This year’s MAX customer anniversary pins have a story to tell
The pins are back! Each year we partner with a different member of our design community to create custom enamel pins for Adobe MAX attendees. Each pin marks how many years someone has been creating with Adobe tools — while celebrating our community’s craft, growth, and passion. For many of you, it’s a little tradition that carries big meaning.
“The moment I step onto the conference floor, it’s the first thing I try to grab,” says Tyler Pate, multidisciplinary art director, illustrator, and this year’s pin designer. “I love the energy these pins create, from conversations like ‘What year did you get?’ to all the photo moments of people proudly showing theirs. For me, it’s a badge of honor within the creative community.”
Following in the footsteps of previous pin designers Carra Sykes (2022), Jessica Miller (2023), and Marlene Vega (2024), Tyler brought his unique expertise as a creative storyteller to the project. In this article, we’ll give you a sneak preview of the 2025 pins and take a behind-the-scenes look at Tyler’s process.
If you are attending Adobe MAX 2025 in person in Los Angeles (October 28–30), pop by the Community booth to pick up your pin for free — and take home a piece of your creative journey.
Design through the decades
This year’s creative vision focused on honoring the evolution of design trends that have influenced us as creatives.
“Each pin represents a defining moment in design history that continues to shape the way we work and create today — from the 1960s through 2025,” Tyler explains. All nine pins come with a unique story about their design: from the two-year pin that reflects the current generative AI creative frontier, to the 40-year pin that pays tribute to mid-century American modernism.
“I love the idea of the pins not just as collectibles, but as entry points for asking ‘why’,” explains Tyler. “Why these styles existed, why they mattered, and what they can teach us today.”
Tyler’s favorite? The 40-year pin and backcard stand out for him. “The pin draws from the printing era of that time and the bold simplicity of 1960s design trends — it became my subtle tribute to Paul Rand,” he explains. “And the corresponding card is the most distressed and aged in the set.”
This year Tyler will be sporting the 15-year pin (the rise of app-centered design) to honor his creative journey. “The impact of Adobe’s tools is immeasurable,” he points out. “They have given me a career, a voice, and have helped fuel my passion. I’ve spent more time in these programs than anything else — they’re a playground to me.”
Tyler’s 15-year pin (left), a selection of the different anniversary pins (middle), and the backcard for the 35-year pin (a celebration of Photoshop).
The process behind the 2025 customer anniversary pins
Tyler began his design process by sketching early pin concepts on paper, before moving those drawings to Adobe Photoshop and then Adobe Illustrator, his favorite. He describes the Pen tool, Pathfinder, and Shape Builder in particular as his go-to essentials — the backbone of his process.
Tyler also leaned on Generative Recolor (powered by Adobe Firefly), which made it easy for him to explore different color directions through a simple text prompt. This made finding the right vibe for each pin fast and simple.
The pin collection is packed with easter eggs, something Tyler is especially proud of. “Each pin highlights a specific feature or tool that defined its year,” he reveals. “Whether it’s nods to registration marks from the print process or little speech bubbles inspired by Illustrator’s collaboration features. These are fun details for designers to discover, and each one adds another layer of meaning to the story behind the pins.”
Adobe Illustrator is Tyler’s go-to tool for transforming creative vision into reality.
Small objects, big stories
The pins have grown beyond keepsakes. The stories you’ve shared since we first introduced the anniversary pins have been inspiring: memories of first design projects, the tools that helped launch your careers, and what you’ve achieved along the way. Some of you even return to MAX each year wearing your past pins and proudly adding a new one to your lanyards.
We hope that the 2025 pins remind you of the importance of our creative journeys and the eras that have shaped us along the way. As Tyler puts it, “Whether it’s your first year or your 40th, we should never lose the excitement of being creative. Each milestone is an accomplishment, and every person has a unique story worth celebrating.”
Tyler Pate in his workspace, designing the 2025 Adobe MAX customer anniversary pins. Photo credit: Morgan Rindengan.
Join the celebration!
No matter how long you’ve been creating with Adobe, stop by the Community booth at MAX LA from October 28–30 and pick up your pin. And if you’ve got a story to share, we’d love to hear it! Tag us on social with #AdobeAnniversary and tell us what your pin — or your creative journey — means to you.