey folks! Just read this really interesting article about creativity from Scientific American and it turns out that traveling is an excellent way to develop creativity. I quote: "It suggests that there are several simple steps we can all take to increase creativity, such as traveling to faraway places (or even just thinking about such places), thinking about the distant future, communicating with people who are dissimilar to us, and considering unlikely alternatives to reality." Leave out the "thinking about such places" and tell your manager that coming to the conference is an excellent way to build your creativity!

A link between UCDA and literacy?

2009-07-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

A study by Central Connecticut State University ranked Seattle as America's Most Literate City in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 Minneapolis claimed the top spot and 2008 saw the two cities tied for the honor....hmmm....UCDA conference in Seattle this year, and in Minneapolis next year. Coincidence?

Less really is more

2009-07-27T08:51:00.001-07:00

At a recent marketing summit one of Fuller's trustees, a former executive with Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb, repeatedly touted the website of Oregon State University as a benchmark for both brand consistency and usability.

I don't know how involved Amy Charron is in the design of the website, but in representing OSU as this year's featured school at the UCDA conference I believe she's going to be focusing on how different entities at Oregon State, including print and web designers, share resources to build a stronger more cohesive brand and save money at the same time.

In education where there's always pressure to differentiate units and do something different it's great to see someone get recognition for doing something less--but doing it consistently and really well...and who among us isn't being asked to save money.

Best Local Food

2009-07-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just in on the Huffington Post is a list of best cities for local food and Seattle is #4! Now of course we will all come to the conference for the terrific and inspiring programming but a designer's gotta eat, right? So we have some excellent choices as well. Yeah!

Conference hotel lowers rate

2009-07-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

The hotel has recently lowered their already discounted rates for UCDA Design Conference attendees to $185, but these rooms will go fast. If you have already booked your room, don't worry. The hotel will be honoring this rate for you too!

This year's conference will be held at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront. Located in the heart of downtown Seattle's most popular waterfront district, Marriott Seattle Waterfront offers an ideal place for both business and pleasure. Many of the guestrooms feature private balconies offering breathtaking views ranging from Mt. Rainier, Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountain range. The hotel is just steps to the famous Pike Place Market.

Seattle Marriott Waterfront
2100 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Washington 98121 USA
206-443-5000
1-800-228-9290 (toll free)

Contact the hotel directly at 206-443-5000 or toll free at 1-800-228-9290 to make your reservations. Mention you are attending the UCDA Design Conference to receive the discounted rate. Deadline to receive this rate is August 1. Consider taking advantage of these great rates and stay a few extra days before or after the conference to explore the Seattle area.

The hotel stay is not included in the conference registration fees. You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations. Room blocks may fill before the hotel deadline and have sold out twice in the past three years, so please make your reservation immediately to ensure the discounted rate and availability.

Survey says...

2009-07-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Special thanks go out to Karin Mellskog at University of Washington who was the first to respond to a recent Seattle destination information query. And the recommendations are:

EATS
Top Pot donuts, 2124 5th Ave—great sweets/great ambience (okay, donut confession #2--at the conference site visit last year Top Pot was the destination of a short morning walk and it's easy to see why their donuts have become so popular throughout Seattle)
Le Pichet, 1933 1st Avenue—very cozy, comfortable

SHOPPING
REI flagship store, 222 Yale Ave N—65-foot climbing wall is legendary

TOURS/SIGHTS
Pioneer Square Underground, 608 1st Ave # 200—In the south end of downtown, but accessible by free busses, and very popular
Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr E —A little farther from downtown, but still bus-accessible and well worth the visit for nature lovers; also has a Japanese garden

Thanks Karin! If you have favorite places you'd like to recommend in and around Seattle I'd love to hear from you too...any favorite books set in Seattle? favorite Seattle bands? Look forward to sharing these destinations with you in October.

Looking back at the future

2009-07-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

In April, 1962, the Seattle World's Fair opened with the promise of a look at "Century 21" and the vision of "better living through modern science." By its late October closing nearly 10 million people had visited and to many it was a fair beyond compare. Fortunately for us the 74-acre Seattle Center has maintained much of this iconic past so visitors of Century 21 can compare vision and reality. (Seattle Center is just one mile from the Marriott Waterfront and after the first couple of blocks up the hill behind the hotel the rest is a piece of cake.)

If you're interested in more background on Seattle historylink.org provides an amazing array of information and resources including cybertours of local neighborhoods and a concise history of Seattle.

Looking for Starbucks?

2009-07-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

The search for your favorite coffee in Seattle just got a little bit more complicated.

Speaker News: Lime Twig Honored

2009-07-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Lori Schmidt, principal at Lime Twig, was happy to share with me this week that they recently won a Best of Show award in the 24th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards competition. "Immersive Reality: The Future of Human Interaction" is a remarkable book designed for the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. The challenge: how do you represent 3D and 4D immersive environments in a 2D print piece? Lime Twig's solution: the extensive use of transparencies conveys the vision of the Integrated Media Systems Center at USC beautifully and effectively.

We'll hope to prevail on Lori to have samples for us to see when she presents her sessions on undergraduate recruitment in October.

The Art of Recycling

2009-07-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

"Turning useless into useful." That's the mission at Alchemy Goods. Located about two and a half miles south of the conference hotel, Alchemy invites you to come see how they are making bags and accessories out of recycled bicycle inner tubes and seat belts. Factory store hours are limited so you'll want to check with them ahead of time but if you can plan your visit right you might even catch their weekly factory tour.

SAM remembers Wyeth

2009-07-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Art Museum, or simply SAM, is currently paying tribute to Andrew Wyeth with a special exhibition of seven paintings from private collections, not otherwise on public view. The exhibit runs through mid-October and SAM is a short walk--less than a mile--from the conference hotel. (It's also right on the way and only three blocks before the Seattle Central Library where the opening night session and reception will be.)

Donut confession #1

2009-07-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

A few days in Seattle shared with designer foodie friends is not a good formula for dietary restraint. Thanks a lot Tadson for introducing me to the Daily Dozen...no, honestly if you're looking for a sweet indulgence to jump-start your day you've got to take the short walk up the hill to Pike Place Market and the Daily Dozen Doughnut Company. A bag of bite-sized, hot cinnamon-sugar-donuts shared with a friend and colleague must fit into your conference agenda somehow. Now, this is Seattle--there must be some coffee around here somewhere.

Olympic National Park getaway

2009-07-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

We just finished booking a few days of August family vacation in one of our very favorite destinations, Lake Quinault Lodge. 150 miles by car from downtown Seattle, Lake Quinault in the southwest corner of the Olympic National Forest. If you're willing to take a chance on the October weather this could be a perfect spot to experience the Pacific Northwest with a few days of hiking the rainforest, fishing and kayaking on the lake, or simply relaxing by the fireplace and recovering from an action packed conference.

Monday studio tours set

2009-07-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited about the Monday evening studio tours and how they tie into the programming. We got the final clearance last week and we're now set to visit Methodologie, Fitch, and Starbucks. The tours immediately follow the presentation by Methodolgie partners Anne Traver and Dale Hart, and will provide a wonderful opportunity to continue that conversation. Fumi Watanabe from Starbucks is an alum of the design program at Western Washington University and will be participating in Kent Smith's design education panel Sunday afternoon if you want to get sneak peak at her work.

Space for the studio tours is limited so if you're interested make sure you get your registrations in early.

Only in Seattle

2009-06-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a short list of some hidden treasures found only in Seattle.

Unique toys
http://www.schmancytoys.com/index.php

The original Seattle fish and chips
http://www.ivars.net/

Uwajimaya Japanese market and bookstore
http://www.uwajimaya.com/index.html

Breakfast floss and a bacon watch (New location by Greenlake)
http://www.mcphee.com/

Picture postcard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Park_(Seattle)

Look for the pink door
http://www.thepinkdoor.net/index.html

Skip Barnes & Noble
http://www.elliottbaybook.com/index.jsp

KAPOW! BLAM! ZOWIE!
http://www.goldenagecollectables.com/

With the exception of Archee McPhee, all are within walking distance or a short bus ride away from the conference hotel.

Enjoy!

Most Creative City of 2009

2009-06-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Who knew? Seattle is the most creative city of 2009. How exciting that we get to visit in October! Great slideshow of some places to see or visit while in the great Northwest, as recommended by designers and thinkers of the area.

Guest on Your Brand Radio

2009-06-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

I thought you might be interested in knowing that tomorrow Rex Whisman, one of the conference presenters, will be interviewed on Your Brand Radio, a weekly Internet radio show. The hosts and Rex will talk about several topics related to brand. Joining him a bit later in the show will be one of his clients, John Dolan, Vice President for Enrollment at La Salle University. They will be discussing the brand initiative that they are working on at La Salle University. If your schedule allows, I hope you will listen. The show takes place live Thursday, June 11 at 4-5 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time in the United States. You can go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/YourBrandRadio and click on the arrow at the top of the center column of the page to play. If you are unable to listen in tomorrow, the show will be archived and appear on the same page.

Forecast is for showers and lots of coffee.

2009-06-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Greetings from one of the local boys and a first time blogger.

I'm Simon, the Art Director for Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma is a small city 30 miles south of Seattle. Yes, the very same Seattle where I live and commute from each day.

Todays topic...

Weather and lattes
Okay, so Seattle is famous for rain. During the conference you can expect temperatures in the 60's with off and on showers. Don't worry, it rarely rains hard. We get what you'd call "annoying" rain - the kind that's like a sprinkler that hits you from the neighbor's yard. Dress in layers for the weather. Heavy rain gear won't be necessary, but a light waterproof outer shell with a warm inner layer will be more comfortable.

On the upside... rain gives us locals all the more reason to partake in the numerous coffee venues we have around town. The original Starbucks store is located in Pike Place Market, a few blocks from the conference hotel. Back in the 90's, you could catch the original spoonman playing outside.

Welcome to the original home of grunge!

2009-05-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

I filled out my calendar for the summer and fall the other day. I know that the summer will fly by and the annual conference will be here in no time. One of the things I need to prepare for is public speaking! As president of UCDA this year, I'll have to get up on that stage often. Designers by nature tend to be introverted personalities, and I am definitely in that group. Many surveys reveal that the number one fear people have is public speaking. Number three on that list is death. Well I think my number one fear is death by public speaking! Come October, you'll be the judge of how well I do, but forgive me if I seem to be drinking a lot of Merlot that week.

I'm not totally obsessed with the stage-fright thing. Breakfast food has been on my mind too. When we went to scope out Seattle for the conference last year, Tadson and I went for a morning meeting at The Crumpet Shop. It's on 1st avenue up above the fish market, and you must check it out. When Tadson suggested it, I initially thought..."a restaurant selling nothing but english muffins?... are you kidding me?... OMG. An english "crumpet" is sort of like an english muffin, but these are made fresh—you can see the crumpet guy pouring batter on a steaming griddle through the window. I had one topped with butter and pure maple syrup. It was so good I dream of it still. Go early in the morning and sit outside, where you'll hear fog horns in the bay and seagulls calling. They serve great latte too.

Seattle Named City of the Year

2009-05-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Fast Company magazine has named Seattle its 2009 City of the Year in recognition of the city's creativity. Seattle has ranked America's most literate city three of the last five years and in the economic downturn of 2008 it took the unusual step of boosting its municipal art budget. The city has long been center for technological innovation and as an eco-leader its municipal utility, City Light, was the first carbon-neutral utility in the nation.

Man versus Food

2009-05-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

The rest of my family has gotten addicted to the show Man v. Food, which is basically a show that celebrates gluttony. (Obviously, I'm a bit more leery of it all.) It is a pretty funny show and he does visit some interesting restaurants. This weekend, lo and behold, he went to SEATTLE! That one I watched a bit more carefully than the others. I probably want to visit the Crab Pot. I'll pass on the burgers at Red Mill (even if it's one of the 20 burgers I should eat before I die) and I definitely will pass on the 12 egg omelet at Beth's Cafe! Even Adam couldn't finish that monstrosity of an omelet, packed with chili, sour cream, salsa and cheese. It was at least 5 pounds! See all the places he showed on the episode.

So in addition to the great programming, you have plenty of spots to go out and network with other UCDAers.

Competition!

2009-04-30T08:14:00.001-07:00

Think you did some work worthy of showing off this year? Enter the competition! I'm proud to say that I've won two in the past and what a thrill that was. Plus, if you enter and win, it's just one more reason as to why you simply must attend such a great program in Seattle. Anything you win reflects well on your institution AND on you as well. Think of it as a professional development expense, right? Your winning entry becomes part of the UCDA archive and history. Believe me, what a thrill it was to be a winner in San Diego. I know how hard it can be to win one of those things, but they are won by UCDA members just like you. And if you don't win, you can still show off those publications that you think SHOULD deserve a little attention. Bring them to our swap shop event! Think green and reuse those publications ... as inspiration to all your fellow UCDA conference attendees.

Mohawk Receives (another) Green Award

2009-04-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last week Computerworld announced their second annual Top Green-IT Organizations for IT departments that are using technology to create energy efficiencies. At the top of this year's list: Mohawk Fine Papers. Keep up the good work!

Take advantage of this year's pre-conference workshop opportunity to hear more from Mohawk about how paper is made, tips for making paper choices, and a little more about what Mohawk is doing to to be environmentally responsible. Kelly Chrey and Joel Theisen from Mohawk will provide attendees a set of paper refernce tools and will even guide you through making your own sheet of paper.

A Tradition of Great Design

2009-04-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

David Eliason, creative director of Brigham Young University Publications and Graphics for 13 years, was responsible for many of the seven awards BYU won in the UCDA Competition last year, building on an already rich history of design accolades for the institution. David has agreed to share some of his secrets for great publication design at this year's conference and sent this new layout as a teaser.

Photographer Interviewed on Charlie Rose

2009-04-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Last year photographer, Max S. Gerber, was interviewed by Charlie Rose on the subject of Max's 2008 book, My Heart vs. The Real World. Max, a congenital heart disease patient since childhood, spent years documenting and photographing children with heart defects... Touching stories! See more about this project on Max's website.

Rex Whisman

2009-04-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Perusing the schedule now up on the web site, I caught Rex Whisman's name on the list. So I thought I'd brag about what a great guy Rex is. Rex did a terrific marketing session for us in Toronto as a pre-conference workshop. He had a ton of great information on what marketing and branding really is and some steps our individual institutions can use to get deeper into our stories. We used our own publications as resources, so it was truly a session about ourselves, and not a show and tell. And, since we couldn't cover all the publications in one session, Rex offered to take a look at anyone else's and give it a critique. I took him up on this. He gave me some terrific feedback well worth the cost of attending the conference. Rex is not only really knowledgable, but very approachable and helpful. So I hope some of you get the same opportunity I had in Toronto.

eBlasts

2009-04-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

One thing that's coming up a lot at my institution is those blasted eBlasts. Suddenly, everyone wants to do one. If you're like us, there's really no set procedure or protocol to doing one. And, if you're like me, your background is in print and sure would be good to have some guidelines on what works. So, if you are like me, then you'll be sitting next to me at the session in Seattle about "Best Practices in Designing for Email." Diana Potter will talk about designs that work and don't work, an introduction to CSS and laws about spamming. Sounds like a great way to start!

Mariners

2009-04-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

So I'm thinking about how little I really do know about Seattle beyond my quick two-day trip to the city. I've found a few links.

First, there's Wikipedia, in which I learn that the area has been inhabited for 4,000 years, but only by white settlers for 160 years. I'm also reminded of all the great music that's come out of the area and that the EMP museum is there. I missed that last time and hope to make it. I did see the building and it's an early Frank Gehry project and totally worth seeing. How many purple metal buildings are in the world anyway?

Found this little site that is much more nicely designed than the official government site. That site has restaurant and entertainment suggestions.

And hey! Great news if you like baseball! The Mariners are in town the weekend of the conference. So, think about coming in a day or two early and catching a game. I've been and it really is a nice stadium. Anyone game? Let me know! At this point, you'd think we can get good seats. As of today, they're 6-2!

Brand Beyond Rand

2009-04-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

It's been more than 50 years since Paul Rand designed the IBM logo and changed forever how we would learn and practice graphic design. Anne Traver and Dale Hart of Seattle firm, Methodologie, recently prepared a class for the University of Washington exploring the legacy of Rand and how brand identity has evolved in the last half-century. Now Anne and Dale will share their research with UCDA and explain how designers can increase their relevance and value to their organization, and add to their own satisfaction in the process.

To see and read more on Paul Rand, including the 1953 article from American Artist pictured above, visit www.paul-rand.com.

Speaker Surprise

2009-04-14T08:17:00.001-07:00

Corey Baim and Marcie Carson are the husband and wife principals of IE Design + Communications in Southern California. Corey and Marcie have done work for many higher education clients and will be sharing some of what they've learned from those relationships about the power of the written word in the creative process. In their second session they will be leading a hands-on flexible and interactive exploration of real-life situations and solutions and are planning to surprise attendees by bringing in one of their higher ed clients to help inform the process. Bring your questions and your challenges...the session will be fun but is also sure to connect with your individual experiences.

Seattle

2009-04-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

As I sit here watching yet another rainy, gray day (which we're happy for, having had several years of drought), I can't help but think of Seattle. I love most cities and I've been to Seattle once. My dad and I went to see a Mariner's game and see the city a bit before I headed to Victoria for the 2001 conference. What a fascinating part of the world, certainly different from what I experience down here in South Carolina. I remember flying over the mountains, completely different from the mountains of the Appalachians. We went up the Space Needle for an amazing view. We saw the Mariners and enjoyed the view from the deck. We went to the market, of course. I don't remember the fish flying so much, but I do remember the stunning and beautiful colors of the flowers. And I remember being so inspired by a city built by grass roots movements.

Budgets are tough all over right now, so I encourage all of you to go look at the schedule and see what Randall Cole has put together for us. For those of you that though Savannah was a shift towards our different roles and different ways to communicate, Seattle will continue that conversation. I think he's still putting the finishing touches on some programming, but look for everything from email marketing ideas to the Vancouver Olympic design team. Learn about experience design to strategies for inhouse design groups to sustainable design practices. We've even got a panel discussion with panelists you'd like to see do their own individual talks. And of course, we've got some great opportunities for all of you to network and find that great support community that UCDA offers.

So start working on your boss now, as it's going to be a great conference. I think Randall's outdoing me with the conference planning! Going to be hard to choose what sessions to see.

Speaker News: Plazm at Pratt

2009-04-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Josh Berger, managing partner and creative director at Plazm in Portland, Oregon, recently spoke at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. In Seattle Josh will present the closing session on design habits for the future.

Want to know more about Joshua Berger and Plazm? Read Steven Heller's 2007 interview with Josh.

Different Perspectives

2009-04-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

The writer, after hours of interviews, has their idea for the photography. The editor wants to nudge the piece in a little different direction. The subject really wants to be portrayed in a particular way. The art director sees what will work on the page and suggests another possibility. The photographer shows up and the situation dictates going in yet a different direction.

How does a photographer navigate the challenges of applying their own creative vision and expertise and satisfy the divergent interests and visions of everyone involved in the project? After a fascinating conversation recently with photographer, Max S. Gerber, he's working on developing a session for UCDA exploring some of these complexities and how the designer and photographer can collaborate for the best results. Not sure how Max is going to pull this together visually but knowing him, it's going to be worth seeing.

Speaker News: Lesa Snider

2009-04-10T10:37:00.001-07:00

Lesa Snider, aka The Graphic Reporter, has added another to her long list of publications, Photoshop CS4—The Missing Manual. You won't want to miss Lesa's latest Photoshop tips at this year's UCDA Design Conference. (Thanks to iStockphoto for making Lesa's participation possible.)

All you ever wanted to know about Lesa—and then some—is available at graphicreporter.com, along with a slew of tips and tutorials.

Go West Young (at heart) Designers!

2009-02-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Heading back from Phoenix after a site visit. I didn't think I'd like Phoenix that much but there is a very interesting place behind the golf, the retirees and the tourist traps. Taliesen West is totally worth visiting. Downtown is extremely interesting with a great bar scene and a neat arts center. And the hotel we're negotiating with is completely amazing. But that's enough about Phoenix ... we need to talk about SEATTLE!

Randy submitted his report to the board today and WOW he has some incredible programming coming up. He's tapped many cool and relevant sources to present to us. If you liked the discussion of how our roles and media are shifting, learn how to navigate the crazy world we've entered.

Once I get home and take care of the 215 boxes of girl scout cookies, I'll blog a bit more about what we have coming up.

Oh, and btw, I'll post pix soon of the silly hat I've knitted for this year's auction.

Next year!

2008-11-02T09:16:00.001-08:00

Hi all!

Next year is Seattle! I'd like to encourage all of you to think about what you want to hear next year. Got ideas for speakers and the like? You can post your thoughts under the comments or email me or Randy, either way. Right now, he's gathering names and ideas and soon, the committee will meet and come up with a plan. So ... ideas? Names? Issues? Wanna speak? Let us know now!

Why did I do this?

2008-10-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Now that conference is behind me, I'm down to writing some well-deserved thank you notes and doing some evaluations and follow ups. I find myself mulling over the role of the conference chair and why I did it. Lord knows it was a lot of work. That said, it was completely worth it. When you think about it, you get to design an entire conference. You get to decide (OK with a lot of input from the board and the home office) what the conference will be about. You get to talk to major designers and thinkers. When I got home, I realized I got to dine with Glen Sheehan, drink a beer with Ross MacDonald, spend time with Ellen Lupton and fetch yogurt for Brian Collins. I'm just a lil' ol' designer down here in Clemson, SC. Those things don't usually happen in my world.

So what is my point here, you might be asking. My point is that UCDA can really change your life, if you want. Am I the kind of person who would just call people up and ask them to come speak to us? Not until now. I never dreamed I'd do that sort of thing.

So maybe you didn't like what we had to offer this year or you think you can do better. Or maybe you were totally inspired and want to give it a try. Perhaps you're ready to face new challenges too. Get involved. You can start small, by helping out at the national events. Or you can hold a regional event as well. Those can be anything you think might be of interest to designers in your region. It can even be a hands-on workshop. If you want to learn more, get in touch with a board member. We'd love to hear your ideas.

THANKS ALSO

2008-10-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

DUH. I totally forgot Savannah College of Art and Design and the city of Savannah, all who were just wonderful hosts to our conference. SCAD, and specifically Quentin Curry and Florence Bryant, were just wonderful to us and I'm so glad we worked together. I hope you felt we brought you something special for opening night.

And speaking of opening night, Jeannie Davis helped us with the eco-tour and the big event. So much more than food goes into an event like that so I hope you felt it was worth it.

As for the conference, I have much to mull over myself. Trying to think beyond the page and more towards the entire experience. I think we have a unique opportunity to grab onto this and create newer, bigger roles if we want them. All very exciting and scary all at the same time.

So I hope you can come to Seattle. Randall Cole will do an amazing job for you. It will be uniquely UCDA, but different all at the same time. He's been thinking long and hard on it already.

What did you think of the conference? I've read the evaluations, so I can take it!

Christine

THANKS

2008-10-08T04:01:00.001-07:00

Gonna quickly shout out to some specific people now that it's mostly over. All that's left is some sweeping up and that includes thanking some folks. So ...

First a big shout out to Tadson who does a ton of work behind the scenes. He's the one that understands the room contracts and books all the flights and rooms, works with all the vendors and communicates with the AV guys. He's the logistical guy and the logistics involved, especially when you have 400 people show up, are just HUGE.

And now one to the board, who was there if I had a need to bounce ideas and most importantly, were also huge behind the scenes people. Those fabulous goody bags? Your UCDA board put those together. They took care of speakers, they took each other to the emergency room, they worked the registration table, they ran little errands. We have a fabulous board. And I'd say that if I wasn't on the board too.

OK, down to the ones who you really might not know. RANDALL COLE will put on a whale of a conference for us next year and he was really Tadson's right hand man. He put together the dailies, ran errands, you name it. He got done whatever we'd ask. Heck, he even stood in front of all of you, which might be the thing he hated the most. PENNY FRANK rocks. If you volunteered, you know Penny. She was terrific in getting volunteers and then checking to see they were getting it done. MARLYS WEST put together the publication reviews, a tough task. Her house flooded the week before the conference, so she didn't come quite as prepared as she needed, but it worked out just fine. Great job. The UCDA FOUNDATION is always awesome with the auction. (BTW, thanks for the contributions!) The people that are the heart of UCDA Foundation are the heart and soul of UCDA. They are the core and the reason the rest of us are here.

CHERYL DESELLIER, DALE COCHRAN, WINSTON VAN DER HOOF and others, including board members, put up a beautiful awards show this year for us and you can't understand the amount of energy, blood, sweat and tears involved. If you didn't see much of them at the Saturday night party, well, they were there briefly before heading back to work on the show ... after working most of Saturday and Friday on it. I hope you had an opportunity to see it because it was wonderful.

OK it's sounding like an Oscar speech ... so I'll thank anyone I'm forgetting and you know who you are. Continue to share your photos. We love to see them and maybe we'll put them in print, even.

And now those that aren't UCDA members and that would be our speakers, who were just fantastic this year. I've said it before so I'll say it again ... one of my greatest pleasures was that not only did we have knowledgable, impressive people with amazing things to say, but they were all so pleasant. Genuinely nice interesting people. So a thanks to all of them for coming to our party. Our exhibitors this year were fabulous, whether they were able to come onsite or just do the goody bag. Support them, please. They believe in the college market.

And finally the hotel. There were bumps and bruises, but overall CATHY BAXTER and her team worked hard for us and I appreciate all they did. They had a great facility in which to host us.

OK! Gotta finish packing and showering but thought I'd get the thanks done while I was still warm and fuzzy.

Bye for now!

Lulu's Chocolate Bar

2008-10-07T21:08:00.000-07:00

So Michelle and I convinced folks to go to Lulu's Chocolate Bar (not that there was much arm-twisting on that one). They had some seriously decadent chocolate desserts but boy that martini list! Holy cow. I went with the Raspberry Truffle Martini OMG. Like drinking a liquid chocolate truffle with liquor. Except you have an entire glass of it. And you feel really awesome when you're done.

We then went to the Bistro Savannah and had a lovely meal. Quite unusual. Ran into some UCDAers too! So fun. The guy went around afterwards and asked if we wanted dessert ... when he got to me I was like "uh, we had a drink at Lulu's Chocolate Bar bf we came here" and he was like "oh Lulu's is FABULOUS!" I love that about Savannah. It's like a small town, except it's really cool too. Small towns are cool in their own way, but not like that. All the businesses just love each other, it seems. Oh I'm sure there are people who know that isn't true at all. Just like people would say to me "oh the conference went so smoothly!" and I'm thinking "omg were we at the same conference??" but it makes me feel better as I know that means we must be fixing things as they flare up.

SO ... if you're still in Savannah, you should try to get by there. They open at 5. I had a totally different vision of Lulu's but it's definitely a night kind of place. Me, I've got some board meetings and then I meet up with Dale and Cheryl and we stop by Tybee for lunch then home. See you soon, Keith and Bella!

Conference ends

2008-10-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

WHEW! We made it to the finish line. Day 4 was hitch-free, short of the missing jacket never picked up. I was finally able to relax and enjoy it all. The first thing Tadson and I said to each other when we saw each other was "OK. We know all the speakers are here today."

So not only were the speakers all here, but I heard many happy things as well. All of them felt to me like they were discussing our futures, what to expect next. Digital Storytelling got a huge amount of interest, so much that many more came to the afternoon session. Fascinating stuff. Adobe showed off their new toys. Garrick Chow from lynda.com was great and many said great things about Propeller Communications too. A little something for everyone, I hope.

So I'm so totally thrilled, well, that it's over, but even more so that we had such a great crowd. And not the size, necessarily, but the enthusiasm and energy was as good as I remember at a conference. When you plan one of these babies, you can only control so much. You can ask people to speak, but then they have to be the ones to put in the time and energy to give a great talk. You can book a hotel, but if they aren't up to the job, well, you can't fix that all the time either. And you can invite people to the party, but unless they come ready and willing to see the speakers, participate in the activities and willing to mingle and meet and converse (and I know you designer types could lock yourself in a room and say, blog all day), unless they are willing to play, well, you don't have a great conference. So, again, getting sappy here, but it truly is the attendee that makes the conference.

So all I can hope is that you give Randall Cole the same enthusiasm and energy you brought to Savannah. He's a great guy and he's been thinking for a long time already about next year. So tell him what you want to see. Shoot him an email with your thoughts. Again, sappy here, but UCDA really does belong to the members. So help UCDA be what YOU want.

See you in Seattle! And I'll continue to blog as long as I have conference news to blog.

Keep in touch!

Christine

Some links

2008-10-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all, thought I'd post a few Ross links for everyone, esp if you missed him.

He sells some of his posters at www.illogator.com, which is a cool site that sells lots of illustrator work directly from the illustrators. I found his books at Amazon, but boy you have to dig. The two children books are "Another Perfect Day" and "Bad Baby" and I also came across "The Noisy Alphabet" which looks so cool and has lots of hot type in it. And his personal website is www.ross-macdonald.com.

Thanks to the more than 2/3s of you that returned for the session and I know it was worth it. He was a lot of fun and it's so great to see all that old "technology."

OK! Last day. Hopefully today goes super-smoothly. Seems like everyone is having a blast. I'm having a blast when I'm not completely stressing out, and believe me, I'm not stressed out to that point much. Just around 3:20 when we had no speaker!

Monday a whirlwind

2008-10-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, Monday is officially come to an end as it's exatly 12:00 pm as I type this.

So we started with the Resource Center. I'd love to say I had tons to do with making the resource extra-special this year but alas, it wasn't me. Chalk that one up to our fearsome executive director Tadson Bussey, I do believe! Anyway, terrific turnout on the part of the exhibitors and the hotel outdid themselves with breakfast. (And yeah, they had yogurt, thanks for that one too Tadson!) We had a nice stream of people the entire three hours and there was a great deal of mingling going on. I think I even saw one of my coworkers, who normally would prefer to avoid any sort of awkward small talk, conversing with a complete stranger! So this conference has been a friendly, happy one. I can only credit that to our great icebreaker reception as well as the layout of the hotel. Whatever the key was, it's been a wonderfully friendly conference.

Breakouts were up next. I went to see Scott Boylston and boy he is incredible. The session he led about packaging and sustainable design was so inspiring ... and I don't really design packaging! But it did make me think about how I could approach things differently. To add to the fun, Scott is an amazingly nice guy too.

A quick trip back to the historic district for some honey at the brand new Savannah Bee Company as well as to Nourish for some soap was well worth it. I recommend dropping by and again, don't tell my husband, but I think he will enjoy the honey that is especially good for sweetening tea. Some of our attendees got to go on the historic tour. I heard it was excellent, even if it was walking around for 2.5 hours! Well worth it, most agreed.

The only downer on our day was realizing at 3:20 that there was a problem with our 3:30 speaker. Fortunately, our UCDA members rolled with the punches and went back out to the city. Most returned in time for round 2 of breakouts, grabbed a quick dinner, then returned at 8 to hear Ross MacDonald. Ross is a funny, funny man who first shared some great cartoons, then moved to his letterpress work. The letterpress work is beautiful and he talked in length about how he works on the press. Fascinating stuff, actually and just gorgeous to see. He then talked about how he's moved towards working in movie props. The amount of work that goes into these is absolutely incredible. The research is so tedious, it's amazing. So to the ones that returned, I can only say you got a terrific show, I hope. I know I enjoyed it.

We then took Ross out for a drink and ran into that crazy Gamecock crowd. What a rowdy bunch those guys proved to be! Larry leads a great team and they clearly are fond of each other. Looking at this picture, it's kind of amazing that Larry is still standing up, to be honest.

See all you folks in the morning!
cp