John Roescher, Founder and CEO of Raw Materials, joins Adobe for a lively conversation on why design needs a reset: one that’s rooted in creativity, not just process. Drawing on his journey from building an award-winning design agency, Handsome, to evolving it into Raw Materials, John shares why the shift wasn’t just a rebrand, but a reinvention of what a design company can be. We’ll also explore the power design can have in driving innovation in high-impact industries and why aligning with the right partners and challenges is essential.

LINKS

John Roescher - LINKED IN

Raw Materials Company Site

HOST

Talin Wadsworth

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About Adobe: Adobe offers groundbreaking technology that empowers everyone, everywhere to imagine, create, and bring any digital experience to life. ⁠www.adobe.com⁠
About SoDA: SoDA is a global network of innovative digital agencies. ⁠www.sodaspeaks.com⁠
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Edited with Adobe Podcast: ⁠podcast.adobe.com⁠.

For more information please contact ⁠sodaserieslive@adobe.com⁠

PJ Pereira, Creative Chairman & Co-Founder at Pereira O’Dell, joins Adobe for a lively discussion on AI’s impact on the creative community, the risks of homogenization in design, and the importance of preserving authenticity and imagination in a rapidly changing technological landscape. We’ll explore the balance between human originality and machine-generated content, and share strategies for staying ahead by recognizing patterns, embracing research, and keeping a unique voice.

SPEAKER BIO

PJ Pereira is an industry veteran of over 20 years, known for co-founding independent award-winning creative agency, Pereira O’Dell. In 2023, PJ was also named Chief Creative Officer of independent agency network Serviceplan Americas. He’s been named to Adweek's Creative 100, Ad Age's Creativity 50, 4A's 100 People Who Make Advertising Great, and most recently Adweek’s AI Champion of the Year in 2023. His interest in AI led him to co-found AI incubation and innovation lab, Silverside AI, as a company within Pereira O’Dell.

In 2023, PJ released a novel called The Girl From Wudang, a novel about artificial intelligence, martial arts, and immortality. Pereira is a pioneer in the marketing world, sitting at the intersection of tech, entertainment and advertising. His credentials have made him one of the industry's most influential and respected creatives. As a board member for the Ad Council, PJ has led award-winning initiatives including the “It’s Up To You” Vaccination campaign. Outside of his work in advertising, PJ is a novelist of 12 years, and a martial artist with multiple black belts.

LINKS

PJ Pereira LINKEDIN

Pereira Website

Mentions:Three Body Problem, part of a trilogy of books and a show on NetflixGirl from Wudang, PJ's bookThe Beauty Inside campaign

HOST

Talin Wadsworth

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About Adobe: Adobe offers groundbreaking technology that empowers everyone, everywhere to imagine, create, and bring any digital experience to life. ⁠www.adobe.com⁠
About SoDA: SoDA is a global network of innovative digital agencies. ⁠www.sodaspeaks.com⁠
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Edited with Adobe Podcast: ⁠podcast.adobe.com⁠.

For more information please contact ⁠sodaserieslive@adobe.com⁠

Mirek Nisenbaum, Partner & Digital Director at Base Design, joins Adobe for a lively discussion exploring the concept of Digital Magnetism—how beauty, authenticity, and energy can transform a website from functional to truly captivating. Beyond aesthetics, we’ll explore how branding creates depth and meaning, keeping users engaged in an era of fleeting attention. We’ll also discuss the challenges of maintaining authenticity in design, keeping creative teams inspired, and navigating how AI is reshaping the creative process—and what it means for the future of originality.

Base Design is an international network of creative studios located in Brussels, New York, Geneva, and Melbourne. From strategy to execution, we design brands that are memorable—and crafted for good business. Base Group is B Corp certified.

Speaker BIO

As a partner at Base Mirek is working as an overall lead for strategy and experience design on digital engagements as well as building the best-in-class team for brand communications of the future.

He has a BA in Fine Arts and more than 20 years of experience working in various digital media. Together with his partners and super talented team, they take projects from discovery and concepting, to UX ideation, to design and production, with special attention to strategy and wholistic digital ecosystem driven approach, constantly striving for perfection in every project, for every client.

Our main challenge in every engagement is finding a flexible balance of the form and function. We are constantly looking for ways to express brands online, to create comprehensive brand experiences and interactions at every touchpoint through the digital ecosystem - web, mobile, social, content and search.

LINKS

Mirek Nisenbaum - LinkedIn

Base Design Website

Host - Talin Wadsworth

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About Adobe: Adobe offers groundbreaking technology that empowers everyone, everywhere to imagine, create, and bring any digital experience to life. ⁠www.adobe.com⁠
About SoDA: SoDA is a global network of innovative digital agencies. ⁠www.sodaspeaks.com⁠
__
Edited with Adobe Audition and Adobe Podcast: ⁠podcast.adobe.com⁠.

For more information please contact ⁠sodaserieslive@adobe.com⁠