Dear Amigos
Adobe MAX is the iconic creative conference led by Adobe, bringing together designers, filmmakers, photographers, and developers from around the world. It is a four-day celebration of creative expression, technical innovation, and community. This year, MAX returns to Los Angeles from October 27–30. It’s the ultimate place to see the future of creative tools, but the best part? You can attend the online event, including a selection of over 90 sessions, for free.
Let’s take a look at the backstory of Adobe Max, some of the highlights we can expect from this years edition, how to register for the free online sessions and a selection of the conferences we’re looking out for the most.
The Begginings of Adobe Max
Image credit: Adobe
Adobe is probably the most important software giant behind the recognizable tools that form the bedrock of the creative industry: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro, to name a few (although you probably know and use these tools on a daily basis). The very initial Adobe MAX conference was held in 2003. At that time, the design world relied on perpetual software licenses, with updates being massive, standalone releases. MAX began as a smaller, developer-focused gathering but quickly established itself as the launchpad for new ideas, focused on integrating creative desktop power with new digital experiences.
Since then, MAX has continually delivered noticeable advancements. A major turning point was the 2012 announcement of the Creative Cloud subscription model, fundamentally changing how designers accessed their tools. In subsequent years, we’ve seen the rollout of rich features like Content-Aware Fill (2018), which used early machine learning to make complex editing simple, and the introduction of Fresco, an app offering a unique digital painting experience. Most recently, the focus shifted dramatically with the integration of generative AI via Firefly, as part of their own race to remain the industry leader in the uncertain creative revolution we’re going through right now.
What to Expect in 2025
Image credit: Adobe
This year’s event promises over 200 sessions, ensuring there’s something for every creative discipline. The full agenda is structured across major creative tracks, including Graphic Design and Illustration, Photography, Video, Audio, and Motion, 3D, and Branding, with deep dives into Creativity and Marketing in Business.
Attendees should look for inventive advancements in generative AI, which continues to integrate deeper into the Creative Cloud suite. Key highlights expected at the keynote and Sneaks event include:
- Generative AI Ecosystem: Further refinement of Adobe Firefly, potentially revealing the new Image Model 4 for greater photorealism and advancements in Firefly Boards for AI-assisted moodboarding and ideation.
- Video and Motion: Expected breakthroughs in text-to-video generation and new tools in Premiere Pro like Generative Extend and Media Intelligence.
- 3D & Immersive Design: Major updates and integrations for the Substance 3D products and further public developments of Project Neo for web-based 3D design.
- Content Authenticity: A major focus on responsible AI through the expansion of Content Credentials and tools allowing creators to protect their work from being used for AI training.
- App Enhancements: Major updates across flagship applications like Photoshop and Illustrator alongside performance boosts.
Key themes are also expected to focus heavily on new workflows for cohesive team collaboration and the expanding role of 3D and immersive design. It’s set to be a 360° look at how design will operate in the coming years.
In addition to the product announcements and skill-building sessions, Adobe MAX also celebrates the Adobe MAX Creativity Awards. These awards honor the most visionary and inspiring work created by the global creative community across various fields. The 2025 categories include Design, Motion, Video, Image Making and Photography. You can take a look at the winners here.
How to Sign Up for Free Sessions
Image credit: Adobe
Getting access to the free, online sessions is a straightforward process. Here is your quick guide to ensure you’re ready for the event:
- Visit the official Adobe MAX website and navigate to the registration page.
- Select the “Free Online” option instead of the in-person pass.
- Enter your basic information to create an Adobe account or log in if you already have one.
- Confirm your registration via email. Once confirmed, you will have access to the session catalog and can begin building your schedule.
ATOA’S Recommended Sessions
Our team looked through the +90 sessions available for the online registration. We picked a few topics that we consider essential for creatives from any field, specially regarding the integration of AI and creativity. However, they’re offering many specific conferences that are tailored to different creative areas, so don’t forget to check out the entire catalogue here.
Super Session: Future-Proofing Your Design Career in the Age of AI
This session explores how designers can stay relevant and thrive as AI tools evolve the industry. Drawing on insights from Samantha Warren (Sr Director of Design, Adobe Firefly) and Meg Lewis (artist, performer, and educator), the discussion focuses on shifting from purely technical skills to the uniquely human qualities that AI can’t replicate, such as empathy and storytelling. You’ll gain practical strategies for cultivating your humanity as a competitive advantage. The session concludes with an inspiring demo by Adobe designers Brooke Hopper and Danielle Morimoto, showing how Firefly supports the flow of creative ideas.
Time and date: Tuesday, Oct 28 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM GMT -04)
Gemma O’Brien: Inspiration, Process, and Creative Growth
Dive into the heart of creative exploration with Gemma O’Brien, an internationally acclaimed artist known for her distinct illustrative lettering and large-scale murals. Gemma will share the lighthearted yet practical insights from her journey. She discusses how she finds inspiration, maintains a balance between analog and digital processes, and stays grounded in her core artistic values, making this session perfect for anyone seeking creative authenticity.
Time and date: Tuesday, Oct 28 | 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM PDT (7:30 PM – 8:00 PM GMT -04)
Illustrator Glow-Up: Tips to Work Smarter
Join Adam Bosley, known as Adam The Illustrator, to discover faster, smarter ways to work in Adobe Illustrator. Adam specializes in vibrant, bold artwork and shares tips for a crisp workflow that you’ll use daily. You’ll learn essential techniques, including how to use the Appearance panel for fully editable text effects and processes that make complex illustrating easier and less demanding. His commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing inspires others to unlock their own creative potential.
Time and date: Tuesday, Oct 28 | 12:30 PM – 12:45 PM PDT (3:30 PM – 3:45 PM GMT -04)
Make with AI, Stay Human: The Creative Engineer Playbook
The rise of Generative AI demands a new playbook: it’s not robots versus creatives, but how to maintain your distinct artistic vision while letting AI handle the heavy lifting. This session provides a fully-fleshed guide for creative professionals, focusing on a people-first approach using Adobe Firefly and GenStudio. Speaker Adam Driggs, who has over a decade of experience in digital transformation and a deep focus on Adobe’s GenStudio solutions, will introduce the emerging Creative Engineer role.
Time and date: Wednesday, Oct 29 | 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM PDT (3:30 PM – 4:00 PM GMT -04)
Thriving as a Brand Designer: Lessons Learned from an Insider
Senior Adobe designer Chris Bartoldus offers an insider’s survival guide to the rapidly evolving world of brand design. Chris, who brings a deep love for typography and branding systems, explores how real-world teams operate and shares lessons for making a noticeable impact. Discover how to strategically break brand guidelines, identify and propose solutions for brand blind spots, and ultimately thrive by thinking like a business partner and designing for real-world impact.
Time and date: Wednesday, Oct 29 | 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM PDT (3:00 PM – 3:15 PM GMT -04)
Kristy Campbell: Building Bold Brands & Creative Confidence
Kristy Campbell, the founder of Pink Pony Creative, is renowned for her daring and playful approach to branding. Join her for a candid conversation about transforming creative passion into a thriving business. This session is perfect for creatives looking to carve their own path. Kristy shares insights on how to stay authentic, embrace necessary risk, and build a career that is rooted in personal style and purpose.
Time and date: Wednesday, Oct 29 | 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM PDT (3:00 PM – 3:30 PM GMT -04)
Redefine Creation: Bringing Back the Sense of Touch
For most of history, creativity was tactile, but the digital age has distanced us from that natural, immersed connection. This session introduces MX Innovations and how they are redefining creation by bringing back the sense of touch. Presenters Xinyue Zhou (leading Logitech MX product design) and Alexandre Zreikat (leading Logitech MX mice) detail how these tools help creatives work more intuitively, regain control by reducing distractions, and streamline complex workflows for a truly unique experience.
Time and date: Tuesday, Oct 28 | 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM PDT (5:00 PM – 5:30 PM GMT -04)
What They Never Taught You: Real Talk about Your Creative Career
With over 20 years of experience as a professional illustrator and after escaping a soul-crushing corporate job, Yuko Shimizu cuts through industry myths to deliver honest, useful, and sometimes tough truths about building a lasting creative career. Yuko, an award-winning Japanese illustrator and instructor at The School of Visual Arts, will share hard-earned lessons on crafting a portfolio that sticks, channeling imposter syndrome into creative momentum, and real-world strategies for handling tricky professional situations.
Thursday, Oct 30 | 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM PDT (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM GMT -04)
The level of innovation coming this year is truly exciting. We hope you dive into these sessions and leave MAX equipped with not just new skills, but a renewed passion for your craft. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and connect with the global creative community.
Yours truly,
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