Industry News: Adobe MAX 2019, by Barbara S. Borrero

Adobe MAX is a creativity conference offering a range of workshops where you can learn from the experts and get hands-on with new tools and features. From photography and illustration to graphic design and animation, inspiration is in no short supply for those seeking to get their creative juices flowing. This year, Adobe MAX took place from November 4 to November 6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. Read on to find out about some of the highlights, including new product releases, guest speakers, and entertainment!

Adobe MAX 2019 attendees hit the ground running with a variety of small group labs where they could get 90-minute application-specific training and work to complete a project. Followed by a welcome reception in the evening, attendees from around the world had the opportunity to mix and mingle with both Adobe employees and event sponsors. A past attendee noted that this is an essential face-to-face gathering that proves to bring feelings of energy and electricity to the start of the conference. What better way to to kick things off than to get social with thousands of fellow creatives?

By the second day, MAX attendees were ready to start learning at full speed. “Accelerating Your Creativity” was the theme for this year’s workshops, which was demonstrated by showing off the latest features of powerhouse applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Adobe’s Emily Bogue debuted the much-anticipated Photoshop on the iPad, described as a “revolutionary reinvention of Photoshop for a mobile, touch-based environment.” Another well-received announcement came with the debut of the Adobe Substance Suite, a set of 3D and augmented reality (AR) applications that are anticipated to pave the road to the future of immersive media design.

The Keynotes are considered by most attendees to be a highlight of Adobe MAX. This year, the discussions focused on the topic, “Creativity is the Great Enabler”. Featuring well-known celebrities such as Billie Eilish and M. Night Shyamalan, these presentations drew massive audiences of people eager to gain insight to their creative processes. Shyamalan, an award-winning producer and director, was interviewed by Adobe Evangelist Jason Levine. Levine set a casual and relaxed tone, allowing Shyamalan the space to open up about his career. Levine asked Shyamalan some poignant questions about how he has been able to sustain his creativity throughout different stages of his success.

Letting your “spirit and emotion come out in your work,” whether it is a movie character or an artist’s canvas, is what Shyamalan believes is the purest form of creativity.

Another important bit of advice was to ignore self-doubt, let go of what you can’t control, and trust that you have something of value worth sharing. Through Shyamalan’s humor and relatability, he conveyed the importance of staying true to yourself along your professional journey.

While Adobe MAX attendees spent their days learning and listening, their night was spent partying and eating at Adobe MAX Bash. Considered by digitalla.net’s Kevin Winston to be one of the biggest parties in LA, Bash spilled out of the Staples Center and into nearby venues. Entertainment included a performance by the band Vampire Weekend and a rooftop maze painted in glow-in-the-dark neon paint. Attendees enjoyed free pizza and hot dogs, and even chocolate milk served from an ice luge –  to go along with the self-serve cereal wall, of course!

All-in-all, Adobe MAX 2019 was a successful event filled with engaging content, insightful information, and lively social interaction. Ranging from casual hobbyists to industry experts, this conference attracted a wide range of guests who were seeking next-level creative inspiration. These loyal Adobe enthusiasts are already wondering what’s in store for next year.

Want to learn more about Adobe MAX? Get inspired and get connected by visiting: https://max.adobe.com/