On March 26, 2024, Studio 162 artist and graphic designer, Lauren Clayton had the pleasure of being a guest speaker for the Adobe Create Now Stamford Event held at The Loft at the Chelsea Piers. Roughly 200 artists, photographers, videographers, UX/UI designers and graphic designers gathered together for an evening of networking and learning.
Video by Byron Soza of Alli Inka Creative Media
The event organized by Community Relations Manager, Sydney Lanham of Adobe, featured app demo and tips by Rochester, NY graphic designer Toren Reaves, an Adobe Community Relationship Manager and Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly expert. In addition to Toren’s exciting demo, Lauren was invited to speak as a Stamford graphic designer and local sharing insight on her growth as an artist and graphic designer, and business owner in Stamford for 20 years. She shared her experience in using Adobe products like Illustrator, Indesign and Photoshop as it relates to her murals, marketing for small businesses and work with nonprofit organizations. The event was energetic, lively and was successful in bringing creative people from Stamford and Fairfield County together over lite bites and cocktails catered by Nikki Glekas Collective.
Photos by Byron Soza of Alli Inka Creative Media
The event description was as follows: Dive into an evening of creativity with Adobe! Join the design community at Adobe Create Now to connect with fellow local creators, explore new ways to collaborate, and enhance your creative process. Discover Adobe's latest features, and get pro tips for Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Firefly, Adobe Express, and more. Enjoy appetizers, drinks, and a chance to win a Creative Cloud membership. Please note that our event has limited capacity, so kindly RSVP only if you plan to attend. We can't wait to see you there! Share with friends! #AdobeCreateNow. By attending this event, you consent to the use of your likeness in photographs and videos for promotional and documentation purposes.
Artist Presenter Bios
Toren Reaves
Toren is a flourishing creative who founded the 1st Black-Owned & Operated ad agency, KESA, in his hometown of Rochester, NY. His mission is to develop creative talent in underserved communities, and he works with the Adobe Community team, with a focus on Adobe Express, to empower as many people as possible to create.
Lauren Clayton
Lauren is a Stamford, CT artist and graphic designer who channels her love for bold and impactful art through her business, Studio 162. With a mission to fulfill her clients' design dreams, she also aims to inspire fellow creatives on their own journeys. Offering a spectrum of services from painting murals to designing brand identities, Lauren has collaborated with brands like Playtex and GE Appliances. She places a special focus on working with nonprofit organizations whose missions she supports through powerful art and design.
Mural illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator by Lauren Clayton