The CreativePro Podcast

What happens when the tools you've built your career around suddenly seem less permanent? In this episode, host Theresa Jackson and Photoshop expert Jesús Ramirez discuss the emergence of AI-generated alternatives to Adobe applications and what they mean for creative professionals. Together, they wrestle with the big questions beneath vibe-coded software: how might AI change the way creative tools are built, who gets to shape them, and what happens when the skills and software we depend on become obsolete? They explore how AI could reshape creative careers, particularly for those just entering the industry, and why creative vision, experience, and a trained eye remain valuable even as technology evolves. Key Takeaways: Be willing to adapt. The tools and workflows that served you in the past may not be the ones you use in the future. Continuous learning is essential to staying relevant.  Focus on your creative judgment. While knowing keyboard shortcuts is useful, your ability to judge composition, color, and the overall impact of an image is what sets you apart. Recognize your transferable skills. Even if the software changes, your experience in creating, teaching, solving problems, and communicating ideas carries over. Use AI as a starting point, not a finished product. Even when AI produces something quickly, you should use your own judgment and skills to refine the result and make it unique. Acknowledge the challenge facing entry-level creatives. As AI takes over routine production tasks, newcomers may have fewer opportunities to gain the hands-on experience that develops their skills and judgment. Make room for both uncertainty and possibility. Technological change can disrupt careers, but it also creates opportunities for people to build tools, experiment, and create in new ways. Resources ArtCraft Prompt Vault About Jesús Ramirez Jesús's website Jesús's Youtube Channel Interview with Jesús, Photo Retouching in the Age of AI: Thoughts from Lisa Carney and Jesús Ramirez Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST The InDesign Conference, December 1-4, 2026

If you know Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, you can use Premiere too. You don't have to be a video editor to make it useful. In this episode, Mike Rankin and designer and educator Myra Ferguson explore how Premiere can fit into an existing design workflow. Mike and Myra cover everything from animating Photoshop layers and creating interactive content to pulling still images from video and working with captions. They share practical advice for getting comfortable with Premiere without trying to learn everything at once, and show how even small video and animation projects can add new possibilities to your design work. Key Takeaways: Treat Premiere like any other design tool. You don't have to become a video editor to get value from Premiere. Think of it as an extension of the tools you already use. Build on what you already know. Premiere plays well with other CC programs like Photoshop. Start by fitting your Premiere experimentation into the work you're already doing.  Start with a specific project. Instead of trying to learn the entire application, choose a small project that solves a real design problem and learn the Premiere features you need along the way. Change the interface. Maximize the application window, brighten your interface, and customize the workspace so the tools you need are easier to see and use. Write down the keyboard shortcuts. Shortcuts reduce friction and increase efficiency. If you're having trouble remembering them, put some sticky notes on your monitor or desktop! Use transcripts to edit and caption video. Premiere can transcribe your video and turn that transcript into captions, while also allowing you to edit your video directly from the text.  Mix it up! Turn video frames into print projects or add interactivity into your static content with animation. Resources About Myra Ferguson Members-only article, Getting Started with Premiere Find Myra Ferguson's Premiere tutorials on CreativePro's Working with Video playlist Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST The Design + Accessibility Summit, October 20-23, 2026 The InDesign Conference, December 1-4, 2026

Designers know accessibility matters, but knowing that and knowing what to actually do about it are two very different things. In this episode, accessibility experts Colleen Gratzer and Chad Chelius share how they found their way into accessibility and discuss how it has changed the way they approach design. They explain why accessibility doesn't have to limit creativity or be a separate step at the end of the design process. Instead, accessible design can be a natural extension of your craft that leads to more efficient and more creative ways of working. Key Takeaways: Start with color contrast. Learning the contrast requirements for normal text, large text, and meaningful icons is a great first step for increasing accessibility without requiring you to learn the entire field at once.  Map your styles to tags. When you create headings and other structured text, map your paragraph styles to the appropriate tags so the structure of your document is available to people using assistive technology. Build accessibility into your workflow. Many accessibility practices, like working with paragraph styles, are best practices. They're a simpler and more efficient way to design.  Don't let accessibility limit your creativity. There's no such thing as a fundamentally inaccessible color or style. Look at how colors work together and find creative ways to create clarity and contrast. Offer conformance, not compliance. Designers should be careful about promising that a document or website is legally compliant. Instead, focus on the accessibility standards and level of conformance you're actually responsible for achieving. Expand your perception of accessibility. Accessibility benefits people using assistive technology, but also people who wear glasses, people who are color blind, and people experiencing design in non-ideal conditions, like the menu at a dimly lit restaurant. Resources The Design + Accessibility Summit, October 20-23, 2026 Free Webinar: Accessibility Essentials with Chad Chelius, September 29, 2026 at 10:00 am PT CreativePro Youtube Accessibility Tutorials Playlist Colleen Gratzer's Accessibility Training and Design Domination Podcast at Creative Boost Chad Chelius's Accessibility Training at Chax Training and Consulting Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST

After more than a decade, Nigel French's How to Be a Better Designer series has reached its final installment. In this episode, Mike Rankin and Nigel French celebrate the conclusion of the 12-part series, which began as a pair of articles in InDesign Magazine back in 2013 and was later revisited and expanded for CreativePro Magazine. They look back at the long journey of the series and the ideas at its heart: studying the past, learning by doing, embracing constraints, understanding the rules of design, and knowing when to step away from the computer. They also talk about Nigel's approach to typography and composition, the influence of his photography on his design work, and the ongoing challenge of putting his own advice into practice. Key Takeaways: Study the past to understand the present. Learn from the history of design and typography, and look closely at how designers before you solved familiar problems. Paint the back of the fence. Take pride in the details that may never be seen by building files that are organized, thoughtful, and usable by whoever needs to work with them next. Don't polish a weak idea. When you find yourself endlessly nudging, tweaking, and adjusting, step away from the computer and ask whether the underlying idea is strong enough. Know the rules before you break them. Understand the principles behind established design practices so you can make deliberate choices about when to follow, adapt, or abandon them. Design is simple, that's what makes it so complicated. Limiting your choices can focus your thinking and lead to simpler, stronger solutions. Keep learning, no matter how experienced you are. The deeper you get into design, the more you realize there is to learn, so stay curious and embrace being a perpetual student. Resources How to Be a Better Designer article series (Members only): https://creativepro.com/tag/htbbd/ CreativePro Design + Marketing Summit, September 14–15, 2026: https://creativepro.com/event/design-marketing-summit-2026/ CreativePro Design + AI Summit Part 2, September 17–18, 2026 https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/ Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: 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/

Print is alive and well, and it is more flexible, creative, and powerful than ever. In this conversation, Sabine Lenz and Chris Carls share their passion for print and explain why designers and marketing professionals should take a closer look at what it can do today. They explore how new technologies, digital embellishments, shorter print runs, and smarter production options have expanded what is possible. They also make a strong case for finding the right printer, building a trusted relationship, and starting that conversation before the design begins. Along the way, they share practical advice, inspiring examples, and plenty of reasons to believe that print really is better than you remember. Show Highlights Hear how Sabine proves that print is still alive by handing out a business card people can't stop touching. Discover how digital presses, short runs, foil, soft-touch finishes, and other embellishments have changed what designers can create. Hear how a nearly impossible World Cup menu project became possible with the right technology and the right printer. Hear why printed direct mail is getting attention again and why Chris says younger audiences may see it as something fresh, tangible, and worth opening. Learn why your first call should be to the printer, not after the design is finished, but before it begins. Leave inspired to stay curious, find a great printer, and go make some cool stuff. Resources CreativePro Design + Marketing Summit, September 14–15, 2026. See the agenda and register here. Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST PaperSpecs Cirrus Visual