Applying to the Adobe Creative Residency.
If you're interested in becoming a resident, you'll find timelines, steps, tips, sample applications, and everything else you need to know right here.
Application calendar.
November 2
2019
Applications open.
January 15
2020
Applications close.
April
2020
Applicants notified of application status.
May
2020
2020-21 Creative Residents announced.
Residency benefits.
Full salary and health benefits.
Residents are given health insurance and paid a full salary commensurate with their experience and geographical location. Adobe also covers each resident’s travel and project costs during the residency.
A full year of creativity.
Residents spend their year building their portfolios, speaking at conferences, teaching workshops, mentoring other aspiring creative professionals, and sharing their knowledge with the community.
Full support from Adobe.
Residents get unlimited access to Adobe Creative Cloud software and services, support from Adobe product teams, and expert guidance to help them learn new skills and workflows.
Networking and mentorship.
Residents have the opportunity to be mentored by a professional in their field and attend various networking events, including Adobe MAX.
Exposure and recognition.
Residents get opportunities to reach out to new audiences in the creative community through speaking, teaching, streaming, and event-hosting engagements.
Want to apply?
Carefully review the three steps below to be sure the program is right for you.
Career experience.
We’re looking for applicants who are at the beginning of their creative careers, though we do consider applicants who are switching from one creative field to another or from non-design careers. Applicants should have at least a few years of education, training, and/or experience in the field of their proposed projects.
Travel requirements.
Residents travel up to 25% of the year for Creative Jams, Adobe MAX, and other conferences. They work with the program coordinator to determine which trips are most beneficial for their projects, and travel is spread out over the year.
Full-time commitment.
If, during the residency year (May-April), you’d be working another job, taking a long vacation, or fulfilling any other commitment that would prevent you from investing yourself full-time in the residency, you are not eligible to be a resident. If you’re a graduating student, you’re eligible only if your tests and coursework are complete by the end of May.
Work ownership and licensing.
Residents retain ownership of all the work they create during the residency, but they grant Adobe a license to use that work in promotional materials, at events, and in other venues. Adobe partners with residents to ensure the integrity of their work wherever it’s used.
Want to see if you qualify?
Not ready to apply yet?
Overqualified?
Prepare your application.
In the application, we ask for a project proposal. This is a project that helps you get from where you are now to the field you want to work in full-time after the residency. We’ll be looking at your project proposal alongside your past work samples to determine whether they’re a good match for the program. Run through this checklist before and after you build your deck to make sure you’re crafting your best application.
Take your time and think your project through.
While your project may change and evolve during the residency, we want to see that you can flesh out an idea, make a plan, and execute on a project you’re passionate about.
Make the proposal visually interesting.
Including visuals makes it easier for us to identify your style, strengths, and visual communication skills.
Highlight your individual strengths.
Why are you the right person for this project? When developing your application, think about what makes you unique and how you challenge the status quo within the creative
Think about how you can change creatives’ perspectives.
When developing your project idea, think about how you’ll inspire creatives in your field and help them grow—in terms of process, technique, audience, or knowledge.
Consider how your project will appeal to people outside of your field.
Make sure your project has wide enough appeal that people who aren’t creative professionals can understand your work, too.
Be sure you’re introducing yourself well.
It’s important to remember that, while you might be aware of your skill set and ambitions, the person reviewing your project doesn’t know anything about you. Are you thoroughly outlining every detail in your project? Are you providing enough insight on how to bring your proposed ideas to life?
Show or explain how your project will challenge you.
You want to create a proposal that you have the capacity to fulfill, but it should also be ambitious. Make sure it’s a stretch goal that pushes you outside your comfort zone while building on your existing know-how and skill set.
Develop an elevator pitch.
Have a solid 30-second explanation of what your project is about. We want to see that you have the ability to articulate projects in clear, understandable, and relatable language.
Let yourself dream big.
If you’re still on the fence, give yourself one to three hours of prioritized dreaming. Dream of what you could produce creatively within a year if resources and time were not an issue.
Articulate how the residency will be the start of the next stage in your career.
This program is for people who are ready to invest wholeheartedly in pushing their creative career to the next level.
Application tips from past residents.
Sample applications.
Tyler Babin
Videographer
Aaron Bernstein
Photographer
Aiko Fukuda
Illustrator
Cyn Lagos
Photographer/Designer
More helpful links.
Adobe Blog
Create Magazine
Insider Tips on Applying to the Adobe Creative Residency Program
