Young, Certified, and Winners: Pearson's Certiport Announces 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Champions

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Pearson (NYSE:PSO) has announced the winners of the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship through its Certiport business unit. Thiago Mello from Brazil claimed the top prize among 47 global finalists at the competition held in Orlando from July 27-30, 2025.

Contestants demonstrated their digital design skills using Adobe Creative Cloud software, creating promotional materials for the Networking for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) organization within an 8-hour timeframe. The first-place winner received $8,000, while second and third-place winners earned $4,000 and $2,000 respectively.

The competition, now in its 12th year, will host its 2026 edition at Disney Grand California, Anaheim, from July 26-29, 2026.

ORLANDO, Fla., July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L) is proud to recognize the winners of the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship, announced by Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, and the leading provider of performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners.

Now in its 12^th 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, Lihka Belenytska, Macau China
• 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," 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," says 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.

Learn more about Certiport's Adobe Certified Professional World Championship here.

About Certiport

Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, is the leading provider of certification exam development, delivery and program management services delivered through an expansive network of over 13,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. Certiport manages a sophisticated portfolio of leading certification programs including: the official Microsoft Office Specialist certification program, the Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification program, the Microsoft Certified Educator program, the Adobe® Certified Professional certification program, the Autodesk Certified User certification program, the Intuit certification program, the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification program, the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certification program, the App Development with Swift certification program, the Project Management Institute Project Management Ready certification program, the Unity Certified User certification program, the Communication Skills for Business certification program, the IC3 Digital Literacy certification, and the Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification program. Certiport reliably delivers over three million tests each year throughout the secondary, post-secondary, workforce, and corporate technology markets in 148 countries and 29 languages worldwide. For more information visit www.certiport.com or follow Certiport on X at www.twitter.com/certiport. 

"Certiport" is a registered trademark of NCS Pearson, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About NFTE

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) ignites the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that empower students to own their futures. A global nonprofit founded in 1987, NFTE provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school and postsecondary students. NFTE brings the power of entrepreneurship to students, regardless of family income, community resources, special needs, gender identity, race, or ethnicity. NFTE has educated more than a million students, delivering our programs in school, out of school, in-person, online, or through hybrid models. Visit nfte.com to learn more.

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SOURCE Pearson VUE

FAQ

Who won the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship organized by Pearson's Certiport?

Thiago Mello from Brazil won first place among 47 global finalists, followed by Hallie Mitchell (UK) in second place and Veleria Ximena Barreiro Guillen (Ecuador) in third place.

What was the prize money for the Adobe Certified Professional World Championship 2025?

The competition awarded $8,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place.

Where and when will the 2026 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship be held?

The 2026 championship will be held at the Disney Grand California, Anaheim, California, from July 26-29, 2026.

What did contestants have to create during the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship?

Contestants had 8 hours to create design elements, including posters and social media posts, for the Networking for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) organization using Adobe Creative Cloud software.

How many finalists participated in the 2025 Adobe Certified Professional World Championship?

47 finalists from around the world participated in the final round of the competition in Orlando.