Create Now San Diego Design Week
This event has passed.
Thank you to those who joined us. Below, you’ll find resources shared during the event, and we look forward to seeing you the next time we are in town!
Adobe Creative Apprenticeship
The Adobe Creative Apprenticeship connects aspiring creatives with top industry workplaces for real-world experience. Find out how you can get involved, whether you’re starting out or looking to give back.
Adobe Insiders
The Adobe Insiders Community is where passionate creators shape the future of Adobe products by sharing feedback, sparking ideas, and building together. Join our community to engage directly with our product teams and share your ideas.
Adobe Live
Want to learn more about Adobe’s tools? Check out live-streamed and on-demand content from professional artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, motion designers, and other creatives.
Design Create Now Resource Page
Attached you'll find most of the products and features mentioned at Design Create Now. It does not cover features in the Photography or Video category.
Agenda
6:00 PM
Get Settled
Welcome to Create Now—an evening of inspirational talks, interactive activations, and laid-back networking with the local creative community. Check in with our team, grab a drink and a bite, and get to know your fellow creatives.
7:00 PM
Get Inspired
Hear from our Adobe speaker and talented local creatives as they share tools, workflows, and real-world inspiration designed to level up your creative game.
8:00 PM
Get Connected
Connect with fellow creatives and chat with our speakers. It’s the perfect time to swap ideas, ask questions, and meet new friends and collaborators.
9:00 PM
Event Ends
You’ll head home with fresh inspiration, new connections, and some sweet swag!
VENUE
The Lane
900 Bayfront Ct Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Presenters
Sr. Design Evangelist, Next Gen & Creative Pro @ Adobe
Michael Fugoso
With an impressive background as an illustrator and designer, Michael's experience spans renowned aerospace companies such as NASA, Boeing, Blue Origin, Ariane Group, as well as prominent organizations like Oracle, IBM, Salesforce, Volvo, and Adobe. His diverse talents have been showcased through presentations at design conferences like Adobe MAX, teaching Skillshare classes, and live-streaming his creative process online. Michael is now working with the creative community full-time, as an Adobe Evangelist for the next generation of creative professionals.
Guest Speakers
Local Creator Showcase
Itzel Islas
Itzel Islas is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator from Tijuana, now based in San Diego. Inspired by her border-town upbringing, vibrant color palettes, and playful elements of everyday life, she creates illustrations and designs that celebrate culture, community, and joy. Through her brand YAY Itzel, she focuses on creating a positive bicultural impact and encouraging others to pursue creative careers.
Local Creator Showcase
Gabriela Cardona Walther
Gabriela Cardona Walther is a Mexican artist and filmmaker, co-founder of Hausu Media. Her work moves fluidly between analog photography, digital, AI, and mixed media.
Recent recognition includes the HKUST AI Film Festival 2026 (Best AI Film Award), Busan International AI Film Festival 2025, Budapest Smart Fest 2025, and the San Diego Latino Film Festival 2025 (Best Frontera Short Film). Beyond her film work, she collaborates as an Adobe Firefly Ambassador and creative educator.
Host
Sr. Community Events Manager
Meghan Arnold
Meghan works at the intersection of marketing, design, and technology with a focus on building and nurturing communities. In over 10 years at Adobe, she's connected with thousands of creatives through hundreds of events, placed design speakers at everything from small meetups to conference stages, developed and executed large-scale installations at Adobe MAX, led internal and external campaigns, and played a key role in the launch of Adobe Fonts.
Events Logistics Coordinator
Madison Laurence
Madison is a detail driven Event Coordinator for Adobe, crafting visions into unforgettable moments that spark connection and enthusiasm. With her eye for detail and passion of creativity, she brings every event to life with purpose and personality. Madison is dedicated to creating a smooth and engaging event.
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