Adobe’s Hubris Will Destroy Them
The pride comes before the fall, as the saying goes.
And if the recent backlash across the Internet is evidence, it appears that Adobe is teetering on the precipice of its own downfall. Twenty years ago, Adobe was the darling in the design application space. Their design software tools were the defacto standard for designers across the world for good reason: they were powerful tools that allowed designers to express themselves in new and exciting ways.
These days, Adobe is held in both contempt and disdain. Nobody is singing the praises of Adobe any more. The thrill is gone.
Many of us still use their tools because we have used them for decades. Familiarity, like nostalgia, is a hell of a drug. And some of us still use Adobe’s software because they are essentially industry standard tools, and design students are expected to learn them. And, in some (rare) cases, Adobe is the only company offering certain features in their tools that are not present in other software packages.
Adobe, in the past decade or so, has created bad blood among the very designers it used to actively court. It started with the move to subscription pricing several years ago. Eschewing options for a one-time purchase, everyone (professionals and hobbyists alike) using Adobe’s tools had to submit to their subscription model. If that wasn’t bad enough, they made subscription cancellation exceedingly difficult, resulting in the U.S. government suing Adobe over its deceptive subscription practices.
If the subscription debacle wasn’t enough, two years ago Adobe started injecting generative AI tools within their apps. Instead of creating powerful, innovative tools to augment creativity, the AI tools they’ve unleashed are threatening to extinguish it. Where is the innovation, Adobe?
I have never seen a more tone deaf company than Abobe. Their actions not only show their lack of self-awareness, but their willingness to disrespect the millions of designers who use their tools.
Make no mistake, the damage is done. People are seeking alternatives, whether it’s switching to the Affinity Design Suite, or moving over to free and open source software offerings.
I can’t quite jump ship from Adobe for reasons outlined above, but I’d like to. And I’m definitely not alone in this sentiment.
-Krishna
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