Creative Café Milwaukee
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Pop by any time to get career advice from industry experts, get a professional headshot, discover the latest Adobe technology, or work on a personal project

Principal Dir., Creative 3D Evangelist & Community Advocate
Wes is an artist who skillfully balances technical knowledge with artistic creativity. As a Creative 3D Evangelist & Community Advocate at Adobe, he is widely recognized as an expert teacher, sharing tutorials and tips through his YouTube and social media channels. Wes has also authored several books, including The PBR Guide: A Handbook for Physically Based Rendering, Real World Modo, and Creating 3D Game Art for the iPhone with Unity.

Art Director, Editor and Content Creator
Karen Ruud is an Art Director, Editor and Content Creator with over 30 years’ of mostly self-taught experience in the industry. She started in the early days of Photoshop when computers were just becoming a thing in the print industry, designing simple work for screen-printed Harley-Davidson t-shirts, and at Parker Pen, designing imprints for pens. She has a background in primarily print design, working for established entertainment magazines for the past 20 years, most notably, ReMIND Magazine, a nostalgia publication where she was an Art Director before moving on to be Director of Content Design with roles in editing and writing for the freshly launched website two years ago. She also runs her own freelance company specializing in poster design for local music events, logos and more. Karen is also extremely knowledgeable about color correction and retouching.

Freelance and owner of Aly Miller Designs
Aly Miller is a full-time freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Milwaukee, WI. She enjoys making food and beverage illustrations, soulfully-illustrated maps, and illustrations for books and brands, as well as her own line of textiles, hats and prints that can be found in local shops. She spent a decade growing her illustration skills and establishing her career in Brooklyn, New York, and returned to Milwaukee in 2022. Aly's work can be seen in Start Here, by chef Sohla El-Waylly, Madame Fromage's Adventures in Cheese, the Wall Street Journal, and the Milwaukee Magazine.

Visual & Conceptual Artist
Nehemiah R. Edwards, also known as Nemo, is a visual and conceptual artist based in Milwaukee, WI. Having studied electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Nehemiah is self-taught in painting and digital art.
Outside of his fine art practice, Nehemiah commits to using art as a tool for connection and empowerment, actively engaging in community-based projects and workshops that inspire creativity and self-exploration. With collaborative partners such as John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC), Aurora Health Care, Goodwill, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, UW-Madison, Carroll University, Radio Milwaukee, plus many others, his ultimate goal is to educate and assist others in knowing what it means to experience true Love and to find inner peace—despite one's circumstances.

Visual artist
Billie Carter-Rankin is a visual artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose work explores themes of temporality and loss within personal and collective memory. Her work has been featured in TIME Magazine, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian US, and more. Her commissions have been featured on The New York Times Best Illustrations list for 2022 and 2023, as well as The Guardian US’s Best Illustration list in 2022. She graduated with a MFA in Photography from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2020, and her BA in Media, Journalism, and Film from Howard University in 2018.

Graphic Designer at Pabst Theater Group
I'm Gracie, a Milwaukee-based graphic designer with a BA in Advertising and a minor in Graphic Design from Marquette University and MIAD. I specialize in print, branding, editorial, merch, and digital design, blending strategic thinking with bold visuals. From local brewery collabs to promoting independent live venues and local bands, I’ve led impactful design across digital and physical platforms. Whether I’m building bold brand identities or designing visuals that hit hard, I bring sharp instincts, fresh ideas, and real passion to the table. Let’s team up and make something that actually stands out.

Graphic Designer, Product Owner; Freelance
Jo Amos is a versatile designer and creative problem solver with experience across print, digital, signage, product ownership, and hands-on making. She’s led Agile teams, run her own business, exhibited at Milwaukee Maker Faire, and designed everything from costumes to client-ready campaigns. With a background that bridges design, strategy, and production, Jo loves helping early-career creatives find clarity, confidence, and the next step forward.

Production Designer, Marcus Theatres
Adam Zinger is a Designer at Marcus Theatres, where he creates high-impact marketing materials supporting promotions, campaigns, and branding across more than 80 theater locations. He previously ran a pet portrait business, where he designed, marketed, and produced custom digital art. Adam has also delivered creative solutions for healthcare, nonprofit, and agency clients, ranging from brand refreshes to 360 campaign rollouts. He is known for fast, Photoshop-driven work, efficient workflows, and strong brand-focused storytelling.

Founder / Creative Director at THE RALLY COMPANY
Jeff is the Co-Founder and Creative Director at the Rally Company- specializing in branding, packaging and holistic marketing for clients local, national and global. He designs and executes integrated campaigns across all media. With 17 years of experience, he approaches all projects, big or small, with the same mindset—create something unique, approachable and memorable. His work has been awarded on the local and national level for creative excellence.

Children's Book Illustrator & Lettering Artist, Studio.Pancz
Shauna Lynn is a lettering artist and children’s book illustrator based between Chicago and Milwaukee. Known for her whimsical, story-rich work, she has collaborated with Adobe, Facebook, Twitter, and Simon & Schuster, with books published by Penguin Workshop and Simon & Schuster, among others. A passionate educator and creator, she has spoken at Adobe MAX, Creative South, and other industry events, and led hands-on workshops for Adobe, Facebook, and more. She loves creating resources for fellow illustrators, building custom brushes and portfolio mockups. Outside the studio, she’s often ice skating, coaching Learn to Skate, sipping chai lattes, gaming, or snuggling her pup, Teddy Bear.

