Start a User Group

Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. Our software tools enable the creation of beautiful and powerful images, videos, and apps. We are reinventing how people interact with each other across every digital channel and screen. And, Adobe User Groups have been a very important part of our eco-system since the very beginning.

The Adobe User Group Program is all about the People and the Products.

The Adobe User Group Program is a grass-roots movement of People! It's the People who provide the training, the professional networks, and the support to thousands of "Adobians" around the world. Adobe User Groups also work hand-in-hand with another sister program: The Adobe Community Professionals (ACPs). The ACPs often provide the speaker support to some of the User Groups, when feasible.

What is the Goal of Adobe's User Group Programs?

The goal of our User Group Programs is to: strengthen community networking & the Adobe brand; unveil the latest Adobe innovations; and, reveal the techniques that turn novices into experts, and experts into creative gurus. It's not about selling product nor services; it's about learning and fellowship.

What’s involved in running an Adobe User Group?

Running a successful Adobe User Group is both challenging and rewarding, but it is not for everyone. Adobe User Group Managers are all volunteers, meaning they are not employees of Adobe. They run their local user group for the sake of their members and for greater good of learning and fellowship; it is not a business. Now, Adobe recognizes this all-volunteer effort by providing some benefits to those User Groups who hold actual physical meetings and limited infrastructure to those who run virtual or “online” user groups. Some of the benefits of being an Adobe User Group who hold physical meet-ups include:

• Software Raffles – groups are allowed to raffle one (1) copy of select Adobe software every 6 months to help drive attendance at group meetings
• "Tech Wednesday" webinar presentations - every Wednesday we hold a 1 hour training session via Adobe Connect web conferencing software
• One Acrobat Connect Pro account - for streaming and recording of user group meetings
• AdobeMAX discount – managers receive a discount to attend Adobe’s annual MAX conference + special perks + Community Summit
• Third-party partner offers – special offers for online training and books from Adobe partners
• Access to a private user group manager mailing lists and Pre-Release websites, early access to upcoming features, techonologies
• Access to selected Adobe beta programs
• Interaction and support from a worldwide community of Adobe User Group Managers

The primary requirements for an active Adobe User Group are:

• A willingness to hold monthly meetings (at least 8 times a year) and have a viable membership base. (A user group must have members, in addition to its leadership)
• Post annual user group meeting dates & topics online
• Register the User Group with Adobe, providing information about the User Group leadership & some contact information + maintain regular contact with Adobe Community Managers.
• Monitor a private email alias (aka “Pre-Release” - A Non Disclosure Agreement is required)
• Maintain an active web presence and comply with an annual program review in which the Adobe Community Team determines which User Groups are active and complying with the guidelines above

What is an active web presence?

An active web presence is a website page here on Adobe Groups and/or an external website (such as Meetup.com, Facebook, etc). This site should include at a minimum a listing of your meeting dates and topics for the last 12 months, plus information about all upcoming meetings and how to contact the User Group manager(s). If using an external website, then we will create an initial page within the Adobe Groups System/Directory to point to your external URL.

Adobe User Group work together:

Adobe recommends that Adobe User Groups in a regional or metropolitan area work together and be mutually supporting of each other. So, make sure to check the listings of user groups or check this map to see if a similar user group already exists and/or contact the local Adobe User Group Manager in the area you wish to start a group in. If you don't see a group with the right focus listed in your area and are interested in starting one, then fill out the User Group Application. Adobe will review, respond, and request more information, if necessary. There is limited staff available to review these requests, but we try to review them within 14-21 business days.

NOTE: Due to embargos currently in place by the United States government, we can not support communities located in Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba or North Korea.

Adobe Groups Processes/Steps for Onboarding New Adobe User Groups (what to expect, and what's expected):

When starting a new user group, the prospective User Group Manager should be ready to tell Adobe:

• Where the meetings will be held, have you secured a venue? (might want to do this before applying for a user group)
• Who is going to come to the meetings? (Who is the User Group Manager going to recruit from to come to the meetings, a User Group is more than just yourself)
• What is the topic focus of the User Group? (too narrow, may not attract enough members, to broad, failure to achieve regular attendance from active membership)

 Click on the picture below to get to an Adobe Community Mgr's twitter account & send them a message.

Adobe Community Team:

Also check out our public "Community Kitchen" Blog