Add-On
16. Offsite Visit to ArtCenter (Free)
An exclusive visit to the renowned ArtCenter, a global leader in art and design education. 

Free, registration required to reserve transportation. Visit ucda.com/events/218 for details and to reserve your spot. 

ArtCenter College of Design, Hillside Campus, 1700 Lida Street, Pasadena

Shuttle departs Westin at 8:30 a.m. and returns at approximately 12 p.m.

Schedule:

8:30 a.m.
Shuttle departs The Westin Pasadena

8:45 a.m.
Welcome & Coffee with Babette Strousse, Dean of the ArtCenter Industrial Design Division

9:00 a.m.
Presentation & Discussion with Tracey Shiffman, Exploration of DEI-driven Coursework Collaborating with Cheryl Miller

10:00 a.m.
Tour of ArtCenter's famed Ellwood Building with Associate Provost Amanda Webb

10:45 a.m.
Gallery Visit with James Meraz, Student Showcase and Resillient Futures Lab 
Course Outcomes

11:30 a.m. 
Shuttle departs ArtCenter

12:00 p.m. 
Arrive at The Westin Pasadena

Join us for an informal gathering to cap off the final evening of the conference.

Food and drink available for purchase at Vantanas Restaurant & Bar.

This is your final chance for a placing bid in the silent auction! Bidding closes at 5:30 p.m.

Winning items can be picked up and paid for immediately following final bids.

Mainstage Presentation
15. How to Generate Disruptive Ideas
Matthew Manos, verynice 

The most innovative ideas in the world often come from a spark of genius that is seemingly impossible to replicate. The ability to improvise, think creatively, and form connections is a skillset that allows truly innovative people to see things others do not. The good news? This mindset can actually be practiced and nurtured. Through this interactive presentation experience, participants will be challenged to unlock that innovator's mindset in order to generate new and disruptive ideas, and will be introduced to a framework for evaluating ideas.

Optional Activity

Share your work and pick up some samples for inspiration in this limited-time event. Doors will open for 30 minutes, and once the samples are gone, they’re gone! Bring or send ahead approximately 30-50 samples (or as many as you can spare). If sending, please ship them to yourself at the hotel and drop off at the UCDA Registration Desk by Wednesday morning.

Those bringing or sending materials for the swap will receive an entry for a drawing to receive a “priority pass” to be at the head of the line!

Breakout Session
14. 20x20 Presentations

Join your fellow attendees for fast-paced presentations on a variety of topics.Madera Room

Add-On
13. Offsite Lunch & Learn with Typecraft:
How to Communicate Effectively with Your Print Provider ($25)

Space is limited, registration required Transportation and lunch included.
Visit ucda.com/events/217 to claim your spot. Shuttle departs Westin at 12:15 p.m.

Optional Activity
Guided and Self-Guided Experiences at ArtCenter’s South Campus

Explore the offerings at ArtCenter’s South Campus. Check in at the security desk upon arrival.

GUIDED TOURS

12:15–12:30 p.m.
Primarium: A Case For Cursive
Primarium: A Case for Cursive is a thought-provoking new exhibition featuring an international array of handwriting models, teaching tools, and typographic works that invites visitors to rediscover the history, education, and evolution of cursive writing.
950 Gallery, ArtCenter College of Design South Campus, 950 S. Raymond Ave.

12:30–12:45 p.m.
Introduction to Archetype Press
ArtCenter’s Archetype Press is California’s largest letterpress printing facility, providing students with a full-immersion typographic education.
Archetype Press, ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus, 950 S. Raymond Ave.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Available throughout the conference. Visit links below for details and hours.

Reveal: Uncovering Layers of Creativity 2
The exhibition features the work of 13 ArtCenter graduate students from a range of disciplines. It invites students to explore the concept of unveiling– be it hidden meanings, processes, or materials. This exhibition encourages our students to present works that challenge viewers to look beyond the surface and discover the underlying narratives and techniques that inform their creations.
Graduate Studies Gallery, Mullin Transportation Design Center (2nd Floor), ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus, 950 S. Raymond Ave.

Diana Thater— Peonies
A special presentation of acclaimed artist, educator, writer, curator and alumna Diana Thater's work.
Mullin Transportation Design Center (1st Floor), ArtCenter College of Desig, South Campus, 950 S. Raymond Ave.

Resilience in the Ashes
The immersive installation invites visitors into a space of remembrance and community healing in response to the devastating wildfires.
Mullin Transportation Design Center (1st Floor), ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus, 950 S. Raymond Ave.

Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community
The exhibition celebrates Southern California’s love affair with the automobile through the eyes of Japanese Americans and the community's influence on car culture in the United States.
Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery, ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway

Concurrent Breakout Session
11. The Intersection of AI, Design & Student Learning: Insights & TechniquesGerardo Herrera & Stephanie Player, ArtCenter College Design

How is AI reshaping design education and where does imagination fit in? In this visually rich session, explore how AI can enhance—not replace—human creativity in the classroom. You'll see real examples of students using AI to push creative boundaries and adapt their workflows. Gain practical insights and inspiration for embracing emerging tech while supporting student-driven innovation.

Concurrent Breakout Session
12. (In)Design with Accessibility in Mind
Layla Thompson-Koch, Anne Arundel Community College

This session introduces the principles and practices of creating inclusive and accessible user experiences. Rooted in the philosophy of universal design, this presentation emphasizes designing for people of all abilities from the start—benefiting everyone, not just those with disabilities. Participants will explore the importance of accessibility from legal (WCAG AA), ethical, and usability perspectives, and gain a solid understanding of the POUR principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) outlined in the WCAG guidelines and how to apply them when creating accessible PDFs using Adobe InDesign.

Mainstage Presentation
10. Resilience by Design: Lessons in Creativity, Leadership, and Hope
Sheharazad Fleming, WE MUST BE BOLD

In-house designers are often called to do more than create—they must persuade, advocate, and lead with resilience. Yet resilience is more than endurance; it is the act of adapting, reinventing, and holding on to a vision. Drawing on her career across universities, city government, and cultural organizations, Sheharazad Fleming shares how she has navigated moments of urgency and change. Through case studies, she illustrates resilience as a creative leader, from advocating for design’s strategic role in higher education to mobilizing design for civic and cultural impact. This session invites designers to reimagine resilience not as survival, but as a powerful act of hope and creativity.

Mainstage Presentation
UCDA Business Meeting & UCDA Foundation Scholarship Presentation

Hear from UCDA leadership and meet this year’s professional development scholarship winners, presented by the UCDA Foundation.

Don’t miss the drawings for Apple gift cards and other great prizes.

You must be present to win.

Meet this year’s sponsors and exhibitors during the UCDA Expo. Visit with company representatives, get answers to your most pressing questions, and see the latest techniques, products, and services.

Be sure to turn in your Swag Bag ticket at the UCDA booth for your chance to win an Apple gift card!

Concurrent Breakout Session
9. Centered: A Toolkit for Alignment and Creative Growth Allison Baumbusch, Anne Arundel Community College

A workshop for reflective creatives who want to deepen self-awareness, clear creative blocks, and set intentions through intuitive practices. We'll explore coaching techniques and creative ways for finding clarity, direction, and balance in career growth.

Concurrent Breakout Session
8. Beyond the Brochure: How AR Technology is Transforming Student Recruitment at Cal Lutheran
Michael DeTerra, California Lutheran University

Do you want to leverage augmented reality in your next marketing campaign or campus tour? Explore how California Lutheran University and Interactive Images/Eventshop have reimagined the admission experience by engaging their prospective students with augmented reality content. In this session, Michael DeTerra will share the team’s strategies and learnings one year into the university’s AR debut.

Concurrent Breakout Session
7. The DAM as Toolbox: Streamline Content Creation by Using Your Digital Asset Management System
Christine Prado, Clemson University

If developing your content across teams leaves you in a knot, see how Clemson University managed to untangle the problem. Not only has Clemson leveraged their DAM to share content across a large, decentralized team, but they have created a toolbox to help create the content. Christine will show how she's developed a system to make the content creation consistent and less stressful by using Canto to house processes, scripts and samples.

Concurrent Breakout Session
6. Eclectic by Design: A Case Study of Boston University’s Award-Winning Publication, SPH This Year
Robert Davison, Boston University

Take a behind-the-scenes look at SPH This Year 2024, a publication that uses unexpected visual juxtapositions to reflect the global, inclusive nature of a public health institution’s work. This piece—winner of two Gold UCDA Design Awards—celebrates diversity of thought by letting each story tell its own visual narrative. 

Add-On
5. Cyanotype Workshop ($50)
Amina Cruz, photographer

Early photographers used a method called cyanotypes, or sun prints, which involved placing objects on special paper and exposing it to sunlight to create blue images. In this beginner-friendly workshop artist and photographer Amina Cruz will cover a brief history of the cyanotype, perform a demo, and guide you in creating your own unique print using organic and non-organic materials.

Space is limited, registration required. Visit ucda.com/events/200 to claim your spot.

Mainstage Presentation
4. NASA by Design
David Rager, NASA

Join David Rager, NASA’s creative director, for an inspiring look at how art, design, education, and culture come together to shape how we communicate the wonders of space. Drawing from his wide-ranging experience—collaborating with museums, restaurants, design studios, and major public institutions—Rager will explore how storytelling, aesthetics, and science intersect to create meaningful, visually striking, and educational experiences that bring the cosmos closer to all of us.

Mainstage Presentation
3. From Fragments to Frameworks: Collage-Making as Process, Practice, and Pedagogy
Astha Thakkar, Visual Artist & Educator
Winner of the 2025 Krider Prize for Creativity
Presented by the UCDA Foundation

Join Astha Thakkar as she discusses her process-oriented approach to design, where collage serves as both method and metaphor for inquiry. The talk will explore how acts of layering, deconstruction, and re-contextualization become tools for iterative thinking and reflection.

Why not enjoy an early start to your day? Join UCDA leaders, colleagues, and friends for an invigorating morning walk around Pasadena or choose to enjoy a slower morning with a cup of coffee and engaging conversation led by UCDA Book Club Coordinator Erin Dixon.