We are proud to recognize the winners of the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship. Now in its 12th year, the annual competition challenges contestants from around the world to demonstrate their superior digital design skills using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Thiago Mello from Brazil won the top prize out of 47 finalists who came together in Orlando from July 27 - 30, 2025, for the final round.

The 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Champions are as follows:

• First place, Thiago Mello, Brazil
• Second place, Hallie Mitchell, United Kingdom
• Third place, Veleria Ximena Barreiro Guillen, Ecuador
• Fourth Place, Lucas Maia, Brazil
• Fifth Place, Reina El Chami, Lebanon
• Sixth place, Sophia Michelle Alfaro Escobar, Peru
• Seventh place, Norah Dunyach, USA
• Eighth place, Likha Belenytska, USA
• Ninth place, Zhenghao Wang, China
• Tenth place, Chayanon Hanam, Thailand

Finalists used Adobe Creative Cloud software to create design elements for the non-profit organization Networking for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) within eight hours. Participants designed posters and social media posts to promote awareness of NFTE's World Series of Innovation (WSI), an international online competition where students aged 13-24 develop solutions related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“In partnership with Adobe and Pearson, this competition gave students a chance to strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset and creative skills, while amplifying the reach of the NFTE World Series of Innovation. Their designs show how creativity can do more than just look good, it can tell stories that inspire change and shine a light on the global issues that matter,” commented Cheyanne Ornelas, Program Manager, World Series of Innovation at NFTE.

A panel of judges, including representatives from NFTE and design industry experts, reviewed the final projects and determined the winners based on visual appeal, ability to meet the client’s requirements and brand aesthetics, as well as their professional use of Adobe Creative Cloud applications. The first-place winner received an $8,000 cash prize. The second-place and third-place honorees received $4,000 and $2,000, respectively.

“It is incredible to witness how these young people use the skills that they acquired through getting certified in Adobe, to create such amazing pieces of art in answer to a real-world brief,” said Dr. Gary Gates, Managing Director, Pearson VUE. “This competition truly demonstrates the value of developing critical career skills that give them a considerable advantage in their chosen career path.”

“Certiport’s Adobe Certified Professional World Championships provide a unique opportunity for students from across the globe to showcase their creativity and technical skills while participating in real-world design challenges," said Liana Maharaj, Head of Student Learning and Certification at Adobe. "By earning an Adobe certification and competing at this level, these students are building confidence, gaining valuable experience, and creating a strong foundation for their future careers. We’re excited to support their journey and celebrate the incredible potential they bring to the world of design.”

Certiport will host the 2026 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship at the Disney Grand California, Anaheim, California, from July 26-29, 2026.