General Creative Studio FAQs
What is Creative Studio?
Creative Studio is an internal Cengage team of media researchers, motion designers, video producers, and visual designers that partner with many different departments in the company to create engaging and dynamic experiences for our users.
What kind of projects does Creative Studio work on?
If it is looked at or listened to, Creative Studio can make it. We design everything from traditional print designs to multilayered interactive digital experiences. Check out the work in our portfolio for examples of a few the projects we have created. If you don’t see an example of the type of work you are looking to make, please contact us and we can address the specific needs of your project.
How long does a typical project take?
For established processes such as print projects and video production, we have documented timelines available. For other types of projects, there are many variables that factor into determining the project timeline, making it difficult to quote exact dates. We will work closely with you to come up with an estimate once we determine the individual needs and scope of your project.
How much will my project cost?
As with the schedule, the cost of your project can vary depending on the project’s needs. Most projects that only require internal resources do not hit plate; instead, they are considered cap ex expenses (in the same way that anyone else on the product team’s time is allotted). For projects in which we need to bring in outside resources (which will incur plate costs), we will provide estimates based on your project scope.
Why shouldn’t I just go directly to my favorite vendor for design work?
Creative Studio is part of your team at Cengage, and has the best interests of your project in mind. We are brand ambassadors and will keep all elements of your project aligned with the needs of the brand. We work together across products and disciplines to help ensure a consistent user interface for the best possible student experience. We accomplish this while keeping your budget and schedule a high priority.
Can I choose a specific Creative Studio team member to work on my project?
No. In order to keep our small team very efficient, we create business based alignments for our staff. Rest assured that if expertise is needed that your aligned resource doesn’t have, they will bring in additional team resources as necessary to meet the needs of your projects.
Is there a place I can access covers?
Yes! Start a Helpdesk ticket and request access to PIM, where you can search for covers by ISBN.
Why is an Elements List needed for an Interior Design?
An Elements List is very important for designers to have when starting a project. Not only does it include every element in the book that needs a design, it also contains the codes that are used by the Compositor when typesetting the book.
Where can I find the previous edition files?
You can search in Alfresco by the previous edition ISBN to find previous edition files. If you’re having trouble finding them, the Content Operations team can help.
Why does the designer need 12 weeks for an interior design?
All Creative Studio staff are shared resources, and juggle the creative needs of many different teams. Having 12 weeks for an interior design allows a designer to fully understand the unique needs of each title and successfully create the design on time.
Is it possible to work in batches for video and voiceover work?
Probably. Check with your Creative Studio contact. In some cases, the charges associated with the voiceover are lower if batches are used.
Is it true that Creative Studio has some of the funniest people at Cengage?
Creative Studio has no sense of humor that we are aware of.