As a professional graphic designer since 1998 — over 25 years using your tools — I am writing to you with profound indignation and disappointment at the direction the company has taken with the Adobe Creative Cloud business model.
For more than two decades, I have been a faithful user of your products. I have invested not only money, but time, knowledge, and constant feedback that contributed to the evolution and improvement of the tools that made Adobe the technological giant it is today. I actively participated in the creative community that tested, suggested improvements, promoted, and defended your products among colleagues and students.
This historical loyalty is now being completely disrespected.
The current mandatory subscription model — which forces me to pay for an expensive complete package to access only 2 or 3 applications I actually use — is an affront to all professionals who built the solid foundation of your company. It is unacceptable that, after decades of investment and loyalty, I am forced to pay for dozens of programs I will never use, just to remain competitive in the market.
Adobe is actively contributing to the exclusion of senior designers and freelancers from the job market.
As a freelancer, I am forced to individually bear costs that reach €1000 annually, just to access the basic tools of my work. This is unsustainable and discriminatory. You are creating a financial barrier that prevents experienced designers — who don't have company backing to pay for these subscriptions — from staying active and competitive.
I demand that Adobe:
- Create customizable packages that allow choosing only the necessary applications, with proportional pricing
- Implement significant discounts for long-time users and freelancers
- Reintroduce perpetual license options or lower-cost packages for independent professionals
- Recognize and compensate the historical contribution of loyal users who helped build the Adobe empire
Your current strategy is purely capitalist and predatory. You are transforming essential design tools into luxury items, forcing qualified professionals to abandon the market or seek alternatives.
As a member of the creative community who has always defended and promoted your products, I feel betrayed and discarded. If you continue on this path, you have not only lost a loyal customer of 27 years, but also an advocate who will now actively recommend the available alternatives.
Adobe has the opportunity to correct this injustice. I hope you demonstrate the same respect for the creative community that it has always shown for you.
André Viana Machado | Graphic Designer
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