Explore every episode of the podcast Spotlight Sessions
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directing Stories with Galen Summer | 21 Aug 2025 | 01:18:25 | |
Filmmaker Galen Summer talks about directing documentaries, editing for film and TV, and his Emmy-nominated journey in the entertainment industry. ---- Visit Galen's website, his company Public Record, or connect with him on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Adding Value with Sean Bamforth | 15 Aug 2025 | 01:20:08 | |
From financial clients to big tech and AI, Microsoft's Sean Bamforth reveals how to create impact and add value to any organization and your own career. ---- Connect with Sean Bamforth on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Igniting the Creative Mind with Sean Brown | 22 Jan 2025 | 01:20:42 | |
Senior Manager of Marketing Strategy at Disney, Sean Brown, reveals how to spark and sustain the creative mindset. ---- Visit Sean's website, Ignite the Mind, check out his inspiration report, Brainstorm in a Box, or connect with him on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website, LinkedIn, or Discord (jbam). ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Katrina Torrijos | Digital Creator | 30 Dec 2024 | 00:52:54 | |
California-based digital creator Katrina Torrijos talks about her life as an Adobe Express evangelist and her journey as a content creator on YouTube and Instagram. ---- Visit Katrina Torrijos' website. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website, LinkedIn, or Discord (jbam). ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Bartosz Kosowski | Illustrator | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:53:18 | |
Poland-based illustrator and poster artist Bartosz Kosowski talks about creating artwork for clients like Disney, Lucasfilm, Legendary Pictures, Apple, Netflix, HBO, Electronic Arts, The New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, and yes, even the king, LeBron James. ---- Visit Bartosz Kosowski's website. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website, LinkedIn, or Discord (jbam). ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Sasha Vinogradova | Digital Artist | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:54:52 | |
Emmy-nominated art director, digital artist, and illustrator Sasha Vinogradova (a.k.a Melaamory) talks about her career working on productions like Game of Thrones and True Detective and for companies like Apple and The Mill. ---- Visit Sasha's website or follow her on Instagram. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website, LinkedIn, or Discord (jbam). ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Richard Irving | Creative Director | 29 Jul 2024 | 01:00:26 | |
Creative director and Adobe mentor Richard Irving talks about his career in graphic design, which has included work on brands like Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Old Navy. ---- Visit Richard Irving's website or message him on Discord (richardirvingmentor). ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website, LinkedIn, or Discord (jbam). ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Preview | 27 Jul 2024 | 00:00:52 | |
Spotlight Sessions is a podcast offering exclusive insights into the creative industry through conversations with top professionals. Join host Justin Bamforth for personal stories, practical tips, and inspiration, all recorded live in the Adobe Creative Career Discord. ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to listen and participate in the conversation! | |||
| Landing the Dream Job with Curtis Ying | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:56:43 | |
Creative entrepreneur Curtis Ying opens up about his long and determined journey to land a role at Adobe, sharing what it took to stay motivated, stand out, and ultimately get hired as a UX designer on the Adobe Express team. ---- Check out Curtis Ying's website, his clothing company, or connect with him over on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Humanitarian Photography with Winish Chedi | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
Netherlands-based photographer Winish Chedi shares his journey of reporting on diverse aspects of the human experience, capturing the essence of people and their stories through his camera lens. ---- Check out Winish's work on his website, his Instagram, or connect with him over on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Comic Book Illustrating with Alba Ceide | 18 Jul 2025 | 00:58:58 | |
Alba Ceide, comic book artist, illustrator, and instructor at the Royal College of Art, shares the creative process behind her stories and what it takes to get published. ---- Check out Alba's work on her website or connect with her on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Bringing Magic to Movie Posters with Dennis Dunbar | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:59:34 | |
Digital artist and image retoucher, Dennis Dunbar, shares his process for creating compelling images for the advertising and entertainment industries. ---- Check out Dennis's work on his website or connect with him on social media. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Freelance Graphic Design Tips with Jamie Victor | 04 Jul 2025 | 01:19:03 | |
Branding consultant, art director, and graphic designer Jamie Victor shares what it takes to be successful in the field and how to make freelancing a full-time career. ---- Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn or his website. And be sure to listen to his music with Alright Junior and Fossils from the Future! ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Mastering Design Operations with Timothy Schmidt | 11 Jun 2025 | 01:17:16 | |
Timothy Schmidt, Director of Design Operations at Mastercard, shares insights into his creative process, UX design, and his career with Mastercard and PayPal. ---- Connect with Tim on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| 3D Design with Kyle Jamison | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:58:33 | |
3D generalist, Adobe Community Expert, and Adobe Creative Career mentor Kyle Jamison discusses the crossroads of creativity and technology in 3D design. **There were some audio issues at the start of the show, so please forgive us.** ---- At the time we recorded the episode, Kyle was working for Tate Inc., but he has since moved on and is now a 3D designer for Walmart. ---- Visit Kyle's Behance, or connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter (X), or on Discord (walabe8). ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Designing for The White House with Meena Yi | 26 Feb 2025 | 01:02:59 | |
Former Creative Director at The White House, Meena Yi, talks about designing for President Joe Biden and behind-the-scenes life when the United States of America is your number one "client." ---- See some of the work Meena created for the now archived Instagram accounts for the White House and President Joe Biden. ---- Visit Meena's Instagram, or connect with her on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Designing for the Big Stage with Tara McCormack | 19 Dec 2025 | 01:11:19 | |
Senior designer Tara McCormack shares what it's like designing for entertainment and live sports, from NBCUniversal to FIFA World Cup 2026, while reflecting on community, mentorship, and finding inspiration beyond the screen. ---- Visit Tara's website or connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Building a Seriously Playful Career with Barry Darnell | 12 Dec 2025 | 01:24:04 | |
Founder and Executive Creative Director of Analogue, Barry Darnell shares how he built a studio by taking risks early, creating his own opportunities, mentoring new talent, and empowering young creatives to drive their own destiny. ---- Check out Barry's company Analogue or connect with him on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Channeling Creativity with Sneha Shanker | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:56:43 | |
Illustrator and designer Sneha Shanker, whose clients include Vans, HarperCollins, Lush, The Guardian, and the BBC, shares insights into her creative process and reveals what life is really like for a creative, beyond the clichés. ---- Visit Sneha's website, Instagram, YouTube, or connect with her on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Human-Centered Design with Shruthi Andru | 04 Sep 2025 | 01:01:20 | |
Adobe user experience designer Shruthi Andru talks about the messy middle of design, what she’s learned from her career in UX, and how her wide-ranging projects have helped her better understand the creative process. ---- Visit Shruthi's website or connect with her on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the brand new Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Paving a Creative Path with Julia Heatherly | 05 Dec 2025 | 01:13:57 | |
Designer and Adobe Creative Apprentice Julia Heatherly traces her journey from indie game development to attending ArtCenter to now working at Rhythm Agency, revealing how curiosity, experimentation, and her signature "What if?" mindset fueled the creative path she’s carving today. ---- Visit Julia's website, or connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| The Art of Teaching Visual Storytelling with Christopher Kern | 28 Nov 2025 | 01:13:38 | |
CBU professor, commercial photographer, and agency partner Christopher Kern explores how education, mentorship, and collaboration equip the next generation of visual storytellers to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. ---- Check out Christopher's photography program at CBU, his studio agency Compelle, or connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| From Aerospace to Art Direction with Tanya Gupta | 21 Nov 2025 | 01:22:28 | |
Former NASA engineer turned multimedia artist Tanya Gupta shares how she left a career in space for the creative world, blending technology, fashion, and imagination to build a uniquely vibrant creative practice. ---- Visit Tanya's website, or connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Distractions, Discipline, and Drive with Brady Patterson | 14 Nov 2025 | 01:05:09 | |
Designer and strategist Brady Patterson shares how he went from designing for the San Francisco 49ers, USC Athletics, Hulu, and Fox Sports to launching his own studio after a layoff, building a creative career fueled by discipline, resilience, and the mindset of an athlete. ---- Visit Brady's website, his agency Distract Studio, or connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Advocating for Freelancers with Rafael Espinal | 24 Oct 2025 | 01:01:32 | |
Rafael Espinal, President and Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, shares how he’s working to protect, support, and empower independent workers in today’s ever-evolving economy. ---- Connect with Rafael on LinkedIn, Instagram, or his website. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Balancing Tech and Passion with Jason Vaughan | 15 Oct 2025 | 01:11:40 | |
Developer and designer Jason Vaughan shares his unique career path, from coding for GEICO to developing for DARPA within the Department of Defense, and how running his lawn-care business, The Turf Nerd, helps him stay grounded. ---- Connect with Jason on LinkedIn, Instagram, or his website, The Turf Nerd. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Evolving as a UX Designer with Timothy Schmidt | 10 Oct 2025 | 01:09:07 | |
Returning guest Timothy Schmidt shares how his career has developed, what it takes to break into UX design, and insights from his work as Director of Design Operations at Mastercard. ---- Connect with Tim on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||
| Creative Journeys and Apprenticeships with Rhea Rendon | 26 Sep 2025 | 01:02:36 | |
Community creator and designer Rhea Rendon (aka Romi) shares lessons from her creative journey and what it took to join the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program. ---- Visit Rhea's Instagram or connect with them on LinkedIn. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his website or LinkedIn. ---- Check out the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program and join the Adobe Creative Career Discord to connect with a great community and be part of the conversation! | |||