Adobe MAX 2025: AI Upgrades, Creative Insights, and Standout Sessions
Adobe MAX always feels like the Super Bowl for creatives — a place where inspiration hits fast, new features drop even faster, and you suddenly start rethinking your entire workflow before breakfast. This year blended innovation, storytelling, and practical wisdom in a way that felt both energizing and grounded.
TL;DR (for my “light readers”):
Adobe rolled out some impressive updates — from Google’s Nano Banana integration to the new Firefly Boards and Premiere Pro on mobile. The inspiration keynotes emphasized curiosity, emotional storytelling, and authenticity. And one of my favorite sessions, led by Allan Peters, offered clear, actionable advice on craft, portfolio building, and the courage required to forge your own creative path.
Updates That Made Me Rethink What’s Possible
Nano Banana (Google) Integration
One of the most unexpected updates came from Adobe’s collaboration with Google to bring Nano Banana directly into the creative workflow. By combining Google’s micro-gesture motion technology with Adobe’s interface, Nano Banana takes polished interaction design to a new level. It’s subtle, responsive, and adds a layer of believability that makes prototypes feel almost too real. It doesn’t shout for attention — but it absolutely elevates your flow.
Video demo (right) made by Adobe. Learn more here.
Firefly Boards
A unified space for visual exploration, mood boarding, AI-assisted ideation, and early-stage concepting — without the classic designer tab-hopping marathon. Firefly Boards is built for creative teams who want clarity, collaboration, and fast iteration all in one flexible workspace.
Image examples (left) made by Adobe. Learn more here.
Premiere Pro on Mobile
Full-power editing, a streamlined interface, and the freedom to build high-quality video content anywhere inspiration strikes — even in line for your morning latte. It’s mobile editing that finally feels like a real tool, not a compromise.
Video demo (right) made by Adobe. Learn more here.
Inspiration Keynotes: Human Creativity at the Center
Adobe’s keynote lineup delivered a wide spectrum of creative energy — from practical demos to big-picture philosophy. Three speakers especially stood out:
Brandon Baum — Curiosity + AI as a Creative Partner
Brandon kicked things off with a hands-on look at how AI can boost dynamic content creation without taking over the artistic role. His demos with Firefly Boards and AI-powered video editing emphasized experimentation, curiosity, and iteration. His message: tools accelerate your ideas, but they don’t replace the intention behind them.
Mark Rober — Emotional Storytelling and the Power of Wonder
Mark Rober brought the perfect blend of engineering, playfulness, and mission-driven storytelling. He talked about crafting experiences that spark emotional reactions — curiosity, joy, disbelief — because those emotions are what help ideas stick. Whether it’s a viral science stunt or a global fundraiser, his work proves that creativity is most impactful when it engages both the head and the heart.
James Gunn — Authenticity, Hard Work, and Presence in the Process
James Gunn offered an honest look at the creative process behind his films and shows. He championed finishing what you start, embracing authenticity, and staying present instead of judging your ideas too early. His reflections on music as a storytelling device, collaboration with actors, and adapting creative approaches were powerful reminders that craft and intentionality shape truly memorable work.
Breakout Session Highlight: Allan Peters
Allan Peters’ session was a standout — structured, insightful, and full of practical advice that you can bring straight into your next project.
Fill your portfolio with the work you want more of
Your portfolio acts as a signal. Allan’s City of Eagan logo happened because he simply wanted to make his community more beautiful — and the opportunity grew from that initiative.
Make every project your best one
Big brands or small nonprofits, every project deserves thoughtful craft. His identity for a logo rooted in the mantra Loving All Peoples, showed how meaning and concept can shape an entire brand direction.
A recommended resource: Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
A core text for anyone building or refreshing brands — and one Allan strongly stands behind.
Allan Peter's reminds us that consistency, process, and clarity are what elevate design work from good to great. If you like his work, I would recommend checking out his book.
Allen Peter's Standout Principles:
• Work hard & be nice.
• If you do great free work, the paid work follows.
• Forge your own path.
• Just ask — even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Humans want to see humanity — share your process.
• Don’t let fear make your decisions.
• Teaching is a form of selling.
His logo development workflow:
• Start with 40–60 sketches
• Refine to 15 raster concepts
• Present three strong directions supported by clear
brand ideas
Final Thoughts
What I loved most about Adobe MAX this year was how seamlessly it blended future-forward tools with timeless creative principles. The tech is getting smarter — but the message was clear:
our curiosity, our stories, and our willingness to experiment are still the true engines of creativity.
It’s an exciting moment to be a designer — and an even better moment to keep sketching, learning, exploring, and shaping work that reflects the way you see the world.