From March 6^th to 8^th, 5,000 digital marketers, a world record holder, a Grammy nominated band, the world’s leading marketing experts, an innovative educator, the creative genius behind Portlandia and an American Idol descended upon Salt Lake City, Utah for the Adobe Digital Marketing Summit.

Day 2

As people settled into the main halls for day two’s opening keynote – some still feeling the effects of the previous night’s Bash – the second day’s presentation took on a much different tone. Whereas the first day’s keynote was to shock and awe, the second day’s opening keynote was to inspire and push people to take risks.

The overall theme of the keynote was “Taking the Leap” which was perfectly embodied by the first guest speaker, Felix Baumgartner.  Baumgartner is the skydiver who, in October 2012, set the world record for the highest jump and first person ever to break the sound barrier assisted only by gravity.  Baumgartner discussed his experience leading up to his record shattering jump and the need for people / organizations to push the boundaries and venture into the unknown.

While Baumgartner represented taking the leap literally, the second guest speaker approached it from a more metaphorical angle. Sal Khan, the founder of the Khan Academy – a nonprofit with the mission of providing free, high-quality education to “anyone, anywhere” in the world – spoke of the formation of his organization as a way tutoring his cousins online and his decision to take the leap and leave the life of a hedge fund analyst to dedicate himself to his cause full time.

Khan’s speech was filled with humour and pulled on the heart strings of all those attending, reinforcing the idea that there’s potential in the world and that we just need to give people the tools to tap into it. At the end of the speech, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause giving Khan a much deserved standing ovation.

Feeling inspired by the morning’s keynote and ready to take the world by the horns, the crowd broke off into another day of breakout sessions.

The end of day two wrapped on a comedic note. The Summit’s closing keynote offered attendees sneak peeks at digital marketing applications Adobe will be rolling out in the next six to twelve months. The keynote was co-hosted by Portlandia creator and star, Carrie Brownstein, who delivered an irony soaked soliloquy on wry (pun intended), discussing the general love/hate relationship most people have with social media.

As the sun set on the second day, the Summit again took on the appearance of a concert with the Depot After Dark party.  Summit goers converged at Salt Lake City’s famous Depot, to be entertained by live music and karaoke.

About an hour into the party, Adobe’s Matt Langie, Director of Product Marketing, joined the band on stage, announcing his attempt to cover Led Zepplin.  Thankfully, after about two seconds into his debut performance, Matt confessed that he would not be able to do the song justice and instead brought out a friend who was better equipped to deal with the task – American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks.

Day 3

With the formal portion of the event over, Adobe decided to end the Digital Marketing Summit on a high note. The final day was dedicated to fun in the sun and snow with 5,000 marketers invading Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah for Adobe’s ski day.

While the first day focused on celebrating how far the digital marketing industry and tools have come, the second day looked at where the industry could go. Adobe Sneaks offered a glimpse of the next stage in the Marketing Cloud’s evolution and Felix Baumgartner and Sal Khan both reinforced the idea that the only way to reach the top/summit is to take risks.

Salt Palace Convention Center

From March 6^th to 8^th, 5,000 digital marketers, a world record holder, a Grammy nominated band, the world’s leading marketing experts, an innovative educator, the creative genius behind Portlandia and an American Idol descended upon Salt Lake City, Utah for the Adobe Digital Marketing Summit.

Day 1

In what seemed more akin to a concert than a conference with its light show and atmospheric music, Adobe’s opening keynote kicked off the Summit with a bang unveiling the latest evolution of Adobe’s Marketing Cloud. The unveiling and subsequent ‘Mega-Demo’, showcased Adobe’s work in refining the 24 marketing products its acquired in the last two years into five web-based solutions meant to streamline processes and enable greater collaboration: Adobe Analytics, Adobe Social, Adobe Media Optimizer, Adobe Target and Adobe Experience Manager.

The latter – Adobe Experience Manager – effectively acting as a bridge between the Creative Cloud and the Marketing Cloud. It allows both marketers and creatives access to manage data about websites and digital campaigns and make changes on the fly from the cloud.

Immediately following the opening keynote, press and analysts were greeted to a briefing with Adobe’s Senior Leadership Team: Brad Rencher, SVP and General Manager, Digital Marketing; Shantanu Narayen, President and CEO; and Ann Lewnes, SVP and CMO.  The panel discussed everything from the launch of the Marketing Cloud to the company’s future acquisition plans to their infamous Monday Morning meetings.

After a short break, Ann Lewnes quickly switched gears from the responder to the one posing the questions as moderator of Adobe’s Marketing Leaders panel.

Joining Ann on stage were marketing leaders from American Eagle, Conde Nast, Time Warner Cable and Forrester Research.   Each panelist discussed the unique marketing challenges of their respective industries and how they are overcoming them. Christopher Reynolds, VP, Marketing Analytics, Conde Nast discussed the opportunities and hurdles of digital publishing, specifically the level of customization needed to optimize content for the plethora of mobile and tablet platforms. Rob Roy, VP and General Manager, eCommerce & Interactive Marketing, Time Warner Cable, discussed how companies shouldn’t be afraid to explore and test marketing strategies on burgeoning technologies like. Smart TV’s.

The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to breakout sessions, where marketers had the chance to learn about the latest and greatest tips and tricks around Digital Analytics, Web Experience Management, Digital Advertising, Targeting and Optimization, Social Marketing, and Marketing Innovations.

The first day officially wrapped with a spirited speech from Adam Bain, President of Global Revenue, Twitter. Adam discussed the importance of analytics and the company’s future plans to help broadcasters learn more about how consumers are engaging with shows and ads on Twitter.

As the sun set on the first day, the Summit formally made the transition from conference to concert with the Summit Bash.  With glow sticks in hand, black light graffiti decor setting the tone, food stations creating an irresistible aroma and no shortage of bars, 5,000 digital marketing revelers converged on the convention centre’s western most point as the Grammy nominated band, The Black Keys, took to the stage.

From the first keynote to the Black Keys encore and all of the glow sticks in-between, day one of the Summit was truly a celebration. 5,000 marketers helped celebrate the growth and relevance of the digital marketing industry and the role of the CMO, the value of analytics and the culmination of years of hard work in Adobe’s Marketing Cloud.

Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 11

Happy New Year!

With your cameras, smartphones and computers filled with your holiday moments from the past month, Adobe Canada would like to kick off 2013 with its Enhance Your Holiday Memories Twitter Sweepstakes.

For the chance to win one (1) of two (2) Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 11 Bundle Packs, @AdobeCanada followers can enter by tweeting how they would like to enhance their holiday memories with Adobe software, using the hashtag #AdobeCanadaHolidays.

The sweepstakes will run from Friday, January 11th, 2013, 10:00am ET to Monday, January 21st, 2013 at 4:00pm ET. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected on January 23rd, 2013.

No purchase, download or subscription is necessary to win.

For official rules, please see this blog entry. Good luck!

1. Eligibility: The Adobe “Enhance Your Holiday Memories” Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to natural persons, age 18 and older as of the date of entry, who are Canadian citizens with Internet access and @AdobeCanada followers on Twitter. The Sweepstakes is being offered in Canada only, excluding the Province of Quebec. Employees, independent contractors, officers, and directors of Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising promotion and fulfillment agencies, legal advisors, and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household of such persons, are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes. Void where prohibited by law.
2. Timing:  Sweepstakes starts January 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m. ET and ends January 21, 2013, 4:00 p.m. ET (“Promotion Period”).
3. How to Enter:  During the Promotion Period, @AdobeCanada followers may enter Sweepstakes by tweeting how they would like to enhance their holiday memories with Adobe software using the hashtag #AdobeCanadaHolidays and tag with @AdobeCanada.  If you do not have a Twitter account, visit www.twitter.com to create one; accounts are free. Twitter’s Terms of Service and Privacy Statement apply (http://twitter.com/tos).  Tweets that do not conform to the instructions herein will not result in a Sweepstakes entry.  If you participate with a smart phone, message and data rates may apply and you should contact your wireless provider for pricing details.  Alternatively, you may enter by submitting your name, email address and telephone number to Jim.Black@PorterNovelli.com (on behalf of Adobe Canada).  LIMIT: Three (3) entries per person, regardless of the method of entry.  Entries in excess of the limitation will be discarded.  All entries become Sponsor’s property and will not be acknowledged or returned. For information on Adobe’s Privacy Policy please go to: http://www.adobe.com/misc/privacy.html.
4. Winner Selection: A random drawing will take place on or about January 23, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario, and four (4) potential winners will be drawn from all eligible entries received – two (2) grand prize winners and two (2) alternates should the winners be unable to meet the terms and conditions. Odds of winning prize are based on the number of eligible entries. Adobe is not responsible for and shall not be held liable for late, lost, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts to notify potential winners. You need not be present to win. Potential winners will be notified via a direct message on Twitter or by email by January 25, 2013. Potential winners will be required to sign and return a liability release and/or declaration or affidavit of eligibility, as well as correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question as a condition of receiving prize. If a selected winner fails to claim a prize or to complete and execute any declaration/affidavit or release as required within fourteen (14) calendar days of mailing of notification, prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected. By accepting and/or using the prize, winner agrees to the use of the winner’s name, voice or likeness for the purposes of trade, advertising, or promotion without further compensation unless prohibited by law.
5. Two (2) Grand Prizes:  Adobe Photoshop® Elements & Adobe Premiere® Elements 11 Bundle, approximate retail value: $199.00 CDN each.  No alternative prize, cash equivalent, or other substitution is permitted except by Sponsor in the event of prize unavailability. Prize is nontransferable. All federal, provincial and/or local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
6. General Terms and Conditions: Conduct of Sweepstakes and selection of winners are in Sponsor’s sole discretion, and Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding. By participating, entrants agree that Sponsor, its agents and representatives are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or unintelligible entries; (ii) electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind; (iii) failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions; (iv) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor that may cause the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; (v) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel Sweepstakes at any time if a computer virus, bug, or other technical problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper play of the Sweepstakes. By participating in the Sweepstakes, each participant agrees to release and hold Sponsor, its shareholders, agents and representatives, and Sweepstakes Entities, harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes, acceptance, possession, or use of any prize, including without limitation, personal injury, death, and property damage, and claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant and Sponsor in connection with Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (VT may omit return postage) to: Official Rules, Adobe Twitter “Enhance Your Holiday Memories” Sweepstakes, c/o Jim Black, 33 Bloor Street East, Suite 1401, Toronto ON, M4W 3H1.
7. Winner(s) List: A complete winners list may be obtained by writing to Winners List, Adobe “Enhance Your Holiday Memories” Sweepstakes Sweepstakes, c/o Jim Black, Jim Black, 33 Bloor Street East, Suite 1401, Toronto ON, M4W 3H1. Requests for winners list must be received by February 20, 2013.

On Friday, November 9, 2012, the 12^th annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) made its triumphant return to Canada during the DesignThinkers 2012 conference in Toronto. Held in collaboration with Icograda (International Council of Communication Design), the awards honoured students and faculty from around the world in new and traditional media.

Winning projects were selected from 41 finalists out or nearly 5,000 total entries from 70 countries. Winners were recognized in 13 categories including interactive media, video and motion, and traditional media; as well as three categories for educators celebrating innovative teaching methods.

Winning entries were selected based on originality, effectiveness in meeting the communication objective and skill in applying Adobe products. All nominated entries were on view for Canada’s design community during the two-day DesignThinkers conference. A list of nominees and gallery of the entries can be viewed at ADAAgallery.com.

Canada was well represented in the winner’s circle, with three out of four Canadian finalists taking home hardware. Vanessa Li from Sheridan College won for best browser based design. Richelle Rogers from York University and Sheridan College took home best packaging design. Finally, Professor Hector Herrara from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) was recognized for his innovation in motion and video in education.

Other winners include:

Student Awards

• Animation: Ainslie Henderson, Edinburgh College of Art, Great Britain
• Application Development: Bram Monstrey , Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (HOWEST), Belgium
• Game Design and Development: Mitchell Brien (group leader), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
• Illustration: Yeni Kim, Royal College of Art, Great Britain
• Installation Design: James Coltman (group leader), University of the Arts London, Great Britain
• Live Action: Christopher Lavelle, Sunderland University, Great Britain
• Mobile Design: Kirsten Southwell, North Carolina State University, United States
• Motion Graphics: Michael Rigley, California College of the Arts, United States
• Non-Browser Based Design: Lee Soyoung (group leader), Hongik University, Korea
• Photography: Pablo Jimenez, Academy Of Art University, United States
• Print Communications: Jeff Han, Art Center College of Design, United States

 Faculty Awards

• Innovation in Interactive Media in Education: Anna Zyrianova, St. Petersburg State Academy of Art and Design, Russia
• Innovation in Traditional Media in Education: Kyuha Shim, Rhode Island School of Design, United States

Fall is officially here and if you are feeling a little overwhelmed at work, Adobe has some new solutions to help you work smarter, faster and make your creative solutions razor sharp.

First, for designers who want to extend their work for the print medium to iPad and other tablets, Adobe has a new solution for you that requires only your existing savvy InDesign skills.

The Adobe Digital Publishing Suite Single Edition is now part of the Creative Cloud membership. The web service integrates with InDesign CS6 and enables designers to leverage their existing skills, retain creative control, and expand their design services to tablet publishing without learning any codes. Designers can easily create tablet apps for the Apple iPad, such as brochures, portfolios, annual reports, and more. You can find out more about Digital Publishing Suite Single Edition here.

If you are venturing into web design or need to seek faster ways to deliver interactive and animated web content, the new set of Adobe Edge Tools and Services is your answer. You can now use all of the Edge Tools & Services to design and develop for modern browsers and mobile devices–including Edge Animate, Edge Inspect (formerly called Shadow), Edge Web Fonts, PhoneGap Build, Typekit and a preview of Edge Code. By the end of the year we will also add a preview of Edge Reflow.

Adobe Edge Tools and Services are also part of the Creative Cloud membership. See here for more info.

So check out these new tools and let us know what you think. You can also find out more about the Creative Cloud membership by visiting here.

Happy fall.

Highlights from Storify

You can also pre-order & get the special monthly rate for $29.99 if you’re a CS3 or later user.

Here are a list of resources for your easy reference.

Creative Cloud news release

Creative Suite 6 news release

April 23 launch event video

Creative Cloud & CS6 feature tour

If you’d like to learn more about Creative Cloud and Creative Suite 6, or to pre-order your membership or copy, please visit our web site.

Adobe Creative Cloud will be everything designers need, everywhere they work — starting at US$49.99 per month.

The vision for Adobe Creative Cloud is to turn previously difficult, disparate workflows into one intuitive, natural experience so our customers can create freely and deliver ideas on any desktop, tablet, or handheld device.

Paul Trani answers some frequently asked questions about the Creative Cloud Membership in the latest video blog post from Creative Layer!

Sign up to try parts of Adobe Creative Cloud today or register to be notified when membership becomes available.

Photoshop CS6 beta was first unveiled last Thursday March 22. Already more than half a million users worldwide downloaded the beta from Adobe Labs.

Users have been extremely enthusiastic about the beta so far. Here’s what they say.

Still wondering if Photoshop CS6 is for you? See these new features and decide.