I just got back from this year’s run of Adobe Max, and in keeping with our state of the industry series, it was a tremendous bellwether event. Photofocus had the show covered, with our very own Richard Harrington and Kevin Ames presenting video and photography sessions on stage. Meanwhile, Vanelli and I mingled with attendees and sponsors alike.

Many positive trends for our industry were at play at Adobe Max. A high percentage of first-time attendees, a younger crowd than we have seen at prior shows, and without exception enthusiastically identified themselves as working creative designers, photographers, videographers, and digital storytellers. But wait, Adobe nailed it with attendee engagement. They invited attendees to customize hoodies or make unique screen printing on a variety of t-shirts, maybe individually thread handcrafted bead bracelets or necklaces, and — wait for it — get a free piercing if you were willing to wait in line for around an hour! Yes, for absolutely free you could have one piercing! Talk about user engagement. 

One of the discoveries I also personally made at Adobe Max was the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). If the staff at their booth was any indication of the level of professionalism and personal engagement shown to interested attendees, and you’re considering furthering your education, check them out. Having met representatives from their Admission and Talent Acquisition departments, as well as one of the Deans, I was impressed with their programs and the numerous aspects of their creative industry involvement.

Finally, the admission price to Adobe Max is considerably higher than other related events like Imaging USA and WPPI. As such, many companies sent key employees to be their eyes and ears on the latest technologies, creative tools and techniques. Investing in their creative departments and their people is a strong positive indicator for our niche. Hats off to Adobe for providing unparalleled creative vehicles for attendee engagement, from the training sessions, expo booths and the numerous outside activities!