Sesame Workshop Design Staff Discovers Creative Control, Improved Productivity with Wacom’s Cintiq

Link via Animation Artist

As one of several Creative Directors at Sesame Workshop, Nancy Stevenson specializes in character graphics for licensing, marketing, interactive media, web and community outreach. She and her colleagues in the Creative Services Department are responsible for translating the look of actual 3D puppets into 2D images, the blue-lining of book illustrations, as well as photo shoots and editing photography for video packaging and point of purchase. Most of their work involves vector art using Illustrator, as well as Photoshop, InDesign and SketchBook Pro.

The workload at Sesame Workshop grows with each new international co-production that requires localized artwork and character interpretations. Although designers had Wacom Intuos3 tablets, their toolset also included traditional blue pencils and tracing paper. To leap ahead of the technology curve and boost productivity, Sesame Workshop wanted to upgrade to a state-of-the-art platform.

The solution presented itself at a trade show, where designers saw Wacom’s Cintiq 21UX LCD display. The Cintiq’s advanced direct pen-on-screen image editing and sketching capabilities were exactly what they needed. Half the design staff is now using Cintiqs, doubling the speed of many tasks and providing new creative techniques.

The Cintiq 21UX 21″ Interactive Pen Display is available from Creation Engine for $1,999.