The 13th annual competition in Anaheim drew 56 finalists from 27 countries, with USA’s Lulu Emanuele taking first place after earning Adobe certification and winning a national contest.
Pearson announced the results of the annual Certiport 2026 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship, a global student design competition now in its 13th year. The event was held in Anaheim, California, and brought together 56 finalists from 27 countries, all ages 13 to 22. To qualify, students earned an Adobe Certified Professional credential in Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign and then won their country competitions. Lulu Emanuele of the USA placed first, followed by Furtini Baldesin of Brazil in second and Muhammad Fawwaz Haiqal Bin Mohd Fuaad of Malaysia in third. Pearson said the competition is designed to test technical and creative skills in a real-world setting and help prepare students for careers shaped by artificial intelligence and technological change. Arthur Valentine, President of Assessment and Qualifications at Pearson, said professional certifications give employers a trusted measure of skill and can help young people demonstrate creative, technical, and problem-solving ability early in their careers. Pearson also cited Adobe research saying 75% of hiring managers view certifications as a signal of high-quality creative candidates.