3D REFERENCE FOR LICENSEES Style Guide Development / Reference Development / IP Standards / Creative Direction / Product Development I have innovated 3D brand reference, including the Sesame Street Plush & Sculpture Guide, to ensure characters are on-model when translated into plush or sculpted toys, souvenir products, accessories, and displays using various manufacturing techniques. I pulled together the best plush designers (Longia Miller, Sara Melhem), sculptors (Catherine Kayser, Nathan Michael, Peter Kelley) and illustrators to create patterns, prototypes and maquettes. This valuable references streamlines the product development process — saving time and money for the licensor and licensee. Working with my toy designers and the graphics and production teams, the guides have evolved from print to digital, so they are easily distributed on an asset share site. Additional guides include 3D standards for other Sesame Workshop IP, costume character design and construction as well as rules for photography and video of costume characters. Over the years, other brands have taken inspiration from and used my guides as the standard to create their own.
MoreAnother passion of mine... COLLECTIBLE TOYS: SESAME STREET Creative Direction / IP Theming / Product Development / Toy Design An evergreen brand, Sesame Street appeals to kids as well as adult collectors who grew up with the show. As a collector myself, I jumped at the chance to work with creative partners to bring the characters to life in edgy new ways. Here are some examples: • Super7 brought Sesame into their ReAction figure line—and created a SuperSize Count and Super Grover. Their designers were on-point as I tweaked details to capture each Muppet’s look and personality. • Funko Pops have become a classic way to collect favorite characters. I guided our Sesame friends as they morphed into this cute style. • the LEGO Group Ideas sets evolve from winning fan builds. From there, Paul McMahon, Christina Kim and I refined details and added more character presence to the neighborhood. • Kubrick Sesame figures were produced in Japan. I designed their head structures and deco. • Sesame character designer Evan Cheng art directed the Freeny XXRay Plus by Mighty Jaxx. Basic character looks were based on my sculpture reference guide maquettes. • The KAWS Sesame line at UNIQLO used my plush guide’s master patterns and added their signature ‘x’ pupils. • The Good Smile Company, Inc. Nendoroid figures were translated into cute toddler proportions by the Sesame team’s toy designer, Christina Kim. They have interchangeable heads and accessories. • I was lucky enough to work on the Palisades Toys Sesame Street action figure line. Only one was released before the company closed its doors: a realistic Super Grover with an alternate Grover Kent look and even a phone booth to change in!
MoreAhoy! Here's an illustration I had fun doing for Sesame Street Kid's Camp murals at the Beaches Resorts in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica. Save for the next National Talk Like a Pirate Day!
SOFT GOODS & HARD GOODS: Assorted Sesame Street Licensees Creative Direction / IP Theming / Product Development / Product Design / Reference Development In addition to toys, I oversaw development of Halloween costumes, housewares, holiday ornaments, novelties, collectibles and apparel with 3D elements. Here are some fun examples. I was instrumental in designs for products like Spin Master’s Elmo Tickle Chair and these fashionable adult Snuffy and Yip Yip costumes by Disguise. Many of these products were developed along with my team’s junior toy designers Christina Kim, Catherine Mo or Katie Sacchi.
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Markups are the percent increase of the cost to reach the price (amount being charged).
Submitted by People Of Play