State of creativity: A new world shaping a new breed of creative

Image source: Adobe Stock / Sandy Christ.

If 2020 has one defining feature, it would be its power to redefine. Redefine how we work, how we interact with one another, and how we spend our time.

As we gear up for Adobe MAX next month, we wanted to get a pulse on how months of navigating a pandemic, amidst social issues, has affected creatives’ careers and the industry at large. We surveyed 600 creatives around the world and discovered there was a complete shift in how creativity comes to life, and that this year’s events will permanently change the creative industry.

Here’s what we found:

• 87 percent of creatives believe the events of 2020 will have lasting impacts on creative businesses.
• The change goes beyond just how creative businesses operate—82 percent said that 2020 forever changed how they create.
• With so much disruption in the creative industry and how creatives work, 83 percent agreed that the events of 2020 have made it more important than ever to expand their creative skill sets.

The new normal for creativity

For most of you reading this, it may come as no surprise that not even a global pandemic can get in the way of creative deadlines. What was once done shoulder to shoulder in the office, has moved to working remotely from home, and the traditional photo shoot has been replaced by a dramatic increase in the use of stock photos or socially-distanced photo shoots and highly-intricate video remotes.

Even with these workarounds, change has been a constant factor in the lives of creatives. Seventy-six percent admit that it is harder to navigate rapidly evolving trends in visual culture and topics today than it was six months ago. Addressing the uncertainty, 41 percent of creatives have changed how they create in 2020, building the chaos factor of this year into their process to quickly pivot creative direction if circumstances change.

Changing for the better

Our survey found great momentum building toward positive change in the coming months and years. As a byproduct of recent events, 91 percent of creative teams have become inspired to bring real-world issues into their work. Additionally, 49 percent of all creatives have begun to use their craft to develop campaigns with positive social impact. 89 percent of creatives agree that 2020 has made their teams think more creatively than ever before.

Despite the uncertainty, creatives are turning 2020 into an opportunity to thrive. With many creatives stuck at home, 86 percent are looking at training to expand creative skills in terms of interactive design and Web UI/UX.

Empowering creativity

Here at Adobe, we know that creativity fuels imagination and feeds the soul—especially in times of crisis. It can be hard to predict what tomorrow will bring, but creators have shown how resourceful they can be when challenged to think outside of the box. Our commitment to support, elevate, and amplify diverse voices is unwavering as we navigate these times together.

If you’d like to inspire the limitless creativity within you, join us at Adobe MAX—our annual creativity conference that will include 56 hours of completely free, virtual inspiration and learning.