Empowering the Next Generation with the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship Program

Nickerson’s Associate Director of Design & Brand, Olivia Leese, who also serves as Programming Director for AIGA Los Angeles, the West Coast’s leading professional association for design, recently became a mentor in Adobe’s Creative Apprenticeship Program. Olivia’s commitment to nurturing new creative talent continues to develop into a highly rewarding focus.

Reflecting on her experience, Olivia shared, “What excites me most about mentoring in the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship Program and working alongside Viviana Castillo during her three-month apprenticeship at Nickerson is the opportunity to connect, provide creative guidance, and offer personal and professional advice. This collaboration has transformed into a meaningful friendship, something I craved as a young designer, where both individuals truly benefit from each other’s diverse skill sets. I am incredibly grateful for the design mentors who have shaped me into the designer I am today, and it has been immensely rewarding to offer that support to someone as kind, deserving, and talented as Viviana.”

As Associate Director of Design & Brand at Nickerson, Olivia led Viviana through a focused three‑month Adobe apprenticeship that gave her real, day‑to‑day agency experience. She worked directly on live client-partner projects, managing shifting priorities while sharpening technical skills in Adobe Express, InDesign, and Photoshop. Through hands‑on coaching, Olivia shared practical page‑layout techniques for longer documents and demonstrated how to use generative AI in Photoshop to speed iteration and elevate results. Each morning began with a Creative Services stand up call where the team brainstormed, reviewed deadlines, critiqued current work, and shared practical tips, from print preparation to workflow shortcuts. For remote designers, this daily touchpoint is invaluable, it fosters real-time feedback and keeps everyone aligned with client-partner needs and team priorities.

During the three‑month Adobe apprenticeship, Viviana gained exposure to industry events, including Adobe MAX, the AIGA National Conference in Los Angeles, and the AIGA LA Emergence Designer Showcase, where she spoke as a panelist and applied those learnings directly to Nickerson’s marketing work. With Olivia’s guidance, she produced premium quality marketing collateral, dynamic social graphics and videos, and cohesive branded LinkedIn banners for the full Nickerson team.

Under Olivia’s mentorship, Viviana also received hands-on support for client-partner engagement and creative decision making, accelerating her confidence and craft.

The partnership between Nickerson and the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship Program has successfully enriched the creative community for many reasons. By fostering mentorship and collaboration, we elevate emerging designers like Viviana while also enhancing our work at Nickerson. As Associate Director of Design & Brand, Olivia sees how the fresh perspectives of Adobe Apprentices spark innovative ideas that benefit our client-partners and inspire us to push creative boundaries.

This structured mentorship approach empowers apprentices with real-world experience essential for their professional growth. In return, Nickerson’s client-partners gain access to the latest trends and inventive solutions that arise from this collaboration. The positive impact on the design industry is significant; by nurturing new talent, we drive creativity and excellence throughout our field.

At Nickerson, we actively encourage our team members to take on mentorship roles and invite other companies to participate in similar programs. Investing in the next generation of creatives is a strategic initiative that elevates our industry and cultivates a vibrant ecosystem where innovative ideas can thrive.