Adobe Launches Creative Collective: Empowering the Next Generation of Creative Leaders
The creative industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by new technologies, evolving workflows, and the integration of artificial intelligence into creative processes. To help navigate this rapidly changing landscape, Adobe has announced the launch of the Adobe Creative Collective, a distinguished group of creative leaders who will shape conversations about the future of creativity and creative work.
What Is the Adobe Creative Collective?
The Adobe Creative Collective brings together exceptional creative professionals from diverse disciplines including design, photography, filmmaking, illustration, emerging technology, education, and creative culture. These founding members will share real-world experiences, provide practical guidance, and elevate important conversations about how technology—particularly AI—is reshaping creative industries.
According to Adobe, the Collective will "bring forward diverse perspectives, share real-world experiences, and elevate stories that span everything from inspiration and experimentation to practical tips for navigating new tools and building sustainable careers."
Meet the Founding Members
The inaugural Adobe Creative Collective includes eight distinguished creative professionals:
Lindsay Adler - Fashion & Beauty Photographer
A globally recognized photographer known for bold concepts and meticulous lighting, Adler is also one of the most influential photography educators, helping photographers worldwide elevate their craft with confidence.BrandonB (Brandon Baum) - Creator & VFX Studio Founder
A creator and studio founder specializing in high-impact visual effects for the digital age, Baum represents a new generation of creators who seamlessly blend creative vision with platform-native storytelling.Scott Belsky - Founder, Behance
The founder of Behance and former Chief Product Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Adobe, Belsky focuses on how creative work evolves alongside new technologies, with emphasis on authorship, attribution, and the future of creative labor in an AI-driven world.Karen X Cheng - Director & Video Creator
Known for viral, concept-driven videos that push creative boundaries, Cheng excels at turning innovation into inspiration, demonstrating how bold ideas can resonate with massive audiences through accessible formats.Tina Roth Eisenberg - Founder, CreativeMornings
Known as Swissmiss, Eisenberg is one of the most influential community builders in creative culture. As founder of CreativeMornings, she has connected hundreds of thousands of creatives globally, championing generosity, shared learning, and collaborative creativity.Stefan Sagmeister - Designer & Storyteller
A legendary voice in contemporary design, Sagmeister has pushed graphic design beyond aesthetics, using it to explore happiness, emotion, culture, and the human condition, shaping how generations think about meaning and authorship in design.Don Allen Stevenson III - Creative Technologist & Futurist
Working at the frontier where creativity meets emerging technology, Stevenson helps artists and creative teams explore AI, augmented reality, and experimental media, making complex technologies accessible and empowering.Tim Tadder - Advertising & AI Photographer
A boundary-pushing visual artist whose career spans iconic commercial photography and cutting-edge AI experimentation, Tadder has become a leading voice in exploring AI as a creative collaborator and new medium for visual storytelling.Why Now?
"AI is not just the future; it is the now," says Lindsay Adler, explaining her decision to join the Collective. "To be part of the conversations that guide how these changes affect our industry, our craft, and the clients we serve."
For Brandon Baum, it's an opportunity to "share insights, collaborate with other leaders and help champion new ideas within the community."
What's Coming Next
The Adobe Creative Collective will engage the creative community through several key initiatives:
99U Conference Returns
The Adobe 99U Conference will return on June 4, 2026 in New York City as a one-day live experience. The conference will focus on empowering creative professionals to make their ideas happen, featuring thought-provoking dialogue about how AI is reshaping creative practices, businesses, and workflows. Registration opens in February 2026.Creative Collective Summit Highlights
Biannual summits will generate digests of the most important themes, questions, and emerging opportunities, shared with the broader creative community to spark informed dialogue and peer learning.Practical Community Resources
Drawing from Collective insights, Adobe will share playbooks and reports diving into what's working (and what isn't) across creative disciplines, helping creatives grow their craft and careers.Part of Adobe's Broader Commitment
The Creative Collective is one of many ways Adobe invests in the creative community, joining programs like:
- Adobe Creative Apprenticeship
- Adobe Digital Academy
- CreativeMornings partnerships
- Create Now events
- Product feedback opportunities
These initiatives provide the tools, resources, and support creatives need to grow, thrive, and shape the future of creative work.
Join the Conversation
To stay connected and learn about future updates from the Adobe Creative Collective, sign up at adobe.ly/creativecollective.
Source: Adobe Blog