The CreativePro Podcast

Adobe Illustrator: Favorite New Features Spring 2026

Some of the most useful new Illustrator features are easy to miss if you aren't actively exploring the latest updates and beta tools. In this episode, Theresa Jackson talks with illustrator and toy designer Thaddeus Coates and digital artist Luke Choice about the new Illustrator features they're genuinely excited to use. Thaddeus shares how Illustrator fits into his character design and toy-making process, including using Turntable to communicate ideas to manufacturers. Luke dives into the practical side of Illustrator updates, from snapping improvements and smoother performance to AI-assisted vector workflows inside Illustrator Beta. Whether you spend your days designing logos, illustrating characters, building client work, or experimenting with new ideas, there's probably a feature in this episode you haven't tried yet. Episode Highlights * Prototyping with Turntable: Hear how Thaddeus Coates uses Turntable to prototype toy ideas and communicate designs to manufacturers faster. * Live Preview Tools: Learn why Illustrator's Live Preview drawing tools feel more natural and responsive for illustrators working on iPad and desktop. * Workflow Efficiency: Hear Luke Choice explain how small workflow improvements, including font browsing and snapping updates can save serious production time. * Sketch to Vector: Explore how Sketch to Vector in Illustrator Beta is changing the way artists turn rough sketches and low-resolution artwork into editable vectors. * Real-World Application: Hear both guests share examples of using Illustrator's newest features for experimentation, iteration, and client work. Resources * CreativePro Week 2026: Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026. https://creativeproweek.com/ [https://creativeproweek.com/] * CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ [https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/] * Adobe Help: What's New in Illustrator on the Desktop: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/new-features/whats-new.html [https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/new-features/whats-new.html] * Thaddeus Coates: https://www.hippypotter.com/ [https://www.hippypotter.com/] * Luke Choice: https://www.velvetspectrum.com/ [https://www.velvetspectrum.com/]

Affinity: Why You Should Pay Attention

Canva's mission is to empower the world to design, and by most measures, it's working. Millions of people create content in Canva every day, which means design is no longer something that belongs exclusively to designers. Now, with the acquisition of Affinity, Canva is making a move into professional territory. So what does that actually mean for those of us who make a living in this space? In this episode, Theresa Jackson sits down with Steve Caplin to dig into Affinity by Canva: what it is, how it works, and why the conversation around it goes well beyond the software itself. They give an honest take on where Affinity genuinely impresses and where it still comes up short for professional work, covering the same questions a lot of designers are already wrestling with about their role in a changing industry. If you've felt friction between your design team and the non-designers who use Canva, or if you've found yourself wondering how your job is evolving, this one's worth your time. Episode Highlights * Switching between Vector, Pixel, and Layout within a single document is a departure from everything most designers are used to, and Theresa and Steve get into why that matters * Theresa calls Affinity Canva's "olive branch" to professional designers, and unpacks why that framing deserves a second look * Affinity's live filters and real-time previews create a noticeably different editing experience, and the episode explores what that unlocks * "Free" as a pricing strategy has real implications for who gets to call themselves a designer * The episode covers what Affinity still lacks, particularly around publishing workflows, automation, and accessibility, and why those gaps keep professionals anchored to InDesign and Adobe * The tension between design teams and non-designers using Canva is real, growing, and worth talking about openly * Designers are once again being asked to justify their value, and this conversation doesn't shy away from that * The bigger question isn't which tool to use; it's what's shifting in the design industry and how to position yourself within that shift Resources * CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/ [https://creativeproweek.com/] * CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ [https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/] * Steve Caplin: https://stevecaplin.com/ [https://stevecaplin.com/] * Theresa Jackson's Self Portrait with Photoshop Displacement Map Filter: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_3840_webp/00bfb313226357.56271a3df0ccf.jpg [https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_3840_webp/00bfb313226357.56271a3df0ccf.jpg] * Canva Create Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/live/9HkO8masPT0 [https://www.youtube.com/live/9HkO8masPT0] * Affinity Download: https://www.affinity.studio/download [https://www.affinity.studio/download] * Affinity for Photoshop Users by Steve Caplin: https://creativepro.com/affinity-photoshop-users/ [https://creativepro.com/affinity-photoshop-users/] * YouTube: Displace Filter in Affinity: https://youtu.be/_9ZFMs1GkPg [https://youtu.be/_9ZFMs1GkPg]

Before & After: Timeless Design Lessons

Great design lessons outlive the tools, trends, and even the formats they were created in. In this episode, David Blatner and Mike Rankin revisit the work of John McWade and Before & After Magazine. It's a look at why foundational design thinking still matters and how McWade's work continues to shape how creatives see and communicate. You'll hear how Before & After began in 1990 and why it resonated with both designers and non-designers. McWade focused on clear, practical lessons that helped people communicate visually, not just learn the tools. There's also a personal layer to this story. David and Mike share how the archive found its way to CreativePro, and what it means to bring this work forward for a new generation. Have a memory of John McWade or Before & After? Share it with us in the comments. We'd love to hear how his work impacted you. Episode Highlights * Hear how John McWade saw the future of desktop publishing early and made a bold career shift before the industry fully existed * Learn why Before & After Magazine focused on teaching people how to see, not just how to use design tools * Listen as David and Mike explain why design techniques outlast software, and why that still matters today * Hear the story behind how the Before & After archive was recovered and brought to CreativePro after John's passing * Explore how these lessons helped non-designers and self-taught creatives build real design skills Resources * Design + AI Summit 2026, being held online April 9–10 and September 17–18: https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/ [https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/] * CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/ [https://creativeproweek.com/] * CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ [https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/] * The Before & After Archive: https://creativepro.com/before-after-archive/ [https://creativepro.com/before-after-archive/] * Gestalt Theory: https://creativepro.com/tag/gestalt-theory/ [https://creativepro.com/tag/gestalt-theory/] * John McWade LinkedIn Learning Courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/john-mcwade?u=2125562 [https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/john-mcwade?u=2125562] * Before & After's Why We Design: http://www.mcwade.com/DesignTalk/2009/04/design-is-worthy-toil/ [http://www.mcwade.com/DesignTalk/2009/04/design-is-worthy-toil/]

Photoshop Craft vs AI: What Still Matters

Lisa Carney and Jesús Ramirez join the CreativePro Podcast to explore the intersection of Photoshop craft and community in the age of AI. Drawing on years of Hollywood production experience (where every pixel counts) they compare notes on high-end retouching and compositing. The conversation bridges traditional techniques with the latest AI-powered tools. Lisa and Jesús share behind-the-scenes stories, trace Photoshop's AI evolution, and look ahead to the future of mobile and voice-controlled editing. Episode Highlights * Hear how Lisa Carney and Jesús Ramirez first met while teaching at CreativeLive in Seattle, a chance meeting that grew into years of collaboration and friendship. * Lisa tells Jesús she considers him one of her best friends on the planet and explains why working together has made both of them better creatives. * Jesús shares his philosophy of learning with peers: "You go learn X, I'll learn Y, and we'll meet in the middle and see what we discover." * Lisa and Jesús compare notes on working behind the scenes on movie and TV posters, where high-end retouching and compositing are part of everyday production. * The conversation turns into a thoughtful debate about AI in Photoshop and how much creative professionals should rely on it. * Jesús talks about why becoming part of a creative community matters and how sharing knowledge with peers helps everyone improve. Episode Resources * Design + AI Summit 2026, being held online April 9–10 and September 17–18: https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/ [https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/] * CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/ [https://creativeproweek.com/] * CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Khara's Three Minute Max winning tip [https://youtu.be/wGFJr_3aYCQ?si=cjHKprGhg0PL8J-U] * Three Minute Max Playlist [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2MvJwVR1ZWkdJqIq0UbARIJgC2jkwDua&si=oOOEj4_LH1zCYcL7] * Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ [https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/] * Lisa Carney: https://lisacarney.com [https://lisacarney.com] * Jesús Ramirez: https://photoshoptrainingchannel.com [https://photoshoptrainingchannel.com] * Adobe Photoshop: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html [https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html] * Adobe Firefly: https://firefly.adobe.com [https://firefly.adobe.com]

The Making of the CreativePro Week 2026 Agenda

In this episode of the CreativePro Podcast, David Blatner and Theresa Jackson pull back the curtain on how the CreativePro Week 2026 agenda came together for this summer's event in Nashville. Recorded in conjunction with the agenda launch, the conversation offers a timely look at the decisions shaping the program. If you've ever attended CreativePro Week and felt like the content spoke directly to your day-to-day work, this episode sheds light on why. David and Theresa talk about how listener feedback, community conversations, and real-world creative challenges influence what makes it onto the agenda. They also discuss how CreativePro Week fits into a larger ecosystem of events, membership, and ongoing education. They reflect on how the needs of creative professionals have evolved over time, why certain topics return year after year, and how particular constraints affect what ultimately makes it onto the schedule. This is a candid conversation about learning, community, and the invisible work that supports meaningful professional development for designers who want more than surface-level inspiration. Episode Highlights * Theresa describes agenda planning as solving a difficult puzzle, and the relief of finally locking in the 2026 CreativePro Week schedule * David and Theresa share where session topics actually come from, including speaker submissions, focus group surveys, and ideas shaped through conversations with each other and the community * David admits that even Adobe designers still have to work in a Microsoft world * Theresa shares what matters most when deciding whether to work with a new CreativePro speaker * Why switching to Miro changed the entire agenda-building process, from color-coded topics to drag-and-drop scheduling and real-time collaboration Episode Resources * CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/ [https://creativeproweek.com/] * CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Speaker submissions: https://creativepro.com/speak-at-our-events/ [https://creativepro.com/speak-at-our-events/] * Miro online white board https://miro.com/ [https://miro.com/] * Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/ [https://creativepro.com/events/] * Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/ [https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/]