Meet the 2018 Adobe Creativity Scholars

See their innovative work and get inspiration for your next project.

Worried design school is out of reach? Think again! Adobe is all about supporting the next generation of creators, and the Adobe Creativity Scholarship is one way that happens. Scroll to meet the creators, see their innovative work, and get inspiration for your next project.

Tarathorn Boonngamanong, United States

https://project1324.com/profile/1BD826D64F76790D0A490D4D@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

Originally from Thailand**,** Tarathorn plans to blaze trails in informative media by designing games that focus around Southeast Asian communities.

“I believe that art and technology can be powerful tools in raising awareness and creating change. There have been countless human rights violations in places like Southeast Asia that have been inaccurately documented. I want to make documentary and virtual reality experiences that represent the minority and recognize current injustices.”

Diana Chao, United States

https://project1324.com/profile/B2001283592F10920A495D98@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

From detecting small asteroids at NASA to destigmatizing mental illness through a self-established letter-exchange organization, Diana proves that hats are meant to be worn and changed.

“Perhaps in the future, my career will look like paleontology or space with art as a visualizer, or using the geometry of origami to investigate natural processes like protein folding, essential to solving a myriad of diseases. In whatever field I end up pursuing, I will use creativity to approach it — asking how and why instead of what. I will redesign established structures to encapsulate the actual needs of those I’m trying to serve.”

Ignacio Fernández, Costa Rica

Ignacio knows there is still power within traditional media, and plans to given our digital-driven age a run for its money.

“I have noticed the quality of TV content decreasing over time, and I want to change that. I feel that we, the youth, should do something to take over, not just new media like streaming and internet videos, but also traditional media. I feel the responsibility to give the population the content they deserve.”

Ciara-Beth Griffin, Ireland

https://project1324.com/profile/0936299955579DEC7F000101@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

With a mobile app already under her belt, Ciara seeks creative ways to communicate unfamiliar experiences and break the stigma around autism.

“When I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. My goal is to not only use creative digital media to help young people who have autism come to terms with their diagnosis, but to also show the world that autism can be a strength instead of a weakness.”

Mackie Mallison, United States

https://project1324.com/profile/C0EF7B1E5987F6ED0A495DA0@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

Instead of shying away from critical issues, Portland native Mackie Mallison combats racism with his camera. He plans to continue creating films that create dialogue and empower others to embrace their identity.

“Seeing, hearing, and feeling emotions has a unique effect that filmmaking harnesses. Sharing stories sparks conversation, and conversation creates change. I understand that collaboration is necessary to make that change, and I will continue the fight alongside others for social justice and the betterment of humanity.”

Lee Mokobe, South Africa

https://project1324.com/profile/23EF337B54F3E1570A4C98A1@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

At 15, Lee discovered slam poetry as an outlet for processing his experiences. By the time he was 18, he took home first place in the top spoken word competition in the world. Now he seeks to extend the supportive community he discovered to other emerging creators.

“I want to study performance, writing, and creative work through an African lens so that I can help create stories for youth like me. I will give a voice to trans African people on stage, on film, and television because that level of representation is non-existent and important.”

Monalisa Mondal, India

https://project1324.com/profile/1A53280E561E2DD77F000101@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

Monalisa has spent the last five years on holistic education in her community by helping burgeoning creators develop their skills and translate data into action. She will continue this work in her films by empowering viewers to take control of the issues affecting them.

“Change in mentality lies at the root to effectively address the daily life crosscutting issues. Through the process of filmmaking, I will involve people directly so that they have the platform to view situations more critically, and from a different perspective than the one that is largely projected in popular media. It is expected that people — especially the youth — will be able to better internalize and be sensitized to the problems affecting them. Instead of blaming situations on their fate, they can take ownership and address problems.”

Carlynn Newhouse, United States

https://project1324.com/profile/EC2723FB59371FA90A495DEF@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

As a part of the poetry and activist community in Seattle, Carlynn found her passion in leading writing workshops where she facilitated community building and worked to create space where poets and writers felt safe and whole. By studying psychology, Carlynn is planning to open an art therapy center for young women of color to find healing through their creative voice and psychological support.

“We live in a world where we are constantly told not to love ourselves, to be silent, to condense and shrink. My work is specifically intended to combat this by giving people a platform to have a voice.”

Carol Nguyen, Canada

https://project1324.com/profile/4F6E7B1750900ECB0A490D45@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

As a child of immigrant parents, Carol uses film to share the emotional growth, cultural expectations, and search for self-identity as she navigates through being a first-generation American.

“Film is my playground for storytelling. With so many interconnected disciplines inside of one medium, film allows the artist to explore their storytelling beyond the normal limits, and even embrace the most abstract of ideas. I would like to continue to create documentaries to spread kindness and diversity.”

Kyziah Shavers, United States

https://project1324.com/profile/E826862A5891426E0A495CC4@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

Kyziah says she basically started performing in the womb, now she wants to use her performance background to shape a new kind of movement by studying business at Dillard University. By pursuing business, Kyziah hopes to implement youth arts programming that will combine her love of performance with her passion for environmental justice activism.

“My experience with creating individual and collaborative projects has helped me more to open my mind to what’s possible through the arts. It has taught me that art is more than just performance, but that it holds a significant part in many social movements. I believe that making any change in the world starts with your own community. I want to build that bridge for future generations to have.”

Mohamed Touahria, Algeria

https://project1324.com/profile/667154E458A5A63C0A495CFE@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

Mohamed considers himself a storyteller first. He used his storytelling skills to animate a short film that landed him a 2018 Sundance Ignite Fellowship. By working toward a degree in animation at Loyola Marymount, he hopes his stories will help share perspectives from communities who are often silenced in his home country.

Musarrat Banu, India

https://project1324.com/profile/B99936215AA7F3720A495E49@AdobeID?referrer=project1324

At Maharaja Manindra Chandra College in Kolkata, Musarrat plans to study choreography where she can spread education through dance.

“Due to the lack of literacy in our country, books have not yet become the common man’s best friend. Dance, with its audiovisual presentation, is an innovative way of presenting serious social issues.”

Looking for a scholarship or education support? Find the Adobe Creativity Scholarship application here.