Columbia Senior鈥檚 Illustration Featured in Adobe Social Media Campaign
Angela Kalish鈥檚 illustration featured on Adobe鈥檚 back to school social media campaign. 
Kalish in downtown Chicago.
Kalish's winning illustration features her cat鈥攈er 鈥渁larm clock every morning鈥濃 surrounded by details from her back-to-school routine like skateboards, sunglasses, and other supplies.When senior Graphic Design major Angela Kalish attended the Adobe Creative Retreat, she didn’t expect it would lead to her artwork being seen by millions of viewers on social media. What began as a weekend of panels, workshops, and creative networking soon turned into a high-profile commission through the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program, which showcased her art in Adobe’s back-to-school social media campaign.
Kalish was nominated to attend the retreat by School of Design practitioner-in-residence Darija Dokic, who recognized her talent as a designer. Surrounded by industry professionals and fellow student artists, she gained a new perspective on her future. “The Adobe Creative Retreat really helped put things into perspective for me as a designer,” she says. Hearing firsthand stories of setbacks and triumphs reminded her that there is no single path to success in the arts—and left her inspired to keep carving her own.
The connections she made that weekend proved just as impactful as the lessons. Kalish began building a community on LinkedIn that continues to motivate her. Among them was an Adobe employee who remembered her not just for her creativity, but also for the personal sticker she handed out at the event. He later reached out about an opportunity: Adobe’s back-to-school Snapchat campaign needed an illustrator, and Kalish was top of mind.
From Retreat to Recognition
Kalish describes the feeling of seeing work go live as “surreal.” She’s not a regular Snapchat user, but when the illustration appeared on her screen for the first time, it was a moment she won’t forget. Soon the Instagram algorithm began feeding the campaign back to her, amplifying the joy. “It puts a massive smile on my face every time,” she says.
For the commission, Kalish leaned into authenticity. With support from Adobe’s Direct to Student Team, she built a piece that reflected her daily life. Her cat—her “alarm clock every morning”—became the central figure, surrounded by details from her back-to-school routine like skateboards, sunglasses, and other supplies. She also wove in nods to her earlier projects, from the “Space Squirrel” mural in Haus to her alien cat illustration, making the piece both personal and rooted in her creative journey.
Building Confidence at Columbia
Kalish credits Columbia with helping her find the confidence to embrace her own artistic perspective. Classes gave her fluency with Adobe Creative Cloud, but her professors and experiences selling at and INK Fest reminded her that her art has value. That encouragement has pushed her to experiment, take risks, and bring her full personality into her design work.
Now, with a major commission in her portfolio, Kalish is looking toward the future with excitement. This semester she’ll begin an internship in a collaborative design environment while continuing to grow her art business. She says freelance opportunities like the Adobe campaign are especially meaningful, giving her both flexibility and visibility. “ Thanks to this opportunity, I am very hopeful for my future as a creative,” she says. “And that’s more than I could ever ask for right now.”
Interested in opportunities like Kalish’s? Learn more about and explore how you can share your work with the world.