Creating great technology —
and a great technology company.
When Dr. John Warnock and Dr. Charles Geschke cofounded Adobe in 1982, they set out to build a company where they would like to work — a company that would out-invent and out-engineer the competition while maintaining a culture in which employees treated others with trust and respect. Thanks to what Geschke calls “a unique combination of forward thinking, marketing savvy, timing, and luck,” Adobe pioneered technologies that have forever transformed how people create and consume digital content.
Warnock and Geschke’s shared vision, passion, and dedication played a big part in taking Adobe from start-up to one of the world’s most admired brands. The company is as widely recognized for corporate citizenship and being a great place to work as it is for industry-leading products, broad-based innovation, and strong financials.
Chuck Geschke passed away on April 16, 2021 and John Warnock passed away on August 19, 2023. Their brilliance and innovations leave an indelible mark on Adobe, the technology industry and the world.
Select awards and news
Commonwealth Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016
Dr. Chuck Geschke honored for pushing beyond boundaries.
National Medal of Technology and Innovation, 2008
One of the highest U.S. honors bestowed on scientists, engineers, and inventors.
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Software System Award, 1989
Awarded for the invention of Adobe PostScript.
San Francisco Business Times, 2016
Dr. Chuck Geshke: Principles of success Marconi Prize, 2010
Computer Entrepreneur Award: IEEE Computer Society, 2008
Recognition for major technical contributions to the computer industry.
Members of the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering.
Coveted annual award, the equivalent of a Nobel in the field of information technology.
American Electronics Association Medal of Honor, 2006
First software executives ever to receive this award.
Partners in innovation.
Follow the journey of Dr. Warnock and Dr. Geschke from their days as math students to their revolutionary work at Xerox PARC to the founding and leadership of Adobe.
Videos
Adobe’s founders built a culture that promotes risk-taking and empowers employees to innovate together to create brand new markets.