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<h1 id="the-purpose-and-value-of-cultural-rehabilitation-of-buildings-and-neighborhoods-through-art">The purpose and value of cultural rehabilitation of buildings and neighborhoods through art</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_11fa941501de1cb86deceda948bd5003c674b3ec0.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_11fa941501de1cb86deceda948bd5003c674b3ec0.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Gamcheon Culture Village scene located in Busan city of South Korea." loading="eager"></picture>
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<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 09-15-2021</p>
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<p>When nationally-known muralist Meg Saligman starts a project, she sees herself as a “vessel with a vision.” From her famous <a href="https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/common-threads/">Common Threads mural</a> in Philadelphia, which juxtaposes high school students with baroque beauties, to Chattanooga’s We Will Not Be Satisfied Until — a colossal community portrait on the side of a high-rise building — Saligman has used <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/fine-art-photography.html">photos</a> and editing apps to turn underutilized buildings into elegant visions of the city.</p>
<p>“I believe in the power of putting everyone in the pathway of beauty,” she said. “Murals can create landmarks and gathering points.”</p>
<p>Murals give life to neighborhood beautification projects, transforming abandoned structures, blighted buildings, and everyday architecture. This public art offers creators, designers and photographers ways to individualize spaces that attract other artists, foot traffic, and economic activity.</p>
<h3 id="examples-of-art-based-cultural-rehab">Examples of art-based cultural rehab</h3>
<p>Some of the most famous mural programs in the country have turned these works into must-see attractions and anchors of cultural transformation. Mural Arts Philadelphia, founded in 1986, has supported community art projects and iconic work, like Saligman’s Common Threads. It has become a catalyst, employing hundreds of artists, attracting designers and artists to the City of Brotherly Love, and serving as a tourist magnet.</p>
<p>In Miami, the <a href="https://thewynwoodwalls.com/">Wynwood Walls</a> graffiti and mural program kickstarted by developer Tony Goldman who saw an opportunity in the flat, windowless facades of warehouses and created a global art phenomenon that has attracted designers, artists, and creative businesses.</p>
<p>Not every program has to reinvent an entire neighborhood. In San Francisco’s Dogpatch, the <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2018/07/20/adobe-and-the-creative-community-a-beautiful-collaboration.html#gs.9sn1is">Minnesota Street Project</a> remade a series of adjoined warehouses into an arts center and gallery, giving muralists a space to work and create in the ever-expensive Bay Area.</p>
<h3 id="as-a-social-touchstone">As a social touchstone</h3>
<p>Murals also serve as important signifiers for a neighborhood, as well as nodes of community interaction and connection. <a href="https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/grants-awards/fresh-paint-days/">Pennsylvania’s Fresh Paint program</a> funds small-scale local murals dedicated to community revitalization, and New York City’s active <a href="https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/harlem/pressrelease/arts-in-medicine-program-selects-artists-to-lead-next-installment-of-community-murals/">Community Mural Project</a>, has enlisted artists to create photographic and graphic art in and around hospitals, promoting wellness and neighborhood connections.</p>
<p>Other initiatives have served as raw and revealing portraits of social issues. In Oakland, father-son artists Mike and John Manente created the “<a href="https://localwiki.org/oakland/People_of_Oakland_Mural">People of Oakland</a>” series — temporary, billboard-style images of the city’s population, including the unhoused — to raise empathy and awareness.</p>
<h3 id="for-beautification">For beautification</h3>
<p>How does art benefit the community? At their most basic level, portrait murals reinvigorate neighborhoods with public “creativity”, boosting moods and civic pride. In Buffalo, New York, a common narrative has played out — a once-thriving industrial hub slowly filled with vacant lots, abandoned homes, and boarded-up businesses. But a series of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-08-12/the-murals-of-buffalo-s-street-art-renaissance">public investments in mural art</a> turned its aging buildings into a vibrant public canvas, which has brought back a swagger and sense of ownership for the town. One mural boldly states, “Keep Buffalo a Secret,” despite it’s growing reputation in the street art world.</p>
<h3 id="to-be-unique">To be unique</h3>
<p>The power of murals comes, in part, from their scale — from building-sized artwork to quirky, nearly hidden gems. Organizations like Artful Streets in <a href="https://www.humanconnectionproject.com/contact">Brattleboro, Vermont</a>, focus on temporary, agile artwork that fills in the gaps in the cityscape, with murals and other work serving as stations for pop-up events. In Austin, this year’s <a href="https://www.raasininthesun.org/be-well">Be Well project</a>, which placed uplifting work in the gaps in and around a highway underpass, promoted hope and mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<h3 id="to-educate">To educate</h3>
<p>Cultural heroes and neighborhood history offer a unique lens into urban culture, especially when using <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/documentary-photography.html">documentary photography</a>, and they have been the subjects of some of the nation’s most adored murals. <a href="https://www.sandiego.org/articles/parks-gardens/chicano-park.aspx">San Diego’s Chicano Park</a>, now a National Historic Landmark, offers a walking tour through seven acres of community artwork depicting and celebrating Latin American history, Mesoamerican influences, and mythology.</p>
<p>The same can be said of smaller projects across the country, from the <a href="https://www.resilience.org/stories/2021-08-24/tribes-get-creative-in-teaching-tradition-and-community/">Red Can graffiti jam</a> in the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation to Colorado Springs’s <a href="https://www.visitcos.com/events-calendar/conejos-mural-project-community-paint-days">Conejos Mural</a>, a combination art and storytelling project where the impact of arts on communities comes in the form of historical preservation. Other mural projects focus on climate change and the need for action — some even use <a href="https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/cities-use-art-to-combat-extreme-urban-heat/605405/">heat-reducing paint</a> to help combat the urban heat island effect.</p>
<h3 id="as-a-creative-outlet">As a creative outlet</h3>
<p>Artwork reflecting communities often works best when it is partially created by the neighborhood as well. <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/705023">Studies show</a> they reinforce community identity and can even collectively solve social problems. Large-scale community art days typically enlist professional artists to design and prepare murals, with residents helping finish in paint-by-number fashion. Wilmington, Delaware’s <a href="https://www.creativedistrictwilm.com/city-wide-mural-projects">citywide mural project</a> engaged locals to finish three murals across the city.</p>
<p>Besides creativity and collaboration, artists recommend a handful of tools for creating photo-based mural projects, in addition to standard painting materials and tools:</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html">Adobe Lightroom</a>, a tool to organize, edit, and crop photos, the raw materials of any larger mural project</p>
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<p>Projectors for transferring images from the laptop to the wall — highly rated brands include LG, BenQ, Vankyo</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.adobe.com/photoshop/online/photo-editing.html">Photoshop</a>, which Saligman uses to organize her images into a larger collage, often using different <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photo-effects.html">photo effects</a> and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop-brushes.html">brushes</a> when juxtaposing different subjects, such as <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/architecture-photography.html">architecture</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/funding-resources">American for the Arts</a> offers funding resources and art inspiration, one of many <a href="https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/complete-guide-to-2021-artist-grants-opportunities">online sources for grant opportunities</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/illustration.html">Creative Cloud</a> provides <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/illustration.html">digital painting tools</a> for designing your final mural</p>
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<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/photoshop.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/photoshop.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="to-create-jobs">To create jobs</h3>
<p>An important impact of arts on communities is employment for local creators. <a href="https://www.artworkscincinnati.org/about-us/">ArtWorks Cincinnati</a> has funded the work of young local creatives for 25 years, offering jobs and apprenticeships to 14-21-year-olds. Thus far the nonprofit has funded the creation of more than 200 permanent outdoor murals and 14,000 art projects. Recruiting local talent has paid dividends for other cities as well: Rockford, Illinois’s <a href="https://www.gorockford.com/cre8iv/">Cre8iv</a>used locals to beautify downtown — Syracuse, New York found that <a href="https://www.artworkscincinnati.org/about-us/">directing relief money towards murals</a> was a smart way to encourage economic recovery.</p>
<h3 id="to-reduce-waste">To reduce waste</h3>
<p>In Ajo, Arizona, a former mining town searching for opportunity used mural art as its calling card for change. The city’s formerly overlooked network of alleys ended up being perfect canvases for creative placemaking, and now the small desert town, lined with public art, has become a travel destination. Just ask those who live in the building with Saligman’s Common Threads on the side — the unused educational facility is now an upscale loft building, encouraging potential tenants to “live in a landmark.”</p>
<h3 id="to-drive-creativity-for-all">To drive Creativity for All</h3>
<p>What unites all of these different types of mural programs is the alchemy of art: where creators unleash their imagination using photos and paint to transform communities, to build a better neighborhood, and a better world. Creativity is not exclusive or a special gift endowed only upon a lucky few. It belongs to everyone — it’s everywhere, and ultimately it connects us all.</p>
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<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
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<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2017/07/07/from-the-street-to-the-screen-street-arts-influence-on-digital-design.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2017/07/07/from-the-street-to-the-screen-street-arts-influence-on-digital-design.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/25/visual-collaboration-mural-creative-cloud-libraries.html#gs.9ykx83">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/25/visual-collaboration-mural-creative-cloud-libraries.html#gs.9ykx83</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2018/09/28/iamsloth-talks-process-making-with-craft-and-his-adobe-max-mural.html#gs.9ykyjo">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2018/09/28/iamsloth-talks-process-making-with-craft-and-his-adobe-max-mural.html#gs.9ykyjo</a></li>
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<p>Topics: Creativity, Creative Inspiration &amp; Trends, Photography, Community, SEO Features, Creative Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Lightroom, Photoshop,</p>

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Setting your Out-Of-Office for Adobe MAX





By Adobe Events Team
Posted on 09-15-2021


Adobe MAX is right around the corner, and this year we’re teaming up with Cameo, the leading marketplace connecting fans and brands directly with tens of...

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<h1 id="the-cookieless-conundrum-the-future-of-retail-in-a-cookie-free-world">The Cookieless Conundrum: The Future of Retail in a Cookie-Free World</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_10bf9ea1b917ae1e2294fcecccdd7e54c9e519042.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_10bf9ea1b917ae1e2294fcecccdd7e54c9e519042.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="The Cookieless Conundrum" loading="eager"></picture>
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<p>by Steve Allison</p>
<p>posted on 09-15-2021</p>
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<p>While the steady march toward the abandonment of third-party cookies presents challenges for digital marketers, it’s also an opportunity to embark on a data revolution, a chance to redefine the modern relationship between customer and brand – one built on trust and respect.</p>
<p>In retail, the impact will perhaps be felt more keenly than any other industry. After all, retail marketing is all about creating experiences with customers, not just advertising to them.&nbsp;Trust is a fundamental part of this, with consumers more privacy-aware than ever before when they shop – yet they still crave personalised experiences that speak to their unique needs and wants.</p>
<h3 id="the-dawn-of-a-new-digital-experience-age">The dawn of a new digital experience age</h3>
<p>With third-party cookies on their way out, there’s no doubt the way retail brands collect data, build audiences, and deliver experiences is changing. In fact, according to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/uk/offer/digital-trends-2021.html">Adobe’s Digital Trends</a>, six in ten senior executives say that adapting to the requirements of the cookieless future will have a ‘disruptive effect’ on their marketing.</p>
<p>But disruption doesn’t have to be a bad thing. After all, the fundamentals of retail marketing will remain the same: using quality data to better understand, get closer to, and build trusting relationships with customers.</p>
<p>And, let’s be honest, third-party cookies were never perfect. Most marketers will recall conversations about low match rates (critical to delivering omnichannel experiences) and the open nature of third-party cookies, meaning everyone had access to the same level and quality of data. Retail brands had visibility over third-party data, yes, but never a full understanding of their customers.</p>
<p>The result of third-party cookies becoming defunct is an opportunity for brands to shift their marketing strategies away from quantity and toward quality, where customer data profiles are infinitely more accurate, powered by consent-based first-party data. With this higher-quality data comes the ability to create more powerful experiences to match consumers’ higher expectations.</p>
<p>So, what exactly is going the change in the retail marketing world? Savvy marketers aren’t waiting until third-party cookies have completely vanished to start testing and implementing new practices. Apple’s move towards making explicit consent a requirement – coupled with automatic deletion of cookies –means marketers and advertisers are already operating with less data. But, instead of focusing on the negatives, marketers have an opportunity to find ways to better use the data they have and earn more first-party data directly from their customers. Here’s how:</p>
<h2 id="how-retail-can-stay-ahead-of-the-cookieless-curve">How retail can stay ahead of the cookieless curve</h2>
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<li><strong>New technologies to support first-party strategies:</strong> Many modern technologies rely on third-party cookies to fuel a range of marketing activities, New platforms are emerging that shine the spotlight squarely on first-party data as the new lifeblood of a brand’s customer experience approach. Investing in a first-party data strategy is the only way for companies to get a more complete view of the consumer and create a lasting connection built on trust. The emergence of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) – such as <a href="https://business.adobe.com/uk/products/experience-platform/adobe-experience-platform.html">Adobe’s Real-time CDP</a> (built on Adobe Experience Platform) –presents a unified hub that allows brands to not only house data, but also enables marketers and others across the business to better understand and take action on it.</li>
<li><strong>Real time or bust to ensure value exchange:</strong> In retail, some forms of personalisation needs to happen almost instantly. A modern CDP empowers marketers to update customer profiles in real time, responding to market shifts and customer behaviours with lightning speed. Real-time first-party data allows the customer to stay in control of their data, while harnessing the retailers’ expert tools to provide the best possible experience.</li>
<li><strong>Machine learning to power personalisation for known and unknown visitors:</strong> Prior to their demise, third-party cookies were the primary means of understanding and targeting unknown visitors to a brand’s website. Today, machine learning is taking centre stage when it comes to engaging anonymous visitors with timely and personalised content and experiences. Machine learning allows brands to identify common patterns and unknown visitor journeys, identifying the right moment to inquire about registration and consent, accelerating their transformation from anonymous visitor into known customer by delivering the right experience at the right time.</li>
<li><strong>Data-collaboration partnerships to reach new audiences:</strong> This allows retailers to expand their own first-party data library by combining it with partners in a privacy-aware way, resulting in better insights and higher levels of personalisation. When customers give their consent, partners can exchange non-sensitive data to build more complete pictures of a customer’s behaviour and preferences, and tap into new audiences.</li>
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<h2 id="filling-the-cookie-shaped-gap">Filling the cookie-shaped gap</h2>
<p>The cookieless future will prompt a true attitudinal shift in the retail sector. Where before, retailers used third-party data to target campaigns at a specific point in time, the first-party future will see brands adopt a lifetime value view of their customers, based on a respectful, two-way relationship where both parties benefit.</p>
<p>After all, depending on the context, personalisation can come in a number of shapes and sizes – from content delivery to offline experiences – at both the known and unknown customer levels. Cookieless represents an opportunity to redress the imbalance of power between retail businesses and consumers, an opportunity to build trust where missteps may have been made in the past, and a chance to rewrite the customer experience, putting the customer in charge of the information they share, without compromising their modern retail experience.</p>
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<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/12/the-shift-to-cookieless-will-change-marketing-forever-5-reasons-to-get-there-ahead-of-the-competition.html#gs.bdvh73">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/12/the-shift-to-cookieless-will-change-marketing-forever-5-reasons-to-get-there-ahead-of-the-competition.html#gs.bdvh73</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/five-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-for-a-cookieless-future.html#gs.bdvi7p">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/five-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-for-a-cookieless-future.html#gs.bdvi7p</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/3-marketing-predictions-for-a-cookieless-world.html#gs.bdviox">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/3-marketing-predictions-for-a-cookieless-world.html#gs.bdviox</a></li>
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<p>Topics: Digital Transformation, News, Experience Cloud, Cookieless, UK</p>
<p>Products: Experience Cloud,</p>
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<h1 id="adobe-digital-economy-index-ecommerce-hits-new-milestone--online-prices-continue-to-rise">Adobe Digital Economy Index: eCommerce hits new milestone — Online prices continue to rise</h1>
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<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_17762609a2c8a90a31fd752716b12784433a3b52c.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_17762609a2c8a90a31fd752716b12784433a3b52c.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Shopping cart against blue backgroud. " loading="eager"></picture></p>
<p><em>Image source: Adobe Stock / jan_S.</em></p>
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<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 09-15-2021</p>
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<p>The COVID-19 pandemic created a seismic shift in eCommerce, as consumers spent months avoiding physical stores and going online to buy everything from groceries to fitness equipment. By the end of 2020, the final tally came in at $844 billion, a staggering 42 percent more than consumers had spent online in the year prior.</p>
<p>In 2021, many are keen to understand where the new bar for eCommerce has landed — consumers got comfortable ordering everyday staples online, and many will continue to do so. At the same time, categories like furniture and sporting goods, traditionally shopped in-person, became more digital. And as the eCommerce share of overall retail expanded, higher prices were also observed, driven by demand and pressure on supply chains</p>
<p>Adobe is issuing new data today in advance of the holiday season. Through its <a href="https://business.adobe.com/resources/digital-economy-index.html">Digital Economy Index</a>, Adobe has the only real-time barometer of eCommerce, analyzing over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites and over 100 million product SKUs in 18 categories.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/2020-digital-economy-index.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/2020-digital-economy-index.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="2021-so-far">2021 so far</h3>
<p>Consumers have spent $541 billion online from January 2021 to August 2021 (8 months), 9 percent more than the comparable period last year and 58 percent more than 2019 — Considering that many were unable to leave their homes in 2020, the year-over-year (YoY) growth highlights the staying power of habits formed during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Retailers are also getting more people to hit ‘buy’ and not abandon their shopping carts: Conversion (percent of visitors who make a purchase) is now 4.1 percent on desktop (up 1 percent) and 1.9 percent on smartphones (up 3.7 percent) in the first eight months of 2021. Shoppers are making larger purchases as well, with average order values seeing a 13 percent increase at $169. And with mobile, despite people spending more time at home, smartphone share-of-revenue is at 41 percent (up 8 percent YoY) while share-of-visits is at 59 percent (up 2 percent YoY) from January to August.</p>
<p>The improvement in these figures is a signal that online shopping experiences have become more refined during the pandemic, becoming stickier for consumers. Adobe is forecasting a major milestone, that even before the big holiday season begins on November 1, consumers will have spent more online than they did in all of 2019 — a year that had netted $575 billion in online spend.</p>
<h3 id="rising-prices">Rising prices</h3>
<p>Online growth has meant that eCommerce is now approaching roughly $1 of every $5 spent by consumers (up from $1 of every $6 spent in 2017). As online shopping becomes more ubiquitous, the convenience is also coming at a cost. Prices across the 18 categories tracked by Adobe have been rising for the first time in the history of eCommerce. And while supply chain disruptions have contributed, surging (and durable) consumer demand can create less discounting as retailers look to preserve margin.</p>
<p>For the month of August 2021, online prices are up 3.1 percent YoY and up 0.1 percent month-over-month (MoM). In the month prior (July 2021), online prices were up 3.1 percent YoY and down 0.7 percent MoM. This is the 15th consecutive month where online prices have risen on an annual basis. Consider that as a historical benchmark, from 2015 to 2019, online prices fell 3.9 percent on average each year.</p>
<p>In the 18 categories tracked by the Adobe Digital Economy Index, all but one (books) saw higher prices in August 2021 when compared to a pre-pandemic period (2015-2019 average). Notably, apparel prices have been elevated in both July (up 15.3 percent) and August (up 15.5 percent). This category is cyclical in nature, with predictable peaks and troughs. And historically, July and August see the greatest price drops, with heavy promotions for the back-to-school season and mark downs of summer items. Online prices for apparel have even begun to outpace the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in recent months, which captures offline prices.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_164df9dc1714ab03289b02d1cb5507436ee0c6ac3.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_164df9dc1714ab03289b02d1cb5507436ee0c6ac3.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Graph showing different categories and thier price changes throughou" loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<p><strong>Medical equipment and supplies</strong>, which typically saw prices fall 1.1 percent on average before the pandemic, rose by 3.2 percent in August 2021. It is another category that is outpacing the CPI and is driven in part by the recent COVID-19 Delta variant surge. Mask sales online for instance, which had been in decline since May 2021, jumped 24 percent in the last week of July 2021 (7/21-7/27). Sales were then up 51 percent in the week after (7/28-8/3) and up 40 percent in the week after that (8/4-8/10).</p>
<p><strong>Furniture and bedding</strong>, which typically saw prices fall 2.58 percent on average before the pandemic, rose by a higher amount (2.60 percent) in August 2021. This is a category where historically, much of the shopping happened inside of a store. Consumers are now becoming more comfortable ordering furniture online, with higher sticker prices that make a significant contribution to eCommerce’s growing share of retail. This also makes a 2.6 percent price increase even more notable. Appliances are seeing a similar trajectory, with prices up 2 percent in August compared to a pre-pandemic period where prices typically fell 2.7 percent.</p>
<p>“In addition to notable categories such as apparel and home furnishings, consumers continue to see prices rise online for everyday goods such as groceries, pet products, and personal care,” says Vivek Pandya, lead analyst, Adobe Digital Insights. “As we hit this upcoming milestone for eCommerce, where all of 2019 spend will be observed before the holiday season, we are entering new territory where the dynamics of the online world has greater implications for consumers, policymakers, and business leaders. Categories that once had a minor presence in eCommerce are now becoming staples, with unprecedented pricing trends that no longer hold down overall inflation.”</p>
<p><strong>Methodology</strong>: <em>The Adobe Digital Economy Index offers the most comprehensive set of insights of its kind, based on analysis through <a href="https://www.adobe.com/analytics/adobe-analytics.html">Adobe Analytics</a> that covers over one trillion visits to U.S. retail sites and over 100 million SKUs — more than any other technology company. Analysis is significantly more in-depth and accurate compared to survey-based reports, because only Adobe has access to this volume of real-time, transactional consumer data. It is aggregated and anonymized, to provide insights on consumer spending, online prices and 18 product categories.</em></p>
<p><em>To measure online inflation, the Adobe Digital Economy Index uses the Fisher Price Index to track prices in the world of eCommerce. The Fisher Ideal Price Index uses quantities of matched products purchased in the current period (month) and a previous period (previous month) to calculate the price changes by category. Adobe’s analysis is weighted by the real quantities of the products purchased in the two adjacent months. Adobe uses a combination of Machine Learning and manual effort to categorize the products into the categories defined by the CPI manual. The methodology was first developed alongside Austan Goolsbee and Pete Klenow.</em></p>
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<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/30/adobe-digital-economy-index-covid-19-delta-variant-derails-airline-recovery.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/30/adobe-digital-economy-index-covid-19-delta-variant-derails-airline-recovery.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/26/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-continue-to-rise-everyday-staples-getting-more-expensive.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/26/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-continue-to-rise-everyday-staples-getting-more-expensive.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Trends &amp; Research, News, Analytics, Retail, Experience Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Experience Cloud,</p>

</div>
</div>

<div class="embed embed-internal embed-internal-digitalcommerceleadersfaceuncertaintythisholidayseason embed-internal-15">
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<h1 id="digital-commerce-leaders-face-uncertainty-this-holiday-season">Digital commerce leaders face uncertainty this holiday season</h1>
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<div>
<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_18992b75711653586c73197b516418512a4919403.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_18992b75711653586c73197b516418512a4919403.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Colorful shapes of abstract art with a hand reaching towards a button. " loading="eager"></picture>
</div>
<div>
<p>By Taylor Schreiner</p>
<p>Posted on 09-15-2021</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>COVID-19 isn’t done spoiling Fall plans, and now it’s casting a long shadow over the upcoming holiday season. Uncertainty around the course of the pandemic, supply chain interruptions, and shipping costs could all pose significant challenges as retailers ramp up for this year’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond.</p>
<p>But it’s not all bad news. Retailers have weathered this storm before — and learned valuable lessons. Since the pandemic began in 2020, numerous retailers have offered curbside pickup and buy online-pickup in-store (BOPIS) shopping options while expanding their ecommerce offerings. Retailers have also become more agile and have the knowledge and experience to quickly pivot in response to shutdowns and other safety restrictions.</p>
<p>To help retailers prepare for another pandemic-era holiday season and capitalize on what they’ve learned so far, we’ve developed an ecommerce playbook for navigating the most likely logistical disruptions. These recommendations are grounded in findings from Adobe’s Digital Economy Index (DEI), which captures data from more than one trillion website visits across 100 countries.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/2020-digital-economy-index.htmln">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/2020-digital-economy-index.htmln</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="think-strategically-about-shipping-costs">Think strategically about shipping costs</h3>
<p>It’s an unfortunate paradox - shoppers of all kinds love free shipping. But shipping costs are on an upward trajectory, driven by a surge in demand for at-home deliveries. According to Adobe’s DEI report, shipping costs during Cyber week 2020 increased 12 percent YoY, and the percentage of orders shipped for free dropped from 70 percent in 2019 to 64 percent in 2020.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the appeal of free shipping is so great that we encourage retailers to offer it all the time. By carefully managing the margin in your product pricing — and adjusting it as shipping costs change — you can offer free shipping without damaging your bottom line. At the same time, you may also want to encourage shoppers to use curbside pickup and BOPIS instead of getting a delivery at home.</p>
<h3 id="scale-up-in-store-pickup-options">Scale up in-store pickup options</h3>
<p>BOPIS and curbside pickup have emerged as wildly popular customer conveniences, especially in the latter half of the holiday season. According to <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/09/15/adobe-digital-economy-index-ecommerce-hits-new-milestone-online-prices-continue-rise.html#gs.at4lsn">Adobe’s latest DEI report</a>, BOPIS and curbside orders grew 40 percent YoY during the 2020 holiday season peaking on December 23. We recommend retailers scale up their BOPIS and curbside pickup capabilities, both to provide an alternative to costly shipping and to counteract decreased shopping in stores.</p>
<h3 id="provide-full-transparency-into-shipping-and-delivery">Provide full transparency into shipping and delivery</h3>
<p>The past year’s growth in ecommerce has put stress on delivery services and infrastructure. Packages are more likely to be delayed or mis-delivered, which can be a major source of customer frustration. Plus, what were once standard shipping and delivery options may now be subject to change in response to high package volumes as well as severe weather.</p>
<p>Research from Adobe’s DEI suggests that delivery issues will persist throughout the 2021 holidays. First, based on previous year’s trends, holiday-related discounts and promotions are likely to start early, which will inspire early purchases. During the 2020 holiday season, 82 percent of consumers advised that they are most likely to start shopping on or before Black Friday, compared to 77 percent in 2018. This means delivery volumes are likely to rise well before Cyber weekend.</p>
<p>Second, retailers are likely to see a huge volume of online sales clustered around Cyber Monday, which could lead to a higher incidence of delivery snafus. A full 18 percent of holiday spend happens in the five days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday.</p>
<p>To deal with these potential delivery stresses and strains, retailers must give their customers complete visibility into delivery status, ideally in real-time. For example, some retailers provide text messages at key milestones in product shipment or offer instant notifications via a delivery tracking app.</p>
<h3 id="proactively-address-shortages-and-stockouts">Proactively address shortages and stockouts</h3>
<p>The shortages and supply chain issues that began last year remain. Our Adobe DEI data shows that consumers are encountering the “out of stock” message five times as often as they used to before the beginning of the pandemic. And repeatedly hitting the “out of stock” message is one of the most frustrating experiences your customers can have.</p>
<p>While you cannot solve the world’s logistical issues, you can optimize your customer’s journey to minimize the impact of stockouts. One simple option is to make it easy for customers to find alternatives to out-of-stock items on product pages. Also, you’ll need to manage your in-page search results and product recommendations to promote in-stock items and demote out-of-stock items.</p>
<p>According to Ryan Green, a product marketing manager for Adobe Commerce, “It’s critical that your product recommendations and search results do not prominently feature out-of-stock items. If your ecommerce platform is integrated with your inventory database, this can happen automatically. Otherwise, you’ll have to use the admin function to make updates whenever a product is no longer immediately available.”</p>
<h3 id="make-your-shopping-experience-even-more-convenient">Make your shopping experience even more convenient</h3>
<p>With pandemic-related restrictions and logistical hassles making life more difficult, shoppers will be grateful for anything you can do to make their experience easier and more convenient. In fact, for many consumers, convenience is just as important as price and shipping costs. Some important ways you can make your ecommerce site more convenient include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Improve internal search.</strong> Consumers would rather find what they need on the first try than scroll through long lists. This is especially true for mobile users.</li>
<li><strong>Connect your in-store and mobile experiences.</strong> Your customers should be able to use their phones to check on product availability in local stores, let a sales rep know when they’re waiting at the curb for pickup, and find their way in stores. The more tightly integrated mobile is with the rest of your commerce experience, the better.</li>
<li><strong>Speed up checkout.</strong> Once customers have decided to buy, they want to do it as fast as possible. At a minimum, you should allow guest checkout for new customers so they don’t have to set up an account and provide one-click checkout for existing customers. Also, your checkout pages should load quickly and not “freeze up” during transactions.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="get-ready-for-success">Get ready for success</h3>
<p>Pandemic-related logistical disruptions do not have to ruin your company’s holiday season. As we saw last year, ecommerce growth — and great customer experiences — are possible even when supply chains and shipping do not always work perfectly. You can learn more about holiday season trends and ecommerce strategies by downloading the <a href="https://business.adobe.com/resources/reports/adi-holiday-ecommerce-playbook.html">ADI Holiday Ecommerce Playbook</a>.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/15/at-walmart-growth-is-about-more-than-just-the-numbers.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/15/at-walmart-growth-is-about-more-than-just-the-numbers.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/12/adobe-digital-economy-index-cheaper-to-buy-it-online-not-anymore.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/12/adobe-digital-economy-index-cheaper-to-buy-it-online-not-anymore.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Trends &amp; Research, News, B2B, Manufacturing, Retail, Experience Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Experience Cloud,</p>

</div>
</div>

<div class="embed embed-internal embed-internal-bringingachildhoodvisiontolife embed-internal-15">
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<h1 id="bringing-a-childhood-vision-to-life-with-my-cartoon-friend">Bringing a childhood vision to life with My Cartoon Friend</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1e61a7a7297cdc3b362beb47485c7f882712b5ecd.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1e61a7a7297cdc3b362beb47485c7f882712b5ecd.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="My Cartoon Friend. " loading="eager"></picture>
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<div>
<p>By Erica Schisler</p>
<p>Posted on 09-15-2021</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>With the full force of the <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html">Adobe Creative Cloud</a> at his fingertips and an idea sparked by his passion for cartoons, creator, director, animator and actor Lwazi Msipha was able to bring his vision to life in the cartoon series <em>My Cartoon Friend.</em> The series started out on YouTube before Cartoon Network picked it up and premiered it earlier this year. Lwazi shares his inspirations, vision, and tips below.</p>
<h3 id="how-did-you-first-get-into-animation-what-drew-you-to-it">How did you first get into animation? What drew you to it?</h3>
<p>When I was young, all I ever watched were cartoons. I used to enjoy age old classics like Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Lab, and Courage the Cowardly Dog. The happiness I felt when watching these cartoons inspired me to want to create my own.</p>
<h3 id="what-was-the-inspiration-behind-this-project-what-were-you-trying-to-achieve">What was the inspiration behind this project? What were you trying to achieve?</h3>
<p>This project was inspired by my curiosity. I’ve always wondered how it would be like to live with cartoons in the real world. So I had to do it to fulfill my childhood fantasy.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/character-animator.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/character-animator.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="how-did-you-begin-a-projectset-up-your-workflow">How did you begin a project/set up your workflow?</h3>
<p>This was a guerilla project in the sense that I had to do most of the work all from my bedroom. Like every project, it started with the concept, then I wrote all 13 episode scripts, created the characters with Adobe <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html">Photoshop</a>, shot the scenes with a film crew, animated the characters with Adobe <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/character-animator.html">Character Animator</a>, edited the scenes with Adobe <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html">Premiere Pro</a>, added VFX with Adobe <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html">After Effects</a>, and edited the sound with Adobe <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html">Audition</a>.</p>
<div class="block-embed"><div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVp2cVV9_r4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVp2cVV9_r4</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="describe-your-favorite-scene-or-part-from-the-project-how-did-it-come-together-and-how-did-you-achieve-it">Describe your favorite scene or part from the project. How did it come together and how did you achieve it?</h3>
<p>My favorite part is the episode where I rap about how my cartoon friend came to be. I loved it because I was able to infuse my two passions which are music and animation.</p>
<h3 id="what-were-some-specific-challenges-you-faced-in-making-this-how-did-you-go-about-solving-them">What were some specific challenges you faced in making this? How did you go about solving them?</h3>
<p>The challenges I faced were with trying to create a show of this kind with a limited budget and making it look good. Fortunately, I worked with some talented, professional people who understood the vision.</p>
<h3 id="what-adobe-tools-did-you-use-on-this-project-and-why-did-you-choose-them-why-were-they-the-best-choice-for-this-project">What Adobe tools did you use on this project and why did you choose them? Why were they the best choice for this project?</h3>
<p>I used almost every Adobe tool. I used Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Character Animator, and Media Encoder. I love Adobe because of how seamlessly all the tools work together. For example, if I have to change something like a character’s shirt color, it automatically updates across all the programs.</p>
<h3 id="share-your-hidden-gemfavorite-workflow-hack-in-any-of-the-adobe-creative-cloud-tools">Share your hidden gem/favorite workflow hack in any of the Adobe Creative Cloud tools?</h3>
<p>The hack I found useful was, instead of rendering and exporting, I would use Adobe Dynamic Link. That method saves a ton of space and it makes for quick and seamless updating.</p>
<h3 id="who-is-your-creative-inspiration-and-why">Who is your creative inspiration and why?</h3>
<p>Tim Luecke and Stephen Colbert are the creators of Showtime’s <em>Our Cartoon President</em>. I was inspired by them because they were one of the first to use Adobe Character Animator to create a show for major broadcasts. It gave me hope that I could do it too.</p>
<h3 id="whats-the-toughest-thing-youve-had-to-face-in-your-career-and-how-did-you-overcome-it-what-advice-do-you-have-for-people-aspiring-to-get-into-animations">What’s the toughest thing you’ve had to face in your career and how did you overcome it? What advice do you have for people aspiring to get into animations?</h3>
<p>The toughest thing I have had to face was the creative block, the moments where I couldn’t even gather up any inspiration to create. I overcame it by uploading my videos to TikTok, the love I received in the comments motivated me to create more.</p>
<h3 id="share-a-photo-of-where-you-work-whats-your-favorite-thing-about-your-workspace-and-why">Share a photo of where you work. What’s your favorite thing about your workspace and why?</h3>
<p>I work in my bedroom. My favorite thing about my workspace is that I can sleep whenever I get tired. It is very important for us creatives to know when to rest and not overwork ourselves.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_15b008e6ed20c8f057764c40fc93baa3a7218ada0.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_15b008e6ed20c8f057764c40fc93baa3a7218ada0.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Image of Lwazi Msipha in his bedroom office." loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<div class="caption"><div><div><em>Image courtesy of Lwazi Msipha.</em></div></div></div>
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<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/09/02/dishing-up-visually-delicious-animation-for-netflixs-waffles-mochi.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/09/02/dishing-up-visually-delicious-animation-for-netflixs-waffles-mochi.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/06/an-editing-playbook-from-12-mighty-orphans.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/06/an-editing-playbook-from-12-mighty-orphans.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/30/hbo-lupe-shines-light-on-immigrant-transgender-identity.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/30/hbo-lupe-shines-light-on-immigrant-transgender-identity.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Customer Stories, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Creativity, Video &amp; Audio, Media &amp; Entertainment, Creative Cloud, How I Cut This</p>
<p>Products: Creative Cloud, After Effects, Audition, Character Animator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro,</p>

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<h1 id="using-data-for-outcome-focused-creative-team-management">Using data for outcome-focused creative team management</h1>
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<div>
<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1be06deacb8009f6c2e180d34ee2071df323dc606.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1be06deacb8009f6c2e180d34ee2071df323dc606.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Creative hands working together to review data on printed pages. " loading="eager"></picture>
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<div>
<p>By Elise Hauser</p>
<p>Posted on 09-14-2021</p>
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<div>
<p>The top challenges facing creative teams are nothing new. This was the topic of conversation between Russ Somers, CMO at <a href="https://www.inmotionnow.com/project-workflow/how-creative-leaders-can-leverage-key-metrics-to-manage-up-down-and-sideways/">inMotionNow</a>, and Sarah Tinsley, creative manager at <a href="https://www.landman.org/">American Association of Professional Landmen</a> as they prepared for their <a href="https://portal.adobe.com/widget/adobe/am21/sessions?search=s611">Adobe MAX session on Tuesday, October 26 at 3:00 EDT</a>. Creatives often report that they feel that they lack credibility within their organization, and that they struggled to collaborate with stakeholders effectively. These issues are compounded by the additional challenge that the creative team is perceived to be something of a “black box” — many stakeholders are not clear on what exactly it is the creative team does. Sarah emphasized that these challenges are persistent for creative teams. “These are issues that I hear time and time again. Whether I’m in keynote session at a conference or speaking with my peers in breakout sessions, when I’m socializing in creative circles, these are the topics that come up over and over.”</p>
<p>However, creative teams should not despair! Because these challenges are so universal, some enterprising creative teams, like Sarah’s, are finding and sharing innovative ways to overcome them and help their team take their seat at the strategic table. The secret is to find ways to leverage data to tell your team’s story, deeply understand your organization’s work, and collaborate more effectively with stakeholders. As Russ pointed out, “Data is the language of the boardroom. If you want that level of respect, you have to speak the language.”</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/Events/MAX/register-for-max.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/Events/MAX/register-for-max.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="focus-on-outcomes-over-outputs">Focus on outcomes over outputs</h3>
<p>Creative teams have the unique experience of working across many departments in their organization. With that kind of reach, teams can choose to have one of two perspectives about their cross-functional work: Either they are a set of hands that work for everyone, or they are the glue that holds the organization together. The difference between those two mindsets is whether the team is focused on the individual outputs they produce, or the impactful outcomes they drive.</p>
<p>This is where data comes in. Creative teams that are strategic partners can leverage data to draw a direct line from the outputs they produce to the outcomes their work drives — how they contribute to organizational goals.</p>
<p>Sarah <a href="https://portal.adobe.com/widget/adobe/am21/sessions?search=s611">described how she uses data to support an outcomes-driven mindset</a>. “I recently pulled a report on all the requests my team had received in the first 217 days of 2021. It showed we had received over 250 requests. My initial reaction to the data was to respond to the <em>volume</em> of output. This justified our existence and showed how busy we were. But as I sat with the data, and presented it to organizational leadership, the story that emerged and resonated was not about the volume, but about the <em>impact</em>. It was a story of how many departments in our organization depend on the creative team to help them reach their goals. The creative team is the common denominator across the organization for meeting goals and objectives. This shift in mindset and perception of the creative team was possible because of the data.”</p>
<h3 id="partner-with-outside-experts-to-collect-data">Partner with outside experts to collect data</h3>
<p>Data about your work and your process is not the only data that creative teams should be interested in. They should also be keenly intrigued by their target audience — the customer, the industry. What are the challenges your customers (and potential customers) are facing, and how does your organization help solve them?</p>
<p>The creative team should not be siloed. Rather, they should be the driving force behind research and data collection on their customers and their industry. Sarah described how her team partners with outside experts to do this research. “There are two things I love about working with outside experts. First, you get to expand the expertise on your team. You get to level-up your team’s skills by bringing in people that have new areas of knowledge and expertise that we can learn from. Second, you get access to unbiased data, collected by professionals.” Russ expanded on her second point. “An outside researcher is not already steeped in what your organization believes, and so they can provide an unbiased perspective that will help you really understand your customers better.”</p>
<p>Knowledge of your target customer and your industry is key to being a successful strategic partner. You’ll be better equipped to solve the challenges your stakeholders bring to you if you have a strong understanding of your customers, supported by data.</p>
<h3 id="say-no-with-a-smile">Say “no” with a smile</h3>
<p>The hardest thing most creatives have to do on a daily basis is collaborate with stakeholders. Specifically, managing expectations about the work they are requesting. But managing those expectations, setting boundaries, saying “no”, or even offering alternatives is nearly impossible if the creative team is only viewed as a set of hands.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that creatives can’t just say yes to everything that is asked of them. But you also want to come across as an enthusiastic partner, so how do you walk that tightrope? In Sarah’s words, “Say no with a smile. Say ‘no’ and then offer context and an opportunity to collaborate on an alternative idea.” Giving context to your ‘no’ softens the blow for stakeholders and providing a safe space to brainstorm new ideas shows them that you do still care to help them. Your team is a safe space where they can be open and collaborative without fear.</p>
<p>Fear and lack of understanding are what make stakeholders so difficult to work with. They need the work the creative team produces, and when you push back, it scares them. If you give them context and show that you really do want to help them, then they will be more receptive to having a thoughtful conversation where you can take a more strategic role. This won’t be a one-time fix for all your stakeholder problems, but it will begin a new cycle that gives the creative team a more strategic role.</p>
<p>Learn more about how your creative team can make the shift to being outcomes-focused and data driven by joining Russ and Sarah at their Adobe MAX session “<a href="https://portal.adobe.com/widget/adobe/am21/sessions?search=s611">Using Data for Outcome-Focused Creative Team Management</a>” at 3:00 PM ET on Tuesday, October 26^th. Be sure to <a href="https://www.adobe.com/max.html?promoid=SPVLM75Q&amp;mv=other">register for Adobe MAX</a> and add their session to your schedule!</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/16/register-for-adobe-max-the-creativity-conference.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/16/register-for-adobe-max-the-creativity-conference.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/21/the-art-of-managing-creative-teams.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/21/the-art-of-managing-creative-teams.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/24/creativity-is-punk.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/24/creativity-is-punk.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Adobe MAX, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Events, Adobe MAX 2021, Creative Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Creative Cloud,</p>

</div>
</div>

Gaining invaluable skills for the future



Integrated Media Analytics Intern Bennett Heyn shares what he learned during his time at Adobe.


By Adobe Life Team
Posted on 09-14-2021


At Adobe, internships are more than mere on-the-job trainin...

<div class="embed embed-internal embed-internal-volvocarsdrivesmodernservicethroughadobesign embed-internal-14">
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<h1 id="volvo-cars-drives-modern-service-through-adobe-sign">Volvo Cars drives modern service through Adobe Sign</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1158743e1381f82d8c0012622ff1a3cf9a2985bc8.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1158743e1381f82d8c0012622ff1a3cf9a2985bc8.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Volvo symbol above a line of white Volvo vehicles. " loading="eager"></picture>
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<div>
<p>By Adobe Document Cloud team</p>
<p>Posted on 09-14-2021</p>
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<div>
<p>Automobiles were once symbols of personal freedom, independence, and mobility. Now, however, the world has changed dramatically. Consumers want cars that are sustainable. They want to cut costs by sharing vehicles with others. And they expect it all to come with the latest technologies, from mobile connectivity to auto-driving cars.</p>
<div class="pull-quote"><div><div><h2>“At Volvo Cars, we have made it our mission to get people back to that feeling of freedom by offering new ways for consumers to find their freedom, no matter what kind of mobility they need in their lives”</h2><p>Viveca Thornton, product owner at Volvo Cars.</p></div></div></div>
<p>Volvo Cars recently announced a new option for modern car ownership: Care by Volvo. One monthly subscription fee covers car lease, maintenance, insurance, roadside assistance, and more. Unlike a typical lease, Care by Volvo recognizes that life sometimes changes fast, so people can swap to a different model or even cancel their subscriptions as needed.</p>
<p>“We want it to be as easy for people to sign up for a car subscription as they might sign up for a streaming service,” says Thornton.</p>
<p>Of course, a car subscription will always be more complex than signing up for a typical online service. Volvo Cars must make sure that its service adheres to all industry and government regulations, while providing the convenient, modern service that Care by Volvo customers look for. With <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/sign.html">Adobe Sign</a>, Volvo Cars supports its goals by digitizing paperwork and allowing customers to manage their subscriptions in minutes from their couches.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1cd5219d1a1023337cd676c4566b1693ade5380cf.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1cd5219d1a1023337cd676c4566b1693ade5380cf.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Image of a white Volvo Suv. The all-inclusive car subscription from Volvo. " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="we-could-never-switch-back-to-paper">“We could never switch back to paper”</h3>
<p>The decision to use Adobe Sign started from a desire to provide better experiences for Care by Volvo customers. “It’s not just about the digital signature,” says Mattias Dreyer, solution expert, e-signatures, Volvo Cars. “We wanted to rethink the whole subscription process. Since people are signing up online, what other parts of the process can we make digital?”</p>
<p>For more than five years, Volvo Cars has used Adobe Sign throughout its business, either when signing agreements with vendors or getting approvals on internal paperwork. Volvo Cars administrators appreciated how Adobe Sign made managing digital document workflows so simple. Teams can send documents for signature with just a few clicks. Adobe Sign shows document status, so administrators always know whether documents have been viewed, signed, or returned. The digital workflow also keeps documents more secure throughout the process by transmitting files directly to and from signers’ email inboxes.</p>
<p>The Care by Volvo delivery document was the first time that Volvo used Adobe Sign to get signatures directly from customers. “The signing experience is a much higher priority when dealing directly with our consumers,” says Dreyer. “Consumers can open a document on any device and sign with just a few clicks.”</p>
<p>In Norway, the car delivery document consists of four dense pages with many areas where signers need to fill in forms and check boxes. Volvo invested several hours setting up the form and testing it to make sure that the document was highly intuitive and easy for signers to navigate.</p>
<p>“Once we had finished setting up the digital delivery form, we realized that we could never switch back to paper,” says Dreyer. “Seeing the physical papers made the delivery document seem overwhelming and complicated. It was much easier for subscribers to absorb in digital form.”</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/document-cloud/doc-cloud-business.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/document-cloud/doc-cloud-business.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="how-to-find-success-with-e-signatures">How to find success with e-signatures</h3>
<p>Volvo attributes its success with Adobe Sign to three areas: centralized knowledge, optimized processes, and Salesforce integration.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Centralize the knowledge-base</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Having worked with Adobe Sign for five years, Volvo understands the benefits of having a center of excellence for the solution. Thornton, Dreyer, and the rest of their team oversee all Adobe Sign deployments across the company. The team uses its years of knowledge to easily and expertly support departments across Volvo, whether it’s by setting up templates, adding integrations, or suggesting best practices that help departments get the most from Adobe Sign.</p>
<p>“We don’t want to take all of the decisions away from individual departments or their administrators, since they know what works best for them,” says Dreyer. “But we want to help them realize any ideas that come to mind.”</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Optimize your processes</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Both Thornton and Dreyer emphasize that simply adding Adobe Sign isn’t enough to create digital workflows. Teams need to start with secure digital documents, such as fillable forms and encrypted contracts created with <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat.html">Adobe Acrobat</a>. Built-in integrations with Salesforce, Microsoft, and other enterprise applications can streamline workflows. But the Volvo team also believes it’s important to rethink the processes themselves.</p>
<p>“Creating digital workflows is about having an open mind and creating a shift in perspective,” says Thornton. “We need to look at every step in something like a delivery document. What information is truly needed? How can we make reading through this document a smoother experience for customers? We met with legal, finance, and Adobe Professional Services teams to brainstorm what we could do to optimize processes.”</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Integrate with Salesforce</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>All information about a subscriber, from initial order to vehicle delivery, is pulled from Salesforce. Volvo Cars worked with Adobe Professional Services to set up templates and create vital integrations. Without leaving Salesforce, the sales team can quickly see whether documents have been delivered, opened, or signed by customers. If the sales team notices that a customer has opened a document but not signed it, that might mean that the customer is rethinking their decision or doesn’t understand part of the document. The sales professional can reach out and offer to resolve any questions.</p>
<p>“Adobe Professional Services always listened to us,” says Dreyer. “They were a big part of our success. We couldn’t use an out-of-the-box integration since some private information, such as financial details, couldn’t be passed through Salesforce. Adobe Professional Services made sure that we still got the same visibility and all-in-one interface that makes Adobe Sign so easy to work with.”</p>
<p>For the Care by Volvo program, Volvo Cars will start to see the benefits of Adobe Sign as the company starts delivering new subscription vehicles over the next year. Volvo also hopes to add e-signatures to more documents, from payment forms to trading in a vehicle.</p>
<p>“Nothing is impossible with Adobe Sign,” says Thornton. “The key, we found, is to start small and build on the success. Bring in more fields, more documents, and more integrations. It doesn’t need to be perfect when you start. Take it one step at a time and don’t be afraid to let your Adobe Sign usage mature.”</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/13/sika-brings-innovation-and-sustainability-to-global-business-processes.html#gs.au08p9">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/13/sika-brings-innovation-and-sustainability-to-global-business-processes.html#gs.au08p9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/10/tata-cliq-sets-new-standards-customer-experience-using-data-personalization.html#gs.b14x4r">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/10/tata-cliq-sets-new-standards-customer-experience-using-data-personalization.html#gs.b14x4r</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/13/intercontinental-exchange-modernizes-documentation-global-market.html#gs.5smz3m">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/13/intercontinental-exchange-modernizes-documentation-global-market.html#gs.5smz3m</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Customer Stories, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Manufacturing, Document Cloud, Enterprise Customers, no-interlinks</p>
<p>Products: Document Cloud, Acrobat, Sign,</p>

</div>
</div>

In In this episode of 3, 2, 1, Photoshop! I share 10 of my favorite tips for working with shapes in Photoshop. 

Graphic Design Track at Adobe MAX 2021





By Adobe Events Team
Posted on 08-26-2021


Calling all graphic designers! Adobe MAX 2021 is your chance to connect with fellow passionate designers and learn from the brightest minds in the industry...

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<h1 id="nemours-childrens-health-leading-pediatric-digital-content-globally-through-adobe-experience-manager">Nemours Children’s Health: Leading pediatric digital content globally, through Adobe Experience Manager</h1>
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<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 08-26-2021</p>
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<p>One of the countless ways the Internet has transformed society is serving as a valuable resource for health information. As encyclopedias and printed resource guides faded into history and web searches moved into the mainstream, <a href="https://www.nemours.org/?utm_source=khnem&amp;utm_medium=adobe">Nemours Children’s Health</a> was at the forefront with the launch of <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/about.html?utm_source=khpartner&amp;utm_medium=adobe">KidsHealth.org</a> — the first website devoted to children’s health — in 1995. More than 3.5 billion visits later, the nonprofit organization is widely regarded as the creator of the largest and most reliable source for pediatric content that motivates, educates, and engages families to better health.</p>
<p>Adobe Experience Manager is now at the epicenter of the initiative, as Nemours Children’s continues to blaze a trail toward improving the lives of kids and teens. Through its Center for Health Delivery Innovation, Nemours Children’s manages the enormous volume of resources it develops and shares on KidsHealth. This includes more than 7,000 articles and an extensive library of clinically-reviewed videos, illustrations, mini health movies, personal stories, and other materials.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/experience-cloud/experience-manager.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/experience-cloud/experience-manager.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="a-healthy-dose-of-knowledge">A healthy dose of knowledge</h3>
<p>Nemours Children’s is committed to transforming the health of children by going beyond medicine to improve the health of the world in which every child lives. Established in 1936 through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. du Pont, Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, including two free-standing children’s hospitals and a network of nearly 80 primary and specialty care practices across five states.</p>
<p>Nemours Children’s was the first pediatric hospital organization to establish a center with a focus on educational media and one of the first to develop a syndication model to license its pediatric-specific content libraries to other health systems, payers, and commercial organizations. Today, Nemours Children’s operates the best and largest library of condition-specific, pediatric health videos and maintains the premiere library of patient discharge instructions — created exclusively for pediatrics.</p>
<p>Nemours Children’s also works with a network of authorized resellers, licensees, and product partners that distribute its online content, patient instructions and videos throughout the U.S. and internationally. Through its partnerships with organizations like the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sesame Workshop, Nemours Children’s has brought its expertise and award-winning content to develop programs that engage, inspire, and support families.</p>
<p>“Our commitment to transforming children’s health means that we must redefine its definition,” says R. Lawrence Moss, MD, president and CEO of Nemours Children’s Health. “Experts estimate more than 80 percent of a child’s wellness occurs beyond a doctor’s office. Nemours Children’s is proud to be in our third decade of providing children and families with information, comfort, and tools through KidsHealth.”</p>
<p>Digital technology has introduced new opportunities for Nemours Children’s. When the organization launched KidsHealth.org in 1995, the opportunity to play a significant role in the lives of children greatly expanded. Today, KidsHealth.org logs nearly 300 million sessions per year to its content in English and Spanish and ranks number two as a top children’s health site worldwide.</p>
<p>A trusted resource to many, KidsHealth.org is a primary referral resource for organizations like the National Runaway Hotline. In addition, more than 170 health care organizations use Nemours Children’s for patient and member pediatric education. This includes prestigious institutions like Seattle Children’s Hospital, Atrium Health, and Humana.</p>
<h3 id="streamlining-digital-experiences-with-adobe-experience-manager">Streamlining digital experiences with Adobe Experience Manager</h3>
<p>Adobe has been with Nemours Children’s on its most recent digital journey. Adobe Experience Manager has allowed Nemours Children’s to create a faster, better, and more responsive site with an improved content management system (CMS). Among other things, Experience Manager has allowed the organization to efficiently and easily build educational components on various topics — in English and Spanish — and ensure that content is paired and maps across both languages.</p>
<p>Developing and managing content can be extraordinarily challenging. Through the use of Adobe Experience Manager, Nemours Children’s is now able to maintain content and assets for both KidsHealth.org and Nemours.org in a single entity, thus saving time and resources. Nemours Children’s is also able to manage its complex tagging and syndication through streamlined processes and reporting.</p>
<p>“Adobe Experience Manager is a foundational element for our omni-channel digital approach,” says Carey Officer, vice president, Service Delivery Innovation at Nemours Children’s Health. “Streamlining the digital experiences into a single ecosystem and infrastructure was essential as we continue to develop transformational solutions that meet families where they are in their health care journey.”</p>
<p>Adobe Experience Manager has enabled new and improved components that allow authors to produce engaging multimedia articles in compelling formats across all devices, including the Nemours app. Through custom workflows, Experience Manager has allowed cross-team collaboration and quality control to create the most ideal user experience for the upwards of 20 million visits per month on KidsHealth.org, as well as through its licensing partners.</p>
<p>Nemours Children’s is looking to tap Adobe solutions for future initiatives — they plan to migrate to Adobe Experience Manager as a cloud service. This will drive additional improvements in content management and distribution — including increased speed, agility, and flexibility — and allow the organization to expand its vision to create the healthiest generations of children.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/10/adobe-announces-experience-cloud-healthcare-expanding-digital-transformation-capabilities-patient-experience.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/10/adobe-announces-experience-cloud-healthcare-expanding-digital-transformation-capabilities-patient-experience.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/24/adobe-launches-xml-documentation-for-adobe-experience-manager-as-a-cloud-service.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/24/adobe-launches-xml-documentation-for-adobe-experience-manager-as-a-cloud-service.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/02/08/as-the-role-of-design-in-healthcare-shifts-sanofi-turns-to-design-system-thinking-for-solutions.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/02/08/as-the-role-of-design-in-healthcare-shifts-sanofi-turns-to-design-system-thinking-for-solutions.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Customer Stories, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Healthcare, Non-profits, Experience Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Experience Cloud, Experience Manager,</p>

</div>
</div>

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<h1 id="work-life-balance-in-jeopardy-new-adobe-research-reveals-the-impact-covid-19-has-on-our-time">Work-life balance in jeopardy: New Adobe research reveals the impact COVID-19 has on our time</h1>
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<div>
<p>By Todd Gerber</p>
<p>Posted on 08-26-2021</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>The past year has forced us to reevaluate what’s important, what’s not, and what we want more of. And for a lot of us, we want nothing more than the gift of time.</p>
<p>Around the world, an increasing number of people feel stressed, stretched and burnt out. Remote work, while introducing some much-needed flexibility to the workday, has also increased expectations for workers to be on call and always on. The already blurry line between work life and personal life has, for many, been scrubbed away entirely.</p>
<p>As we enter the future of hybrid work, <a href="https://adobe.ly/FutureOfTime">Adobe surveyed 5,500 people</a> — enterprise workers and small-to-medium business (SMB) owners — across seven global regions, asking respondents where they feel the most time pressure and how it has impacted their work and personal lives. Their responses reveal the true extent to which the very concept of time is changing.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/document-cloud-future-of-time-report.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/document-cloud-future-of-time-report.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="remote-work-is-chipping-away-at-our-personal-time">Remote work is chipping away at our personal time</h3>
<p>One of the most enticing questions that remote work initially inspired was, what will people do with the two hours of their day that were once reserved for commuting? Unfortunately, for many that “free” time has just become more work time.</p>
<p>According to our <a href="https://adobe.ly/FutureOfTime">survey</a>, 49 percent of enterprise workers and 56 percent of SMB leaders say they now work longer hours than they would like to. Indeed, enterprise workers average 44.9 hours per week and SMB leaders average 45.1 hours, more than the standard work week.</p>
<p>With increased hours comes increased pressure to always be reachable, even after people clock out for the day. Nearly half of enterprise workers and 3 in 5 SMB leaders feel pressured to respond to emails and customer issues after hours.</p>
<h3 id="a-perfect-storm-for-burnout--especially-for-women--and-minority-owned-businesses">A perfect storm for burnout — especially for women — and minority-owned businesses</h3>
<p>Burnout has gotten worse in the past year. More than a third of SMB leaders told us they have seen employee burnout and attrition due to work pressures during the pandemic.</p>
<p>The effect of burnout, however, are not felt equally. Minority-owned* (67 percent), women-owned (49 percent) and essential small business owners* (67 percent) felt more stretched for time at work than non-minority-owned (52 percent), men-owned (38 percent) and non-essential small business owners (49 percent).</p>
<p>These stresses carry over into home life. Minority-owned (64 percent), women-owned (54 percent) and essential small business leaders (60 percent) felt higher levels of stress in their personal lives from trying to keep their business afloat.</p>
<p>“As a mum, I do hundreds of small blocks of work instead of protected regular office hours. This goes into evenings and weekends, too,” one SMB leader told us.</p>
<p>The result: More minority-owned (55 percent) and essential small business (51 percent) leaders say they’re losing the passion that spurred them to launch their own businesses. Nearly half of essential small business owners said they would be willing to sell their business tomorrow if they could.</p>
<h3 id="gen-z-is-the-main-driver-of-the-great-resignation">Gen Z is the main driver of the great resignation</h3>
<p>Based on what our research revealed, it’s no surprise that resignations are on the rise. More than 4 million American workers quit their jobs in April alone, which the Labor Department says is a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/09/4-million-people-quit-their-jobs-in-april-to-find-better-work.html">record</a>.</p>
<p>It’s clear that trend will continue. For example, 35 percent of enterprise workers said they plan to switch jobs in the next year. Of that group, 61 percent say they would do so simply to be in more control over their schedules.</p>
<p>Those numbers are even higher for those earlier in their careers. Though they’ve spent few years in the workforce, more than half of Gen Z respondents said they plan to pursue a new job in the next year. This generation is also the least satisfied with work-life balance (56 percent) and their jobs overall (59 percent). This group also feels the most pressure to work during “office hours,” (62 percent), despite a quarter of them saying they actually work best during outside of the standard 9-5 window. In fact, nearly half of Gen Z say they often work from bed.</p>
<h3 id="workers-call-for-technology-to-help">Workers call for technology to help</h3>
<p>While the forces behind these trends are large and complex, something that’s clear from our research is that workers now have higher expectations for technology to help them work faster and more efficiently.</p>
<p>This is especially true for low-effort tasks such as managing files, forms, contracts, payments, and invoices. Workers spend a third of the workweek on mundane, repetitive work, with 86 percent of enterprise workers and 83 percent of SMB leaders saying these tasks get in the way of doing their jobs effectively. In fact, 91 percent of individuals surveyed said they’re interested in tools which would make tasks or processes more efficient — like <a href="https://www.adobe.com/acrobat.html">Adobe Acrobat</a> and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/sign.html">Adobe Sign</a>.</p>
<p>In the future, where employees are collaborating across offices and with remote workers, employers must embrace <a href="https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/resources/collaboration-tools.html">user-friendly technology tools</a>, AI and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/resources/workflow-automation.html">automation</a> to retain and attract talent. Adobe’s study found half of enterprise workers would switch jobs if doing so gave them access to better tools that made them more effective at work.</p>
<p>What would people do with all the extra time that better tools would give them? Of those we spoke to, half said they would pursue their passions and personal growth. That’s time well spent.</p>
<p>For more information, <a href="https://adobe.ly/FutureOfTime">download the full Adobe Future of Time report</a>.</p>
<p><em>*Minority-owned data includes responses from the U.S. and U.K. only</em><br>
<em>*Essential small businesses are defined as businesses that provided consumers crucial products or services such as groceries, healthcare, and emergency services during the Covid-19 pandemic</em></p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/2020/09/23/adobe-unveils-ambitious-multi-year-vision-for-pdf-introduces-liquid-mode.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/2020/09/23/adobe-unveils-ambitious-multi-year-vision-for-pdf-introduces-liquid-mode.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/19/digital-tools-give-pizza-entrepreneurs-bigger-slice-of-pie.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/19/digital-tools-give-pizza-entrepreneurs-bigger-slice-of-pie.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/12/pineapple-on-pizza-settle-signature-ingredient-debate-with-adobe-sign.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/12/pineapple-on-pizza-settle-signature-ingredient-debate-with-adobe-sign.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Trends &amp; Research, Insights &amp; Inspiration, News, Future of Work, Document Cloud, Productivity</p>
<p>Products: Document Cloud, Acrobat, Sign,</p>

</div>
</div>

You can have a big impact



Research Intern Oliver Alonzo discusses how both science and industry can change the world.


By Adobe Life Team
Posted on 08-26-2021


At Adobe, internships are more than mere on-the-job training; we encourage our...

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<h1 id="adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-continues-to-rise--everyday-staples-getting-more-expensive">Adobe Digital Economy Index: Online inflation continues to rise — everyday staples getting more expensive</h1>
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<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1d9650099916f85049631caea7f3f361a63961f8f.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1d9650099916f85049631caea7f3f361a63961f8f.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="White piggy bank against a green background. " loading="eager"></picture></p>
<p><em>Adobe Stock / Tierney.</em></p>
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<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 08-26-2021</p>
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<div>
<p>The COVID-19 pandemic reversed a predictable pattern in eCommerce, where consumers were generally able to purchase goods cheaper online. This reversal was the result of surging demand, supply chain constraints, and growth in categories that had more durable prices. In recent months, online inflation continues to rise. And while these price increases aren’t as steep as those offline, the upward trend shows no signs of slowing down.</p>
<p>As eCommerce takes on a greater share of overall retail, online inflation is becoming a bigger concern for consumer pocketbooks. Even as supply chain issues resolve, rising demand may lead to less discounting, as retailers look to preserve margins or offload fulfillment costs. The latest figures and analysis from the <a href="https://business.adobe.com/resources/digital-economy-index.html">Adobe Digital Economy Index</a> (tracking online prices since 2014) are below.</p>
<h3 id="topline-views">Topline views</h3>
<p>For the month of July 2021, <strong>online prices are up 3.1 percent year-over-year</strong> (YoY) and down 0.7 percent month-over-month (MoM) — note that because of greater volatility in prices online versus offline currently, monthly changes are expected to be more dynamic. In the month prior (June 2021), online prices were up 2.3 percent YoY and up 0.6 percent MoM.</p>
<p>Consider that as a historical benchmark, from 2015 to 2019, online prices <em><strong>fell</strong></em> <strong>3.9 percent</strong> on average each year — highlighting the reversal in predictable eCommerce trends that has sustained in recent months. For further reference, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which captures offline prices, rose 5.4 percent YoY and 0.5 percent MoM in the month of July 2021.</p>
<p>In the following chart, the Consumer Price Index is profiled against Adobe’s data (cited as DPI for “digital price index”). This chart shows the monthly price change, indexed to January 2014 when Adobe first began tracking online prices. The March 2020 line (start of the pandemic) highlights the period when prices changed directions and online inflation began to rise.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_14055d1b4fcf21f5c1a33fca4680463b7be8ff0cf.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_14055d1b4fcf21f5c1a33fca4680463b7be8ff0cf.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="" loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="individual-category-analysis">Individual category analysis</h3>
<p>In the 18 categories tracked by the Adobe Digital Economy Index, all but one (office supplies) saw higher prices in July 2021 when compared to a pre-pandemic period (2015-2019 average). Notably, everyday staples are becoming more expensive for consumers. Groceries for instance, saw prices rise 1.28 percent in July — compared to a smaller 0.47 percent rise in June and 0.51 percent rise before the pandemic.</p>
<p>Other everyday staples such as personal care products, which typically saw prices <em>fall</em> 1.23 percent on average before the pandemic, rose by the same amount (1.23 percent) in July. The same trend was observed in pet products, a category seeing tremendous growth as people stayed home and took renewed interest in their pets — prices rose 1.37 percent in July, compared to a pre-pandemic period where prices typically <em>fell</em> 1.12 percent. Additionally, prices for non-prescription drugs are up 5.66 percent in July, a massive jump from prior to COVID-19, where prices increased only 0.01 percent on average.</p>
<p>Electronics and computers, legacy eCommerce categories where consumers generally expect better and cheaper products every year, also saw continued inflation online. Computer prices were typically down by 9.24 percent before the pandemic. In July however, prices were down by only 6.97 percent. Electronics saw an even more dramatic shift: typically down 9.06 percent pre-pandemic, the category was down only 2.04 percent in July.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_15a538e6958632700bdab44f9dbe653fc332c7732.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_15a538e6958632700bdab44f9dbe653fc332c7732.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="" loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<p>With a hot real estate market and consumers spending more time at home, online inflation in categories including furniture/bedding, home/garden, tools/home improvement, and appliances have sustained. The pandemic induced a shift in consumer behavior, with more people now comfortable ordering couches, gardening tools, and more online. With less dramatic discounting, compared to electronics and computers for instance, these categories will continue being a driver for online inflation if demand remains high.</p>
<p>“With online shopping becoming more ubiquitous, and consumers getting more accustomed to ordering everyday staples through eCommerce, we expect online inflation will continue to rise and be in closer sync with offline prices,” says Vivek Pandya, lead analyst, Adobe Digital Insights. “As the digital economy expands, online pricing trends will have greater impact on how we measure and understand inflation overall. Consider that in just the first seven months of 2021, consumers have already spent over $481 billion dollars online, a staggering 61 percent increase over the same period in 2019.”</p>
<p><strong>Methodology</strong><em>: The Adobe Digital Economy Index (DEI) uses the Fisher Price Index to track prices in the world of Ecommerce. The Fisher Ideal Price Index uses quantities of matched products purchased in the current period (month) and a previous period (previous month) to calculate the price changes by category. Adobe’s analysis is weighted by the real quantities of the products purchased in the two adjacent months. Powered by <a href="https://business.adobe.com/products/analytics/adobe-analytics.html">Adobe Analytics</a>, the Adobe DEI analyzes 1 trillion visits to retail sites and over 100 million SKUs in 18 product categories. Adobe uses a combination of Machine Learning and manual effort to categorize the products into the categories defined by the CPI manual. The methodology was first developed alongside Austan Goolsbee and Pete Klenow.</em></p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/digital-economy-hub.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/digital-economy-hub.html</a></div></div></div>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/adobe-digital-economy-index-online-inflation-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic-remains-high.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/22/adobe-digital-economy-index-flight-bookings-rebound-in-june.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/22/adobe-digital-economy-index-flight-bookings-rebound-in-june.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/21/adobe-digital-economy-index-hotel-reservations-surpass-pre-pandemic-levels-growth-in-flight-bookings-slows.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/21/adobe-digital-economy-index-hotel-reservations-surpass-pre-pandemic-levels-growth-in-flight-bookings-slows.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Trends &amp; Research, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Analytics, Retail, Experience Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Experience Cloud,</p>

</div>
</div>

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<h1 id="post-covid-insight-innovating-the-education-sector-in-china">Post-COVID insight: Innovating the education sector in China</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_17e0320aeb5a6c2c7e9313a91a572b48b1d343f5b.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_17e0320aeb5a6c2c7e9313a91a572b48b1d343f5b.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Illustration of girl reading a book" loading="eager"></picture>
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<div>
<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 08-25-2021</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><em>In the post-COVID era, what challenges and opportunities will innovators face? How will they respond to changes and seize opportunities? To find out, we’ve launched the “Post-COVID Insight” series, inviting innovators in different industries to share their insights and views on the post-COVID era.</em></p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1765c68646547cb4b934f46f97eaa5d87a0c4091c.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1765c68646547cb4b934f46f97eaa5d87a0c4091c.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Customer profile card with text: &quot;Chen Jiang, Professor, School of Electrobics and Engineering and Compiter Science, Peking University. " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<p>Like many universities, every aspect of life at Peking University has been impacted by COVID-19. In the past year, education has changed drastically for both faculty and students. Professor Chen has gained a deep understanding of how they have worked together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.</p>
<p>As an educator of creative talent, Professor Chen sees competition as a battle for great opportunities. The <em>Great Learning</em> from the Confucius <em>Book of Rite</em> says educators should be “self-cultivating, family-regulating, state governing, and world ruling”. Professor Chen has drawn inspiration from “self-cultivating” and “family-regulating”, especially during the pandemic.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_13a13b331a44db06013ecd93a1f691b319b3d44d5.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_13a13b331a44db06013ecd93a1f691b319b3d44d5.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Symbol from the Book of Rite, meaning self-cultivating" loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="self-cultivating-changes-in-teachers-skills-and-methods">Self-cultivating: Changes in teachers’ skills and methods</h3>
<p>As university courses went online – a primary impact of COVID-19 – professors had to change their teaching methods to adapt to a virtual learning environment. In the months of exploration and adjustments for both teachers and students, what was once an unfamiliar learning environment soon became the norm.</p>
<p>These changes in method have forced many teachers to get out of their comfort zone. From quickly learning livestream skills to gradually adapting to the new model, teachers have grown from “forced adoption” to “proactive adaption”. After weeks of working through livestreams and participating in online discussions, roundtables and special salons, Professor Chen and his colleagues say they have gained many new insights. They also predict how digital tools and diverse teaching models will be applied in the future.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_171f0ea17a910c4f8d5070daa5af2ae43d421daa1.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_171f0ea17a910c4f8d5070daa5af2ae43d421daa1.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Illustration of laptop video call " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<p>“In the foreseeable future, high-quality teachers will have a greater possibility to work outside of the campus. Vibrant colleges and universities are now actively employing a large number of outstanding teachers from other schools to give live lectures to improve their own teaching quality.”</p>
<p>According to the more radical predictions, the future may even have online-only schools – meaning that teachers can be carefully selected, and the quality of exams can be guaranteed, optimising efficiency and value amid unprecedented competition. This would be a step forward to equal access to educational resources. To achieve such parity and to execute an entirely new education model, however, an increase of digital tools is required for efficiency, stability and long-distance collaboration.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1d82ae0718c78365b28659c762e8d1ae4735e889d.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1d82ae0718c78365b28659c762e8d1ae4735e889d.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Symbol from the Book of Rite, meaning family-regulating" loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="family-regulating-changes-in-student-requirements-and-direction">Family-regulating: Changes in student requirements and direction</h3>
<p>As educators of future creative talents, university teachers must stand higher to see further, according to Professor Chen, who also notes the post-pandemic education sector needs more foresight and innovation.</p>
<p>In addition to changes in educational models, COVID-19 has modified the competitive landscape – something universities need to align to. For instance, the popularity of online education platforms, conferences, gaming and telecommuting tools due to the pandemic restrictions mean new business and employment opportunities for gaming and media students. In alignment with the changing landscape, colleges and universities need to adapt to a future of new talent in IT and media industries, focusing on their scale of enrollment and curriculum updates.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1e125769c957a8fe9ac7023f9183e9d5377cffc40.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1e125769c957a8fe9ac7023f9183e9d5377cffc40.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Illustration of man and woman with clock " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<p>Equally so, COVID-19 has shown that future talent needs to possess self-control, professionalism and adaptive capabilities concurrently. The normalisation of online live courses is both an opportunity and a test for young people. On the one hand, access to quality teaching for all is increasing. On the other, it is a huge test for students’ self-control and self-reliance. The market requirement for talent is also rising and students need to be more resilient and adaptable than ever, on top of mastering multiple skills and tools.</p>
<p>Colleges and universities – faculty and students - were one of many impacted by COVID-19, with healthcare, logistics and transportation, F&amp;B, leisure, tourism and entertainment industries also hit hard. For many, it’s been a case of adaptation and transformation, evolving in tandem with a digital-first world. In the long run, the education sector will remain on the battlefield as they strive to influence through the pandemic and beyond — toward a future of innovation.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/18/post-covid-insight-creatives-need-a-robust-middle-platform.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/18/post-covid-insight-creatives-need-a-robust-middle-platform.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/20/post-covid-insight-creative-technology-fuels-growth-in-chinas-gaming-industry.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/20/post-covid-insight-creative-technology-fuels-growth-in-chinas-gaming-industry.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/06/post-covid-insight-creativity-and-innovation-in-chinas-ecommerce-sector.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/06/post-covid-insight-creativity-and-innovation-in-chinas-ecommerce-sector.html</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Customer Stories, Creativity, Digital Transformation, Future of Work, Trends &amp; Research, Education, APAC,</p>
<p>Products:</p>

</div>
</div>

<div class="embed embed-internal embed-internal-acceleratingdigitaltransformationanddrivinggrowthinthecookielessera embed-internal-25">
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<h1 id="accelerating-digital-transformation-and-driving-growth-in-the-cookieless-era">Accelerating digital transformation and driving growth in the cookieless era</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1054a05d4bc5f832c6d02138b73e94381ff841a1b.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1054a05d4bc5f832c6d02138b73e94381ff841a1b.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Woman dressed in blue in the city " loading="eager"></picture>
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<div>
<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 08-25-2021</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Over the past year, brands have had to relentlessly transform, adapt and reinvent alongside the unprecedented changes that came with the pandemic. For many businesses, digital transformation has been at the forefront as they’ve navigated into a digital-first economy at rapid speed.</p>
<p>Earlier this year at Adobe Summit, digital business leaders from 7-Eleven, Telstra and Tourism Australia participated in a discussion to talk COVID-19, digital transformation and the future of marketing in a world without third-party cookies. Here are the key takeaways.</p>
<h3 id="lessons-on-keeping-business-moving-during-a-pandemic">Lessons on keeping business moving during a pandemic</h3>
<p>The global pandemic has driven the rapid shift to digital commerce and technologies, while the plight of customers in on-and-off-again lockdowns has forced organisations to adapt quickly and learn to engage with increased personalisation and empathy.</p>
<p>According to Jenni Barnett, Executive Director at Telstra Digital, 70 percent of Telstra’s customer-facing staff were sent home overnight during the first lockdown last year, substantially reducing customer service capabilities in their call centres. As a result, the telco made the decision to prioritise calls from its most vulnerable or in-need customers, such as those experiencing domestic violence or who had medical conditions.</p>
<p>Telstra had to rapidly build digital experiences that could effectively substitute in-person customer services. “We couldn’t take calls from other customers, so we had to steer them into digital,” Barnett said.</p>
<p>“The work we had put in over the previous 18 months meant we were able to update customers in real-time whenever they needed specific services.”</p>
<p>Barnett noted contextually relevant, personalised customer service and sales messages were seeing good uptake among the telco’s 6.3 million digitally active users, 4.3 million of whom use Telstra’s app.</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/cookieless-aus.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/cookieless-aus.html</a></div></div></div>
<p>“You do see the business outcomes,” she said. “In terms of sales personalisation… when you look at behavioural data and offline data as well, you do see up to 5x incremental conversion rate, so customers are interacting. It’s all behind a login and it’s very contextual to the customer.”</p>
<p>According to Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, “Personalisation is going to drive business growth and brands that can deliver on this expectation will be the new winners in the digital economy,”</p>
<p>Telstra is now doubling down on personalisation using AI and machine learning to help scale its program by identifying the next best actions to present to individuals.</p>
<div class="block-embed"><div><div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83N1au1owxs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83N1au1owxs</a></p></div></div></div>
<h3 id="why-brands-should-lean-into-privacy-regulation-and-cookieless-targeting">Why brands should ‘lean into’ privacy regulation and ‘cookieless’ targeting</h3>
<p>The growth in digital commerce and personalisation illustrates what is at stake for brands that want to deliver tailored messages to customers online in the soon to be approaching era of marketing in a cookieless world. And while the <a href="https://www.mi-3.com.au/28-06-2021/googles-reversal-risks-nasty-return-cookie-bombing-and-garbage-attribution-if-marketers">cookieless approaches and timelines</a> announced by big tech companies have been unpredictable, brands are still making moves to form or expand direct relationships with consumers to collect first-party data and the consent to use it.</p>
<p>Tourism Australia, which has historically relied on third-party cookies, is taking a cooperative approach to collecting authenticated data from its users.</p>
<p>According to Head of Digital Strategy and Transformation Paul Bailey, Tourism Australia is working on creating a “unique industry-wide identifier” that could be used by state and national tourism bodies to track visitors — with their permission — to personalise content and ultimately drive conversion.</p>
<p>“If we look at the guardrails and go, ‘How can we be better?’ or ‘How do we have more empathy for the customer?’ we’ll be better at what we do,” Bailey said. “We should lean into [privacy regulations] as brands and as marketers.”</p>
<p>7-Eleven’s Head of Strategy, Innovation and Business Development Stephen Eyears shared that they were initially slow to embark on their digital transformation journey, but this reaped an unexpected benefit. “It was always about first-party data for us,” Eyears said. “We didn’t have a big cookie jar to start off with.”</p>
<p>Customer expectations of personalised experiences are at an “all-time high”, according to Suzanne Steele, Managing Director at Adobe Australia and New Zealand, noting that businesses need to stay ahead of the regulators on issues such as privacy and regulation.</p>
<p>“Don’t wait for regulation,” Steele said. “Deliver real-time personalised experiences and use the data to understand the impact of doing that. Have a data-driven operating model so you can then apply rules and scenarios around what happens next with that interaction.”</p>
<div class="block-embed"><div><div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-_6EBeGpk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-_6EBeGpk</a></p></div></div></div>
<h3 id="board-approval-key-to-pursuing-digital-transformation-during-a-pandemic">Board approval key to pursuing digital transformation during a pandemic</h3>
<p>7-Eleven had consciously educated its board about the business benefits of its digital transformation program, ensuring it not only supported the required investment but is involved as requirements evolved, Eyears said.</p>
<p>The convenience chain, which has launched a fuel price lock app and experimented with a cashless store, continues to invest in its digital transformation and first-party data strategy throughout the pandemic.</p>
<p>For Barnett, educating the board about the world of digital has been fundamental to Telstra’s transformation journey as ‘digital can be hard to understand,’ she explains. ‘We are lucky that our board is committed to educating themselves.’</p>
<p>Barnett notes that leaders must work with the board to outline a clear strategy and roadmap for transformation to ensure alignment at all levels of the business.</p>
<p>‘At the end of the day, we need to come back to the business and customer problems we are trying to address, and how technology can underpin that.’</p>
<div class="block-embed"><div><div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkA9NgsRBvg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkA9NgsRBvg</a></p></div></div></div>
<p>For more on how Telstra, 7-Eleven, Tourism Australia and other brands are taking customer experience to the next level, watch <a href="https://business.adobe.com/summit/adobe-summit.html">Adobe Summit on demand</a> now.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/16/what-your-chairman-needs-to-know-about-your-digital-transformation-data-strategy-and-governance.html#gs.9qcpd5">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/08/16/what-your-chairman-needs-to-know-about-your-digital-transformation-data-strategy-and-governance.html#gs.9qcpd5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/five-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-for-a-cookieless-future.html#gs.9qcuh2">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/27/five-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-for-a-cookieless-future.html#gs.9qcuh2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/20/roads-to-success-in-real-time-customer-experience-management.html#gs.9qcul7">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/20/roads-to-success-in-real-time-customer-experience-management.html#gs.9qcul7</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<p>Topics: Cookieless, Digital Transformation, Trends &amp; Research, Adobe Summit, Brand, APAC,</p>
<p>Products:</p>

</div>
</div>

How to improve your contractor and employee onboarding





By John Lewington
Posted on 08-25-2021


I have been working with public sector clients for over 20 years. While government agencies have begun transforming their recruiting experienc...

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<h1 id="photography-as-a-tool-to-better-understand-and-connect-with-your-environment">Photography as a tool to better understand and connect with your environment</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1a7299ba5654d38987627578c2bb522f44bbd5b08.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1a7299ba5654d38987627578c2bb522f44bbd5b08.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Elk in the Meadows of Yellowstone National Park" loading="eager"></picture>
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<p>By Adobe Communications Team</p>
<p>Posted on 08-25-2021</p>
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<div>
<p>Ansel Adams’ iconic photographs of the American wilderness are more than beautiful images of soaring peaks and prickly cacti. They are a call to viewers to care for the natural world. Environmental photography, sometimes known as <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/nature-photography.html">nature photography</a>, has evolved dramatically since the days of the legendary Adams, but its urgent mission of drawing attention to nature remains very much the same. From the Arctic Circle to the Andes, photographers are turning their lenses to the natural world in the name of researching, conserving, and connecting with increasingly threatened ecosystems. Here’s how you can join them in creating amazing nature photography.</p>
<h3 id="the-uses-and-benefits-of-environmental-photography">The uses and benefits of environmental photography</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/01/04/7-photography-trends-to-watch-in-2021.html">trend of environmental photography</a> has grown along with wider consideration for environmental concerns, but you might be drawn to the practice for many different reasons. Let’s explore a few common drivers that compel new photographers to the outdoors:</p>
<p><strong>Showcase natural beauty</strong></p>
<p>One of the most common reasons for pursuing environmental photography is the simple desire to capture and display how beautiful nature is — whether it’s landscapes, plant life, animals, or even people interacting with their environment. If you’re an amateur photographer just looking to bring more green to your Instagram feed or a pro hoping to reach a wider audience, there are endless places to find Mother Nature showing off.</p>
<p><strong>Expose environmental issues</strong></p>
<p>Environmental photography is a powerful <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2017/03/01/power-of-conservation-photography.html#gs.9f848t">conservation tool</a>. There are many ways you can raise awareness about the importance of protecting our environment, but the most popular strategy is often through showcasing natural beauty, as in the case of Ansel Adams. Another tactic: demonstrating a visible problem. For example, you might depict litter negatively impacting the environment — or create side-by-side images that demonstrate the <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2019/07/23/climate-crisis-how-nature-drives-design-through-color-and-perspective.html">effects of climate change</a> over time.</p>
<p><strong>Research and monitor</strong></p>
<p>Photographers are famous for their independence. But if you hope to have an impact on a specific issue, finding teams already engaged in addressing it can reduce the chance that you’re simply duplicating someone else’s work. Reach out to non-profits and research institutes to see how you can support their ongoing efforts to document and monitor changes in a specific region or environment.</p>
<p><strong>Support your own personal growth</strong></p>
<p>Not everyone picks up a camera to fight climate change — and that’s okay. Photography can serve as a much-needed creative outlet or a means of discovering a new community. Environmental photography can also help you educate yourself about the environment, and give you an opportunity to spend more time in nature, which can support your mental and physical health.</p>
<h3 id="ethical-considerations-of-environmental-photography">Ethical considerations of environmental photography</h3>
<p>Although photography can be a powerful tool for conservation, troops of unwitting photographers tromping in and out of fragile ecosystems poses a risk all its own. Avoid becoming yet another threat to the places you visit by engaging in these basic practices:</p>
<ul>
<li>Be mindful not to leave a mark on the environment during your observations.</li>
<li>Be knowledgeable and considerate of local regulations and customs.</li>
<li>Engage with other conservation professionals respectfully.</li>
<li>Put the welfare of ecosystems above profit or personal publicity.</li>
<li>Be knowledgeable about your subjects and the surrounding ecosystems.</li>
<li>Respect indigenous cultures.</li>
<li>Avoid collaboration with organizations known to inflict systemic harm on the environment.</li>
<li>Accurately convey your subject matter and the context in which it was filmed. For example, do not portray a captive animal as wild or heavily edit photos to skew the truth.</li>
</ul>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/photoshop.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/promotions/products/creative-cloud/photoshop.html</a></div></div></div>
<h3 id="environmental-photography-tips">Environmental photography tips</h3>
<p>As an aspiring environmental photographer, there are many ways you can pursue your interests and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/how-to-take-better-photos.html">develop your photography skills</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Do research</strong></p>
<p>Carefully research factors such as the subject matter itself, the surrounding environment, local regulations, and local cultures before pursuing environmental photography. You should also have a good base knowledge of best practices for avoiding any negative impacts on the area where you are photographing.</p>
<p><strong>Be specific</strong></p>
<p>If your goal is raise awareness of environmental concerns, try focusing your lens on a particular issue. The forces that threaten the world’s ecosystems are sprawling and complex. Pursuing them all is a shortcut to overwhelming you and your viewers. Focus on building a clear and concise narrative around a specific issue, location, animal, or ecosystem.</p>
<p><strong>Stay local</strong></p>
<p>The story of climate change and environmental degradation goes beyond images of starving polar bears and disappearing rainforests. Instead, begin with what you’re familiar with: <a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/01/14/cant-travel-bring-the-world-to-you-with-help-from-photoshop.html#gs.2dcbfn">your local environment</a>. This is a feasible option even if you are in an urban or otherwise highly developed environment, as this can afford you more opportunity to celebrate pockets of natural beauty or demonstrate damaging environmental impacts.</p>
<p><strong>Prepare in advance</strong></p>
<p>When it comes to environmental photography, it is particularly important to ensure that your camera and other gear are prepped and up to the job. Profound natural moments can be fleeting, and you don’t want to waste time fiddling with your equipment or worrying about whether it will hold up under harsh conditions.</p>
<p><strong>Capture the moment</strong></p>
<p>To ensure that you capture the moment as authentically as possible, get familiar with <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-camera.html">smart camera tools</a>. Environmental photography is often <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/candid-photography.html">candid by nature</a>, and therefore you can’t rely as much on positioning and other elements of setup. Smart camera tools can automate many elements of the photography process to circumvent the time-consuming setup for a shot.</p>
<p><strong>Tell a story</strong></p>
<p>Ideally, even static shots should include dynamic elements to tell a story. You may want to take it a step further and take <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/create-panoramic-images-photomerge.html">panoramic shots</a> or <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/video.html">full videos</a> to tell an even larger story. These methods can be particularly useful if you are capturing images for a <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/photojournalism.html">photojournalism</a> project or a <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/documentary-photography.html">documentary</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Edit and enhance carefully</strong></p>
<p>While it is important to avoid misrepresentation of environmental elements for ethical reasons, <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/basics.html">editing and enhancement options</a> are important to fully convey the details of your images. More significant changes like <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photo-effects.html">adding effects</a> or <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/content-aware-fill.html">removing an element</a> of the photo can also sometimes be necessary, but it’ is a best practice to ensure that you’ are doing it for a necessary enhancement or storytelling purpose, and not to substantially distort reality.</p>
<p><strong>Share your work</strong></p>
<p>Once you have shot and edited your photos, you’ll need to develop a system for effectively <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/store-manage-photos.html">organizing</a> and <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/share-photos.html">sharing</a> them. There are even options available for <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-express.html">editing and sharing a photo through a single app</a> should you want to share your photos as you take them. Such options can be especially helpful for people who post often to their blog or social media.</p>
<p>The specifics of this process will depend on your personal preferences and goals, but it’s important to explore and find a system and supporting tools that work for you, so you don’t become overwhelmed by the process.</p>
<p>Whether you’re passionate about environmental best practices, or you’re just someone who appreciates a good sunset, photography is a great practice for connecting you and your viewers with the natural world. Applying the tips and best practices suggested throughout this piece will help you align your ambitions and present your dynamic vision — and who knows, maybe even help save the planet.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
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<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/10/from-the-acr-team-super-resolution.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/10/from-the-acr-team-super-resolution.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/07/how-to-create-landscape-photos-that-transport-viewers.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/04/07/how-to-create-landscape-photos-that-transport-viewers.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/07/what-is-composite-photography.html">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/07/what-is-composite-photography.html</a></li>
</ul>
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<p>Topics: Creativity, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Photography, Creative Cloud, SEO Features</p>
<p>Products: Creative Cloud, Lightroom, Photoshop,</p>

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<h1 id="university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-builds-community-and-prepares-students-for-career-success-with-adobe-creative-cloud">University of Texas at San Antonio builds community and prepares students for career success with Adobe Creative Cloud</h1>
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<picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_11170929b472c407f69aea69115e0fec6cbff627b.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_11170929b472c407f69aea69115e0fec6cbff627b.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="University of Texas at San Antonio.
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<p>By Tacy Trowbridge</p>
<p>Posted on 08-25-2021</p>
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<p>The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is one of the younger universities in the University of Texas system. But in the 50 years since its founding, UTSA has had a remarkable impact on the state and community. UTSA was founded to serve San Antonio’s culturally rich, predominantly Mexican American population. The university received recognition as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and it was recently named the <a href="https://hispanicserving.utsa.edu/points-of-pride/rankings-recognitions/">ninth top university in the United States</a> for granting undergraduate degrees to Hispanics.</p>
<p>Part of what makes UTSA such a well-respected institution is its commitment to career preparation. It strives to give students not only the knowledge but also the skills they need to succeed and thrive. Melissa Vito, vice provost for Academic Innovation at UTSA, spearheads many of the efforts to support student academic and career success. When studying the modern work landscape, she discovered that the most important skill for students in any career is digital literacy.</p>
<p>“Building digital literacy is essential for any field of study. Students need to learn how to communicate ideas and gain skills that that will serve them well throughout their careers,” says Vito. “It’s also vital for UTSA faculty to find creative approaches to teaching to improve student learning, whether we’re working with students online or in classrooms.”</p>
<div class="promotion"><div><div><a href="https://blog.adobe.co/en/promotions/big-rock-assets/digital-literacy-cc.html">https://blog.adobe.co/en/promotions/big-rock-assets/digital-literacy-cc.html</a></div></div></div>
<p>As an <a href="https://adobecreativecampus.com/">Adobe Creative Campus</a>, all UTSA faculty, students, and staff have access to all of the <a href="https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html">Adobe Creative Cloud</a> apps. While Adobe Creative Cloud apps are standard in many schools for art and design students, UTSA believes that every student can benefit from learning to use Adobe Creative Cloud.</p>
<p>The university works with faculty champions in each department to identify needs, share resources, and build a community of active users. Today, Adobe Creative Cloud is used in more than 50 classes serving hundreds of students. Creative Cloud usage has grown up to 50 percent year-over-year, with 700 students, faculty, and staff attending 150 training sessions to learn more about apps.</p>
<p>“For our students to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce they must be digitally fluent. It’s critical that they have the tools to make sense of data and communicate that meaning to others,” says Taylor Eighmy, president of UTSA. “Through the Adobe Creative Campus program, we put the infrastructure in place to teach our students how to tell stories. The partnership between UTSA and Adobe is not merely transactional — it’s transformational.”</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_1688513186538210d371d35a72a841942ba72d9fc.png?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_1688513186538210d371d35a72a841942ba72d9fc.png?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Students walking through the UTSA campus. " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="inspired-exploration-opens-new-doors">Inspired exploration opens new doors</h3>
<p>The Academic Inquiry and Scholarship (AIS) department takes UTSA’s classroom-to-career mission to new heights. In AIS classes, first-year students explore their professional interests in more detail and learn about careers that will help them meet their goals. Elena Camargo is one of the instructors in AIS focusing on Life and Health Sciences.</p>
<p>“The whole idea behind the AIS course is that we want to help students find their passions,” says Camargo. “I want to get students engaged with every assignment. Adobe Creative Cloud apps are fantastic for student engagement, because when you give students more freedom and allow them to explore a project creatively, they become more invested in whatever they’re doing.”</p>
<p>One of the biggest projects in the course involves students interviewing someone working in their preferred career field. Students thinking about working in a surgical position might interview an orthopedic surgeon to learn what a typical day looks like and what difficulties she faced along her career path. After interviewing a subject, students create a video exploring what they learned. Camargo likes that Adobe Creative Cloud includes a variety of apps — <a href="https://spark.adobe.com/">Adobe Spark</a>, <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html">Adobe Premiere Pro</a>, or <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-rush.html">Adobe Premiere Rush</a> — that students can choose from depending on their level of video editing knowledge and the type of video they want to create.</p>
<p>Camargo encourages students to work with <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html">Adobe Illustrator</a> to create informational posters about a controversial topic related to ethics in health sciences. Learning to work with Illustrator to represent compelling information visually is an important skill that students can carry with them into any future career.</p>
<p>For the signature experience project, Camargo asks students to brainstorm a solution for a life-sciences or health-sciences issue. The solution might be a product, service, or even an app. Students then create an Adobe Spark presentation to share their solution with the class. Some students have even used <a href="https://www.adobe.com/products/xd.html">Adobe XD</a> to quickly create a prototype app that brings their ideas to life.</p>
<p>“Teaching digital literacy is essential in today’s world,” says Camargo. “This is particularly true as remote working, learning, and healthcare become more commonplace. We need to make communications as interactive as possible to preserve that feeling of sharing and connecting more with others.”</p>
<h3 id="bridging-departments-to-build-community">Bridging departments to build community</h3>
<p>Strengthening community is the focus of a recent <a href="https://spark.adobe.com/page/fIEmUZqoXzsvx/">interdisciplinary project</a> at UTSA. History professor Jodi Peterson believes strongly in the role that community and collaboration play in learning. It’s why she works with colleagues from across disciplines as part of a Tactical Team that develops experiential learning opportunities for students.</p>
<p>When thinking about the many changes that her students have experienced over the past few years — pandemic, political change, social justice movements, economic uncertainty, and growing online lives — Peterson wondered how her students were coping. As a historian, she thought it might be interesting to capture the voices of UTSA students to create a record of these unprecedented times while helping students grapple with their own feelings.</p>
<p>Through the Tactical Team, she reached out to instructors, designers, videographers, and librarians from across UTSA departments to embark on a new type of interdisciplinary project that ultimately attracted participation from 500 students across six disciplines.</p>
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<li>History: Students created a journal entry that reflects on a defining moment in their recent history, then contrasted their experiences by creating a journal entry imagining how a historical moment in their ancestors’ lives might have affected them.</li>
<li>Creative writing: Students wrote poetry based on the content, history, and emotions expressed within the journal entries.</li>
<li>Art: Students created visual artistic representations based on the journals entries and poetry.</li>
<li>Music: Students developed new musical compositions inspired by the poems.</li>
<li>Dance: Students translated the musical compositions into dance, bringing a visual representation back into the experience.</li>
<li>Architecture: Students designed stages and exhibits that assemble each chain of experiences into a showcase.</li>
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<p>Students used Adobe Creative Cloud apps throughout the project. Since all students have access to the same apps, they could easily share each part of their experience for greater collaboration. Many students praised the project for how it helped them feel connected and heard, even during such difficult changes in their lives.</p>
<p>“I felt like someone could hear my story and my pain,” said one UTSA student. “Seeing how deaths are treated as a statistic and people are still going out, it feels like people don’t understand the consequences of their actions. I feel like I have a platform to speak on.”</p>
<p>Peterson believes that this project might form the foundation for how disciplines can work together, create a community, and empower students to explore their identities while at UTSA.</p>
<p><picture><source media="(max-width: 400px)" srcset="./media_10d9e0df73d0d0bd238266a8c8064c4ecd8850b2c.jpeg?width=750&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium"><img src="./media_10d9e0df73d0d0bd238266a8c8064c4ecd8850b2c.jpeg?width=2000&amp;format=webply&amp;optimize=medium" alt="Students posing for a selfie outside of the Peace Library on UTSA's campus. " loading="lazy"></picture></p>
<h3 id="tracking-academic-progress">Tracking academic progress</h3>
<p>While mathematics may not seem like a logical subject for creativity and expression, lecturers Jonathan Brucks and Carolyn Luna believe that it plays a big role in the success of their Business Algebra class.</p>
<p>“Many students question the importance of math in their lives and in their careers,” says Brucks. “We realized that giving students a way to reflect on what they’ve learned and track their progress, even across their time at UTSA, could be very valuable to them.”</p>
<p>Brucks and Luna ask students to use <a href="https://portfolio.adobe.com/">Adobe Portfolio</a> to create an ePortfolio for their class. Students create a bio page, upload assignments, and incorporate content in a variety of mediums. As students progress through their academic career, they can create new pages for each course they take. After a few semesters, this will create an impactful, visual record of what students have learned and how all of their lessons connect together to aid their future careers.</p>
<p>One student, <a href="https://nicholascrouse.myportfolio.com/home">Nicholas Crouse</a>, created an ePortfolio that displays the answer to each challenge question as a colorful infographic, with his reflection responses added text beneath each image. By contrast, <a href="https://llg209d5d5.myportfolio.com/">Shaune Gross</a> completed all of her class assignments with pencil and paper, adding scans of her hand-written pages to share the work digitally. Both students also include two video presentations that allow them to walk through their solutions to complex questions. Gathering assignments in the ePortfolios makes it easy for students and instructors to review all responses in one location.</p>
<p>“A lot of students have already approached us and said that they appreciate the opportunity to work with Adobe Creative Cloud apps and explore through ePortfolios,” says Luna. “It’s an important opportunity for us to hear students’ voices and let them tell us what they care about. Students are willing to be more open minded about mathematics because we give them the freedom to express themselves and be creative.”</p>
<p>By continuing to find new ways to use Adobe Creative Cloud in all classes, UTSA aims to keep connecting students and creating a strong community. “By providing access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications, we’re supporting students in their creative digital storytelling and helping them build skills that will support their future careers,” says Vito.</p>
<p><em>Learn how you can build digital literacy at your school <a href="https://www.adobe.com/education/digital-literacy.html">here</a>.</em></p>
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<h2 id="featured-posts">Featured posts:</h2>
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<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/29/san-jose-state-university-inspires-innovation-and-discovery-as-an-adobe-creative-campus.html#gs.9750n8">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/06/29/san-jose-state-university-inspires-innovation-and-discovery-as-an-adobe-creative-campus.html#gs.9750n8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/indiana-university-expands-creative-possibilities-with-adobe-creative-cloud-adobe-stock.html#gs.7nh1i2">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/07/29/indiana-university-expands-creative-possibilities-with-adobe-creative-cloud-adobe-stock.html#gs.7nh1i2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/02/austin-community-college-prepares-students-for-success-in-a-digital-future.html#gs.v0jaci">https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/03/02/austin-community-college-prepares-students-for-success-in-a-digital-future.html#gs.v0jaci</a></li>
</ul>
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<p>Topics: Customer Stories, Insights &amp; Inspiration, Education, Digital Literacy, Creative Cloud,</p>
<p>Products: Creative Cloud, Portfolio, Premiere Pro, Premiere Rush, Spark, XD, Illustrator</p>

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