Adobe MAX Creativity Awards

Celebrating excellence, innovation, and leadership in the creative community.

Submissions are now closed. Thank you to all who entered.

Watch for the announcement of
the honorees in the MAX Keynote!

Launching at Adobe MAX Miami Beach, the open-submission Adobe MAX Creativity Awards program celebrates individuals and teams who are pushing the boundaries of creativity, setting new standards in their fields, and inspiring the future of creativity.

Applicants submitted work created with Adobe products for consideration by a panel of Adobe judges. Honorees receive a MAX pass, airfare, plus hotel accommodations. Their projects will be featured in the MAX Keynote in Miami Beach on Oct 15.

Adobe MAX Creativity Awards FAQs

  • This award recognizes exceptional digital design that demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship and creativity.

    It showcases outstanding precision in their digital creations, setting a benchmark for quality in the industry.

    Judging Criteria

    • Craftsmanship: The overall quality and care taken in the creation process, reflecting a high standard of digital artistry.
    • Creativity: The originality and artistic vision demonstrated in the design, showing innovative thinking and a unique approach.
    • Visual impact: The overall aesthetic appeal of the design, including composition, balance, and use of space, that captivates and engages the viewer.
    • Composition: The uniformity and coherence of the design elements, ensuring that every part of the project maintains a high level of quality.
    • Tie-breaker: The entry that showcases the highest level of accuracy and attention to detail in the digital design, demonstrating clean, sharp, and well-executed work.
  • Honoring the most creative and unconventional use of Adobe tools, this award is for those who think beyond the ordinary to solve problems or create something truly unique.

    It celebrates innovation and originality in design and execution.

    Judging Criteria

    • Originality: The uniqueness and creativity of the solution or concept, demonstrating thinking beyond conventional methods.
    • Innovation in tool use: How effectively Adobe tools were used in new or unconventional ways to solve a problem or create something unique.
    • Problem-solving: The effectiveness of the solution provided by the innovative approach.
    • Impact: The significance of the innovation and its potential to influence or inspire others in the industry.
    • Tie-breaker: The entry that demonstrates the most creative and surprising use of Adobe tools to achieve its innovative outcome.
  • This award celebrates the project that showcases the best use of color, using unique and original palettes to make a striking visual impact.

    It honors creators who masterfully apply color theory to enhance the impact of their work.

    Judging Criteria

    • Inventive color choices: The effectiveness of unique color choices in enhancing the project's visual appeal.
    • Emotional impact: How well the use of color enhances the emotional response and message of the project.
    • Creativity: The originality in the choice and application of colors, demonstrating a strong understanding of color theory.
    • Harmony and balance: The successful integration of colors to create a visually balanced and cohesive composition.
    • Tie-breaker: The entry that most effectively uses color to create a memorable and striking visual experience.
  • Recognizing the most captivating and creatively executed animation, this award celebrates those who bring imagination to life through dynamic motion.

    It honors the skillful blending of art and technique in animation.

    Judging Criteria

    • Creativity in animation: The originality and creativity of the animation concept and execution.
    • Storytelling: How effectively the animation tells a story or conveys a message through movement and timing.
    • Technical skill: Proficiency in using Adobe tools to create smooth, engaging, and visually compelling animations.
    • Visual impact: The overall aesthetic appeal and effectiveness of the animation in capturing the audience's attention.
    • Tie-breaker: The animation that tells the most engaging and memorable story.
  • This award honors exceptional skill in combining various media forms, such as photography, video, and illustration, into a cohesive and compelling piece.

    It celebrates creativity and versatility in mixed media projects.

    Judging Criteria

    • Integration: The skillful blending of different media forms into a cohesive whole, with seamless transitions and consistency.
    • Creativity: The originality in combining various media, demonstrating innovative thinking and artistic vision.
    • Craftsmanship: The quality of the work in each media type and how well they complement each other.
    • Visual and emotional impact: The ability of the mixed media project to create a strong visual and emotional connection with the audience.
    • Tie-breaker: The entry that most effectively integrates different media to create a unified and impactful piece.
  • Awarded to the project that tells the most engaging and powerful story, whether through video, design, or interactive content.

    It celebrates the art of storytelling and its ability to leave a lasting impact on the audience.

    Judging Criteria

    • Narrative clarity: The strength and clarity of the story being told, with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end.
    • Engagement: The ability of the project to capture and hold the audience’s attention throughout.
    • Creativity in storytelling: The originality and creativity in how the story is presented, whether through design, video, or interactive content.
    • Emotional impact: The project’s ability to evoke emotions and leave a lasting impression on the audience.
    • Tie-breaker: The entry that most deeply connects with its audience emotionally will be selected as the winner.
I love coming to MAX because Adobe always has something new that I can add to my work."
— Sharon R. MAX 2023 attendee