What went down at Adobe MAX London and how to catch up on the action

Last week, Adobe MAX opened in London for yet another successful conference on innovation and creativity. Full of brilliant guest speakers, fascinating presentations, and exciting product launches, it was not one to miss. However, for those of you that were unable to tune in to the action, don’t fret, because all of the talks and sessions are now up on the Adobe MAX website for you to watch at your leisure.

On 23 April, Ashley Still, the senior vice president of Creative Product Group at Adobe opened the event to an eager audience, kicking off the keynote with a sweeping take on the state of the creative industry, before discussing some of Adobe’s latest products and innovations. First to be demoed before the crowd was the new Adobe Firefly Image 3 Mode, which was shown in detail by French designer Hadrien Chatelet. This presentation set the tone for the rest of the keynote, which looked frequently at the growing role of generative AI in the creative world, including how Adobe is using it to reimagine workflows across the rest of Creative Cloud and Adobe Express.

At the heart of the keynote was a presentation by Welsh graphic designer Annie Atkins, known for her prop work on blockbuster films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, Joker, West Side Story, and many more. Taking to the stage towards the end of the keynote, Annie walked the audience through her detailed process, and how Adobe’s creative tools allow her to work carefully, effectively and efficiently, as well as cut between analogue and digital techniques.

The rest of the Adobe MAX London event was taken up by an engaging Inspiration Keynote, featuring iconic documentarian Louis Theroux, renowned artist and designer Yinka Ilori, and visionary filmmaker Margot Bowman, along with an array of in-person and Adobe Live Sessions, hosted by various creative figures from across the industry. These included, among others, designer and illustrator Tony Harmer, who focused on showcasing the real power of Photoshop and imaging workflows; animator and illustrator David Oku, who explained how to make your artworks stand out using Photoshop and Illustrator; and creative director and photographer James Barnard, who shared tips on how to use generative AI for video.

During the event, Adobe announced the upcoming releases of several new exciting products and features. As well as the aforementioned Adobe Firefly Image 3 Mode, which brings stunning advancements to Firefly’s foundational image model, a new Photoshop beta was also revealed, which introduces enhanced generative AI capabilities and new features offering unprecedented levels of control over your creations. Finally, the curtains were pulled on a brand new Express mobile app featuring Firefly generative AI and the power of Adobe creative tools, which is now available to all mobile users, allowing them to create on-the-go and without limitation.

These are just some of the highlights from Adobe MAX London 2024, but there are still plenty of other show-stopping moments to enjoy from the livestream. The event website has now been updated to include all of the online content on demand, giving you the chance to peruse the various talks and sessions from the comfort of your home. Take a deeper dive into the amazing opening keynote presentation, with its array of inspiring speakers, or flick through the full range of Adobe Live Sessions, where you will find tips, tricks and sneak peeks on all of the latest Adobe products. If you’re passionate about creativity, innovation and technology, then you won’t want to miss the chance to tune into this groundbreaking conference – and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for next year’s event!