Lois Ellen Frank. Dion Zeuss. Trish Witzkowski.

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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)

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

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

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