The creative world is shifting—fast. Adobe 99U Conference is about meeting each other where we are: curious, skeptical, hopeful, or uncertain.
Together we’ll explore how creative practices and businesses are evolving, figure out how to navigate this period of rapid change, and keep finding the kind of inspiration you can actually use.
Join us to step away from your day-to-day and have real, honest conversations about what's happening in the field.
Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at The Museum of Modern Art, as well as MoMA’s founding Director of Research & Development. Her goal is to promote design’s understanding, until its mighty influence on the world is universally acknowledged. Her work considers design various practices within a multidisciplinary framework, highlighting its connections with technology, society, and the environment.
As the co-founder of the Gen AI Academy, Dave has become a trusted voice in helping individuals and organisations navigate the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI. He is LinkedIn Learning's top-rated AI instructor, and his courses have helped to demystify the topic for more than a million learners worldwide.
Brooke Hopper is a design leader and champion for artists—passionate about building community through creativity and designing better experiences for some of the most talented people in the world. Her work spans platforms and products, always centered on making space for artists and creators to thrive.
Meg Lewis is a designer, performer, and adult guidance counselor working to shape a brighter future. Meg’s bold designs burst with color, bringing an explosion of energy to brands like Dropbox, Meta, Amazon, and Pinterest. With a background in design, improv, clown, music, and stage combat, Meg creates uniquely playful experiences through workshops and stage shows that spark laughter and inspiration!
Ovetta specializes in the space that lies between AI and Design. Consulting with CEOs, design executives, and their teams, she helps small-to-mid-size businesses choose the path of least risk when building and implementing AI products. Formerly of IDEO, Microsoft, and Google, Ovetta has a unique background spanning journalism to AI/ML infrastructure that helps her assist executives and their organizations to implement AI safely and successfully.
Tim Tadder is a photographer and visual artist known for bold, high-impact imagery in sport culture and portraiture. His studio creates global campaigns that blend classic craft with inventive experimentation for top brands, and his fine art exploring identity and technology, including AI, exhibits worldwide.
Rich Tu is an award-winning artist and creative in New York City. He is an Executive Creative Director & Partner at Sunday Afternoon. In addition, Rich has held creative leadership roles at Jones Knowles Ritchie, MTV Entertainment Group, and Nike Inc. He has previously won the ADC Young Guns award and recently received the prestigious Paul Manship Medallion for significant contributions to the Art Directors Club and creative industry.
Welcome address | Eric Snowden, SVP of Design, Adobe
Fireside chat | featuring Scott Belsky, Founder, Behance & Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at The Museum of Modern Art
The Power of Attention-Driven Storytelling | Brandon B, CEO/Founder, StudioB
Talk title to be announced | Nu Goteh, Founder & Principal of ROOM FOR MAGIC, Co-Founder of Deem Journal
A Grown-Ups Guide to Growing Down | Meg! Lewis, Designer, Performer, Educator, Meg Lewis Fun House
Select sessions that match what you need most from across four tracks.
Creative Conversations | Big ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative provocations
Design in Practice | Practical workflows, demos, and skill-building sessions
Stories from the Industry | Honest conversations about where creative work is headed
Off the Record | Smaller, candid discussions designed for real exchange to fuel creativity
The livestream will be limited to select breakout sessions.
For in-person attendees, advance sign-up is required for sessions; sign-ups will be available closer to the event; space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Adobe 99U Conference is back by popular demand, continuing our mission to empower creatives of all disciplines to supercharge their careers, and make their ideas happen.
This year's event marks the 13th edition of Adobe 99U, and in a time of rapid industry and cultural change, the event remains a necessary space to discuss the nuances of creative careers and the realities of creative work, from inspiration to execution.
Past 99U speakers include Natasha Jen, Tim Brown, Kelli Anderson, Brené Brown, Antionette Carroll, Debbie Millman, Seth Godin, and Jessica Walsh, alongside other creative leaders shaping the design industry
The Adobe Creative Collective brings together visionary creative leaders shaping the future of the industry, driving real conversations about how creative careers are evolving, and what comes next. Throughout the day, Collective members take the stage as featured speakers to share firsthand insights, stories, and perspectives you can apply to your own work. See who's part of the Adobe Creative Collective at adobe.ly/creativecollective.
Please reach out to us via email.
You can request accessibility accommodations and services when registering for Adobe 99U Conference by indicating that you have accessibility requirements on the registration. A representative will contact you to discuss your needs to make sure your experience on site is enjoyable.
You can also reach out to us via email to request accommodations. Please submit your request by Thursday, May 21. We will do our best to accommodate requests made after this date.
There are several hotels within walking distance of the venue. We suggest checking out MSocial Hotel Downtown (3 min walk) Four Seasons Hotel Downtown (5 min walk), Artezen Hotel (7 min walk), and Conrad Hotel Downtown (8 min walk).
BrandonB is a UK creator known for imaginative VFX, humor, and educational content. With 25M+ followers and 16B+ views, he’s worked with major stars and brands, including Disney and Google. He also runs StudioB, an award-winning production company.
BrandonB will speak during the morning keynotes.
Brandon B on the Power of Attention-Driven Storytelling
Brandon explores how time, attention, and storytelling intersect in the modern world. By reframing attention as a finite and valuable currency, he shares a more intentional approach to storytelling so that the power of storytelling can be harnessed to influence, connect, and create meaningful impact in an increasingly crowded digital landscape.
Karen X. Cheng is an award-winning director known for sharing her creative experiments with mixed media, stop motion, AI, and DIY camera tricks. She has been named Inc 30 under 30 and Adweek's Creative 100 for her work.
Karen X Cheng will host an afternoon breakout session as part of the Design in Practice track.
Karen X Cheng and Don Allen Stevenson III on the Supercharge Creative Workflows
Session description to come.
Nu Goteh is a designer, strategist, and educator who envisions conditions for communities to thrive. He is at the forefront of an emerging generation of designers who integrate design, culture, art, community, and social practice.
Nu Goteh will speak during the morning keynotes.
Nu Goteh on What Do You Mean by “Design”?
What Do You Mean by “Design”? explores how I’ve come to understand design as an expanding practice in a time of profound change. Through reflections on my path from graphic design to branding, strategy, publishing, cultural work, and art, I examine design as more than form-making — as a practice of meaning, responsibility, and imagination. The keynote asks what design is functioning as today, and how we might use it to help shape, question, and move toward the world we deserve.
Brooke Hopper is a design leader and champion for artists—passionate about building community through creativity and designing better experiences for some of the most talented people in the world. Her work spans platforms and products, always centered on making space for artists and creators to thrive.
Brooke Hooper will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions in the Creative Conversations track.
Fireside chat with Brooke Hopper and Ovetta Sampson on how to responsibly adopt AI.
Session description to come.
Meg Lewis is a designer, performer, and adult guidance counselor working to shape a brighter future. Meg’s bold designs burst with color, bringing an explosion of energy to brands like Dropbox, Meta, Amazon, and Pinterest. With a background in design, improv, clown, music, and stage combat, Meg creates uniquely playful experiences through workshops and stage shows that spark laughter and inspiration!
Meg Lewis will speak during the morning keynotes.
The grown-ups guide to growing down
Designer, performer, and hope monger Meg Lewis is here with a joyful rebellion against the invisible rulebook that's been flattening us into beige adults. Through humor, storytelling, and actionable steps, Meg breaks down the five elements of humanity that prove every person is already capable of original, innovative thinking and creating at the Speed of Fun!
Swiss-born graphic designer Tina is a stubbornly optimistic, NYC-based ‘human gatherer.’ She founded FRIENDS, CreativeMornings, TeuxDeux, and Tattly. CreativeMornings—her love letter to humanity—brings 20k+ people together monthly. She believes life itself is a creative act.
Tina Roth Eisenberg will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions.
The Joy of Gathering
What happens when we stop waiting for belonging and start building it? In this participatory closing session, Tina Roth Eisenberg (an unreasonably optimistic human) invites you into a shared experience of reflection, connection, and creative courage. Through storytelling, live improvisational music with Charlie Levine, and genuine audience participation, this is not a talk you simply listen to. It's one you feel part of. Tina believes creativity is a discipline of optimism, practiced together. So come ready to participate. Leave reconnected to yourself, to each other, and to why any of this matters.
Stefan Sagmeister has designed for clients from the Rolling Stones and HBO to the Guggenheim. A two-time Grammy winner, he’s earned nearly every major design award. His work explores big themes like happiness and beauty and how they shape everyday life.
Stefan Sagmeister will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions.
Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder in conversation.
Join Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder as they reflect on their illustrative careers and the transformations that they navigated to bring them to this moment in time. The conversation will be moderated by Resh Sidhu.
Resh Sidhu, VP, Creative at Adobe TEDx & Web Summit keynote speaker, Cannes Lions Jury President, and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business leads Adobe Brand Studio at the intersection of creativity, technology, and culture.
Resh Sidhu will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions.
Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder in conversation.
Join Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder as they reflect on their illustrative careers and the transformations that they navigated to bring them to this moment in time. The conversation will be moderated by Resh Sidhu.
Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at The Museum of Modern Art, as well as MoMA’s founding Director of Research & Development. Her goal is to promote design’s understanding, until its mighty influence on the world is universally acknowledged. Her work considers design various practices within a multidisciplinary framework, highlighting its connections with technology, society, and the environment.
Paola Antonelli will speak during the morning keynotes.
Fireside chat with Scott Belsky and Paola Antonelli
Session description to come.
As the co-founder of the Gen AI Academy, Dave has become a trusted voice in helping individuals and organisations navigate the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI. He is LinkedIn Learning's top-rated AI instructor, and his courses have helped to demystify the topic for more than a million learners worldwide.
Dave Birss will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions.
Automating administrative workflows
Sessions description to come.
Don Allen Stevenson III is a creative technologist, futurist, and storyteller blending AI, art, and philosophy. He helps people imagine better futures through teaching, animation, and wildly curious experiments.
Don Allen Stevenson III will host an afternoon breakout session as part of the Design in Practice track.
Karen X Cheng and Don Allen Stevenson III on the Supercharged creative workflows
Session description to come.
Tim Tadder is a photographer and visual artist known for bold, high-impact imagery in sport culture and portraiture. His studio creates global campaigns that blend classic craft with inventive experimentation for top brands, and his fine art exploring identity and technology, including AI, exhibits worldwide.
Tim Tadder will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions.
Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder in conversation.
Join Stefan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder as they reflect on their illustrative careers and the transformations that they navigated to bring them to this moment in time. The conversation will be moderated by Resh Sidhu.
Rich Tu is an award-winning artist and creative in New York City. He is an Executive Creative Director & Partner at Sunday Afternoon. In addition, Rich has held creative leadership roles at Jones Knowles Ritchie, MTV Entertainment Group, and Nike Inc. He has previously won the ADC Young Guns award and recently received the prestigious Paul Manship Medallion for significant contributions to the Art Directors Club and creative industry.
Rich Tu will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions in the Stories from the Industry track.
Non-deterministic futures: Where does generative AI belong in the creative practice?
Session description to come.
Ovetta specializes in the space that lies between AI and Design. Consulting with CEOs, design executives, and their teams, she helps small-to-mid-size businesses choose the path of least risk when building and implementing AI products. Formerly of IDEO, Microsoft, and Google, Ovetta has a unique background spanning journalism to AI/ML infrastructure that helps her assist executives and their organizations to implement AI safely and successfully.
Ovetta Sampson will speak during the afternoon breakout sessions in the Creative Conversations track.
Fireside chat with Brooke Hopper and Ovetta Sampson on how to responsibly adopt AI.
Session description to come.