Photoshop’s Ann Arbor Origins and Our Daily Workflow
At Traverse City Web Design, we’re proud to be a Michigan web design company—founded, based, and building right here in the heart of Northern Michigan. And one of our favorite fun facts? The most powerful tool in our design workflow was also born in Michigan.
Photoshop—the industry-standard image editing software used by designers worldwide—was originally created in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the late 1980s, Thomas Knoll, a University of Michigan student, began developing a program called “Display” to view grayscale images on his computer. That program, built in his Ann Arbor apartment, became the foundation for what would later be known as Adobe Photoshop.
More than three decades later, we’re still using that Michigan-born software every single day.
At Traverse City Web Design, Photoshop plays a vital role in everything we do—from creating custom homepage banners and optimizing product images to crafting detailed visual mockups for local businesses across Michigan.
Whether we’re working with clients in Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, or Grand Rapids, our graphic design process is powered by one of Michigan’s most iconic digital inventions.
Photoshop may now be developed by Adobe’s global team, but its roots are right here in the Great Lakes State—just a few hours south of our studio. As a Michigan web design agency, we love the fact that we’re still designing with tools created in the same state where we live, work, and build websites.
It’s more than just software—it’s part of Michigan’s creative legacy.
For us, Michigan web design isn’t just about delivering great websites—it’s about honoring the innovation, craftsmanship, and creativity that define our region. We combine modern tools, like Photoshop, with a deep understanding of what Michigan businesses need to succeed online.
If you’re looking for a web design team that understands both the technical side and the local pride behind what we do, Traverse City Web Design is ready to help.
