From Art School to AI: How Nitya Kumar Reinvented Her Career at Adobe

Nitya Kumar's career took a sharp turn in 2024. Originally a product designer fresh out of college with a role at Meta, she noticed the tech industry's shift towards AI and felt the urge to adapt. By 2025, she'd landed a UX design position at Adobe, a milestone that speaks volumes about her adaptability and willingness to embrace new challenges.

But, Kumar's transition wasn't about hopping on the AI bandwagon. it was more about turning her career into an experiment, a science lab of sorts. Her lack of formal machine learning training didn't stop her. She dived into YouTube tutorials and leaned on friends to guide her through the initial hurdles. One step at a time, she focused on projects that piqued her interest, like creating a game that detects dance gestures, and a Matcha recipe generator. These were quirky, fun, and precisely what made her stand out during interviews.

Adobe saw more than just technical skills. they saw creativity, initiative, and a can-do spirit. By November 2025, she was working on developing agentic AI experiences, including conversational AI, at Adobe. And she didn't stop there. Kumar quickly took on a mentorship role, leading AI playground workshops every other Friday. Her sessions have become a communal space for designers to explore AI tools and share their learnings.

Here's what we can learn from Kumar: in an industry that's constantly evolving, standing still isn't an option. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, you've to be willing to bet on yourself, even if the odds aren't clear. In the world of crypto and tech, the winners are those who refuse to be boxed in by their initial roles or skill sets.