...Also view my portfolio of graphic design and surface pattern design work at: www.creativeshake.com/kcraig....

Karen has been designing and illustrating for children for about 15
years. She graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Communication
Design, and landed a job at Upstart [now owned by the Highsmith Company]
where she had the opportunity to conceptualize, design and illustrate products which promoted reading for children of all
ages.

After several years of coming up with a myriad of engaging ways to say "Love
Your Library," she headed back to university, this time for a BFA in Toy Design
from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where she
graduated with high honors two years later.

Karen accepted a job as a Senior Designer at Nickelodeon Consumer Products in New York and stayed
at Nick' for the better part of the next seven years. In 2002, she began her freelance career as a designer/illustrator specializing in
children's products of all kinds. Her company is called Fuzzy Bug Studios, LLC.

While working for Nick, she was heavily involved with the Nick Jr. property,
"Blue's Clues." Since then, Karen has illustrated over 25 licensed books for
various publishers under the Blue's Clues name. She also enjoys developing
board book concepts. Her first concept was recently published by Innovative
Kids under the title, "Play Pockets." Karen has also written and illustrated several picture
books although she has yet to submit them to a publisher.

Karen's client list includes Peaceable Kingdom Press, Cartwheel Books,
Bookworks LLC, Simon and Schuster, Crayola, Silver Lining Productions Ltd.,
Innovative Kids, Schylling Toys and Publications International.

Her work is intended to simulate the simplicity of cut paper, but is fully rendered in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Karen's portfolio can be described as bright, colorful, festive, fun, graphic and simple yet sophisticated, with a special appeal to the preschool age audience. She also excels in graphic design, product development and surface pattern design for kids. Her most recent accomplishment has been to have a pop-up card design selected by The Museum of Modern art in NYC for it's 2007 Holiday line.