Organized by the Adobe Creative Cloud team, the two-part experience allows local designers to compete against one another while attendees listen to talks and presentations from Miami-based creative professionals. Topics range from personal experiences to how to get your own artistic juices flowing.
Founded in Paris in 2013 by Adobe senior Creative Cloud evangelist Michael Chaize, Creative Jam has been held 45 times in cities across the nation, including Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego, and Albuquerque. This will be Miami's second event.
“I wanted to create a space for designers to meet and work together," Chaize says, "but Creative Jam is also an open stage for local talents to share their creative process. It’s an event for creative people, designed by creative people.”
Adding to Chaize's sentiments, Megan Kirkwood, senior program manager of Adobe Systems, says, "Creativity is part of the DNA of the Miami Design District. We thought this was the ideal place to host Miami’s top design talent.”
Jessy Nite, a Miami artist who specializes in custom lettering, illustrations, installations, and street art, is one of three event speakers. She says she's really excited to be involved with an Adobe event because she, along with most artists, is very familiar with its products.
"Adobe is a part of our daily life," she says. "Most artists use these products in some capacity."
Nite says she plans to talk about how anyone can incorporate the program into their creativity. "I want to show [guests] how I use the computer and Adobe products as a tool in my process," she says, "just like I'd use a brush or a ruler. It's a great thing to use during the planning stages of a project."
Though Nite's panel is directed at those in or looking to break into the industry, she hopes to inspire people in all disciplines, regardless of their involvement in the art world. "This is really about giving people an insight into the process and inspiration to make something on their own," she says, "even if it's just something you put around the house. I want to encourage people to find more ways to be creative."
Rony Tako, founder and editor of Doodlers Anonymous, and Andrew A. Antonaccio, founder of 2Alas, are scheduled to speak alongside Nite. While the three share their personal creative processes and insider tips, 19 local designers will be busy creating a visual or motion design concept based on a theme revealed at the event.
The designers will showcase their work, and a panel of ten judges will select a winner. Among the judges is Raymond Adrian, senior visual designer at Pérez Art Museum Miami, who says he's excited to see how creative the designers will get.
"I'm a big fan of a sense of urgency," the designer says. "I think when there's a sense of urgency, you produce better and more honestly. When you do something on the fly, you get that pure essence and rawness in a piece."
As a judge, Adrian says, he'll look for "randomness" in the designers' work. "You can sort of tell if it is totally random or if it's based off of something they had in the back of their head for a while. I really want to see work made for the theme and not based off of a fad or a trend."
The grand-prize winner will receive a trophy, a free year of Creative Cloud, and, of course, bragging rights. Audience members can vote on each submission and select the people's choice winner too.
Adrian encourages city locals and Miami's creative community to support the event. "Even if you’re not a designer," he says, "you'll see how to attack a goal and finalize it. It's similar to figuring out your own little daily problems and coming up with creative ways to solve them."
Creative Jam
Wednesday, March 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Moore Building (3481 NW Second Ave., Miami). Admission is free. For more information and to RSVP, visit nvite.com. To view work from previous Creative Jams, visit behance.net.
The designers will showcase their work, and a panel of ten judges will select a winner. Among the judges is Raymond Adrian, senior visual designer at Pérez Art Museum Miami, who says he's excited to see how creative the designers will get.
"I'm a big fan of a sense of urgency," the designer says. "I think when there's a sense of urgency, you produce better and more honestly. When you do something on the fly, you get that pure essence and rawness in a piece."
As a judge, Adrian says, he'll look for "randomness" in the designers' work. "You can sort of tell if it is totally random or if it's based off of something they had in the back of their head for a while. I really want to see work made for the theme and not based off of a fad or a trend."
The grand-prize winner will receive a trophy, a free year of Creative Cloud, and, of course, bragging rights. Audience members can vote on each submission and select the people's choice winner too.
Adrian encourages city locals and Miami's creative community to support the event. "Even if you’re not a designer," he says, "you'll see how to attack a goal and finalize it. It's similar to figuring out your own little daily problems and coming up with creative ways to solve them."
Creative Jam
Wednesday, March 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Moore Building (3481 NW Second Ave., Miami). Admission is free. For more information and to RSVP, visit nvite.com. To view work from previous Creative Jams, visit behance.net.
