Written by Avery Melhado. Visuals by Avery Melhado.
On April 22, SCAD design students gathered in Poetter Hall for Adobe’s Creative Cafe event. The excitement in the room was palpable, with Adobe merch being handed out and year-long Creative Cloud memberships being raffled off. Of course, what everyone was really there for was the panel discussion with Adobe SCAD alumni–a chance to hear valuable insight from professionals who were in our same positions just a few years ago.
The panel included Adobe Senior Brand Designer Chris Bartoldus, B.F.A Graphic Design and Advertising, Adobe Art Director Courtney Crompton, B.F.A. Graphic Design, and Adobe Senior Visual Designer Gabriela Iancu, M.F.A. Photography. Each panelist detailed their journey working for Adobe and their unique perspectives on the industry. Bartoldus got his start making fan art for his favorite pop artists on Tumblr, while Iancu was an international student who worked and studied in many different fields before coming to SCAD.
The sentiment of gratitude for the SCAD community was unanimous. Iancu said, “I owe so much to SCAD because it’s that kind of university that supports you throughout your studies here and also after graduating.”
After a day of doing portfolio reviews and workshops in different classes across campus, I was interested to hear their insights on what makes a portfolio stand out. Showcasing design thinking, showing a range of styles, and having a unique point of view were all mentioned as things that send a portfolio to the top of the pile. Crompton stressed that all projects should be “rooted in audience,” centering storytelling and who the designs are for. Bartoldus expressed the importance of individuality, asking the audience, “What do you bring to your craft or design that may be different from someone else?”
Of course, it would be amiss not to address the primary topic of the pane–AI in the design industry. Adobe products are inextricable from AI, with tools like generative fill and expand, remove background, and even the less assuming clone stamp feature that has been around for decades. I was pleasantly surprised that the panelists openly discussed the issue from both sides. Bartoldus explained AI as just another “tool in your toolbelt–” a way to help fulfill a vision and “fill the gaps” of what you might not be able to create on your own.
Crompton spoke on the topic from the perspective of an art director. “AI is just a different vessel to get to a solution,” she said. She explained that you still need a vision for every project, and that AI can be an assistant in executing that vision.
“Stay curious and open,” Crompton advised. “You still need to be a creative, you still need to have vision, you still need to have storytelling. Those are things that can’t be replaced.”
AI is a delicate dance in an industry that is rapidly changing, and its ethical concerns are more prevalent than ever. I took notice as Bartoldus encouraged the audience to be critical of AI. “Keep that conversation alive internally,” he said. “You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. Nobody is forcing you.” He also stressed the importance of taste as a designer, saying, “AI slop is a thing, and it happens because people have no taste.”
During the Q&A session, I asked the panelists further about how they balance the ethical concerns of AI as it becomes industry standard. Bartoldus explained his practice of separating AI use in work from his personal life. Crompton noted the conversations she’s involved in as an art director–discussing what feels right about having AI create “human” imagery and using discretion on a case-by-case basis. The moderator Jordan Dené Ellis even weighed in. “Being informed about AI is actually more helpful than being anti.” I agreed internally–it’s important to understand the specifics of the concerns and how to speak about them.
After the panel, students were given time to converse and make connections with the panelists. I spoke personally with Bartoldus, excited about his unique perspectives on AI in the industry. Bartoldus has come back to SCAD a few times since graduating, both with and without Adobe. I asked what drives him to keep returning, and his reply was simple – the students and the professors. “I think it’s important I stay connected with this school because it gave me my roots,” Bartoldus said. He interned with Adobe the summer after his junior year at SCAD, which eventually turned into a full-time position after he graduated.
I asked Bartoldus what he hoped students would take away from the event. “Have a very open mind about the future.” He stressed that it’s important to use your voice, to call things out, and to have “ethical conversations about technology.”
My takeaway from both the panel and my conversation with Bartoldus was clear. The industry is rapidly changing, and the expectations of designers are always shifting. But if you stay true to your roots and foster meaningful connections, your creativity will always shine through.
Avery is double-majoring in Graphic Design and Writing at SCAD. She loves making zines and spending hours in coffee shops reading, writing, and working on projects. When she’s not glued to her laptop, you can find her walking through Forsyth with a dirty chai in hand, probably still writing in her notes app.
