Design Takeaways from the Adobe 99 U Conference
.The main stage at the Adobe 99U Conference
This month, our Senior Designer, Michaela, attended the 13th Adobe 99U Conference in New York City. The 2026 conference focused on how the creative world is shifting and meeting creatives wherever they may be — curious, skeptical, hopeful, or uncertain. They took the day to engage in conversations about how AI is changing our industry and how to navigate rapid change.
About the Adobe 99U Conference
DATE: June 4, 2026
LOCATION: Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), New York City, NY
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.
Some of this years speakers included:
Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator of Architecture & Design The Museum of Modern Art
Scott Belsky, Founder, Behance
BrandonB, CEO / Founder, StudioB
Nu Goteh, Founder & Principal of ROOM FOR MAGIC, Co-Founder of Deem Journal
Meg! Lewis, Designer, Performer, Educator, Meg Lewis Fun House
Tim Tadder, CEO, Tim Tadder Stills + Motion
Stefan Sagmeister, Designer, Sagmeister Inc.
Ovetta Sampson, Founder, Right AI
And many more!
Welcome screens with a general overview of the day’s schedule
Schedule of Events
8:30 am BREAKFAST AND MINGLING
9:30 am MORNING KEYNOTES
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
What is Design? | 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
11:30 am LUNCH
1:00pm – 4:40pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Creative Conversations | Stephan Sagmeister and Tim Tadder
Reclaiming Responsibility and Creative Intelligence | Ovetta Sampson and Brooke Hopper
Is the Value of Creative Work Changing | Taryn Crouthers, Marla Moore, Michael Ventura
4:30 pm NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR
Michaela’s Key Takeaways
Discernment and your creative mind are your greatest assets as we transition to AI automation and generation.
Your unique skillset is what sets you apart — your specific background, what you have learned, failures and successes, all of it makes who you are as a designer. We use or design eye to know what is good design, what is strategic design, and what is best for our client. That is something, as designers, AI cannot take from us.
While it may learn taste, as we as the creative thinkers begin to use it and it learns from us, it will never be able to mimic our discernment and creative knowledge that our years of experience in the industry have built. Use that to your advantage.
There is no such thing as “normal”
Adults are boring and uninventive… and we are conditioned to be that way. We stick to what is considered “normal” when, in reality, there is no such thing as normal. We all have our own thoughts and feelings and weird or quirky ways of doing things — so don’t be afraid to be yourself, enthusiastically and unapologetically. Unlearn the ordinary and be extraordinary.
Design isn’t just one thing
As designers, the hardest question we are asked is “what do you do for a living?.” When we say ”graphic design” it sounds so mystical to most people. We are strategic thinkers, creative problem solvers, and masters of our craft. We are often a jack of all trades, so to speak, in our knowledge of the design industry and creative outlets.
Storytelling can make it or break it
Storytelling is our most powerful tool. It can either make something extremely relevant and groundbreaking, or it can be used to destroy or separate people. You have to decide how you want to tell the story and what impact it will have, and be aware of any consequences it may result in. A carefully crafted story goes a long way.
