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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1513481
An event that jumbles this many creatives together always has unexpected and often serendipitous benefits. The person next to you in a class or standing behind you in the lunch line can have new insights to share. All too many of us never entered or left pandemic mode. The nature of our work is often solitary. MAX can be a great opportunity to get out and make new and valuable connections. And the annual MAX Bash, music, dance, and block party is a way to get away from talking shop (it’s way too loud) and have some fun. This year, we noted, the “fun” part was probably limited to the MAX attendees. The MAX Bash had a couple of nearby streets blocked off and the Sneaks session let out just as hockey fans were crowding into the nearby L.A. Coliseum for the Los Angeles Kings season opener. Downtown commuters were definitely not happy campers. Though AI was at the forefront of Adobe’s product lines this year, Creative Park, the exhibit hall, was still a haven for the hands-on humans. A new twist this year was Adobe segmenting LACC’s huge West Exhibit Hall into color-coded sections dedicated to its various communities’ interests. It was a great help in finding the most relevant vendors but we’re sure that didn’t hold back many attendees from exploring the whole room. One thing that remained was Adobe’s attention to creature comforts, an area where MAX is always a standout. Nearly all the conferences we’ve been to around the country left us wondering if there was a place to sit down for a moment somewhere in the same city, MAX has always provided comfortable spaces in a variety of forms all over, from seats and couches to super-plush padded rugs. They not only provide a place for a moment’s rest or email check, but they also promote the mingling and interactions that can be so valuable at a unique gathering like this.