Elizabeth Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Carpenter is an award-winning American
writer
, designer
and game developer
. She lives in New York City
where she operates her own business, Mazeology LLP.
, New Jersey
, and graduated early from Princeton High School. She attended both Carnegie-Mellon University and Rhode Island School of Design
, where she studied painting. Her first significant employment was with India Imports of Rhode Island
.
where, as co-director of West Africa Exports, she began designing clothing. She went on to work for Mast Industries as part of the initial design team for the Limited. In 1984, Carpenter became the Fashion Director of Foxmoor, the juniors' specialty store division of the Melville Corporation
. From 1985-1996 she founded Elizabeth Carpenter, Inc., an independent garment design studio employing a team of designers, whose clients included the Associated Merchandising Corporation, Ups 'n' Downs, Paul Harris stores, Victoria's Secret, and Palmetto's Jean Company. During this time, Carpenter was also the Fashion Director for Brooks Fashions, and provided fashion-trend forecasting for Shop Shots from 1994–1996, at thich time she left the fashion industry to begin a career in writing.
in November 2001, by Workman Publishing. She was approached by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
and designed her second maze book, Mummy Maze: The Tomb Treasures Maze Book in 2007, which earned the Bronze Award in the Children's Interactive category at the 2008 IPPY Awards. Mummy Mazes was published by Workman Publishing in Fall, 2010.Both books weave history, problem solving, and art into a story intended to make learning fun.
In 2007, Elizabeth Carpenter founded the company, Mazeology LLP, to expand the concept of maze art to include games, toys, and diaries. Her first venture into board games, Senet: The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game, features an adapted rulebook that modernizes the ancient game. The game has earned the Mr. Dad's Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy's Play and Learn Award, the Parents' Choice Award
, and the Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center in 2008.
(Classic Board Games category)
(Activity Books category)
(Creative Play category)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
and game developer
Game developer
Game developer may refer to:* Video game developer, an individual or company working on video game production* Video game publisher, a company funding video game developer* Video game producer, a manager of game development team...
. She lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she operates her own business, Mazeology LLP.
Background and education
Elizabeth Carpenter grew up in PrincetonPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and graduated early from Princeton High School. She attended both Carnegie-Mellon University and Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
, where she studied painting. Her first significant employment was with India Imports of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Design career
At the age of twenty, Elizabeth Carpenter relocated to Gambia, AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
where, as co-director of West Africa Exports, she began designing clothing. She went on to work for Mast Industries as part of the initial design team for the Limited. In 1984, Carpenter became the Fashion Director of Foxmoor, the juniors' specialty store division of the Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation, formerly based in Rye, New York, was a large retail holding corporation incorporated in 1922 as the Melville Shoe company by Ward Melville. It changed its name to CVS Corporation in 1996...
. From 1985-1996 she founded Elizabeth Carpenter, Inc., an independent garment design studio employing a team of designers, whose clients included the Associated Merchandising Corporation, Ups 'n' Downs, Paul Harris stores, Victoria's Secret, and Palmetto's Jean Company. During this time, Carpenter was also the Fashion Director for Brooks Fashions, and provided fashion-trend forecasting for Shop Shots from 1994–1996, at thich time she left the fashion industry to begin a career in writing.
Writing and Maze Design
Elizabeth Carpenter co-authored two family guide books with her son, Samuel Freund: Kids Eat New York and Kids Eat Broadway, in 1997 and 1999 respectively. She also began developing an original art style that weaves a maze path through original line-art illustrations. Carpenter's first book of mazes, DinoMaze: The Colossal Fossil Maze Book, was published with the American Museum of Natural HistoryAmerican Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in November 2001, by Workman Publishing. She was approached by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
and designed her second maze book, Mummy Maze: The Tomb Treasures Maze Book in 2007, which earned the Bronze Award in the Children's Interactive category at the 2008 IPPY Awards. Mummy Mazes was published by Workman Publishing in Fall, 2010.Both books weave history, problem solving, and art into a story intended to make learning fun.
In 2007, Elizabeth Carpenter founded the company, Mazeology LLP, to expand the concept of maze art to include games, toys, and diaries. Her first venture into board games, Senet: The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game, features an adapted rulebook that modernizes the ancient game. The game has earned the Mr. Dad's Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy's Play and Learn Award, the Parents' Choice Award
Parents' Choice Award
The Parents' Choice Award is an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It is considered a "prestigious" award among children's products, and has been...
, and the Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center in 2008.
Works
- Author, Kids Eat New York, 1997, The Little Bookroom.
- Author, Kids Eat Broadway, 1999, Kids Eat Publishing.
- Author/Illustrator for DinoMaze: The Colossal Fossil Maze Book, 2000, Workman Publishing.
- Designer/Illustrator for Mummy Maze: The Ancient Tomb Treasures Maze Book, 2005.
- Designer/Illustrator for Senet: The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game, 2008.
- Designer/Illustrator for Dino Chess, 2008.
Awards
- 2008 Parents' Choice Award for the Senet: Ancient The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game.
- 2008 Independent Publisher's Book Award for the Mummy Maze; The Tomb Treasure Maze Book.
- 2008 Mr. Dad Seal of Approval for Senet: Ancient The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game.
- 2008 Dr. Toy's Play and Learn Award for the Mummy Maze; The Tomb Treasure Maze Book.
- 2008 Dr. Toy's Play and Learn Award for Senet: Ancient The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game.
- 2008 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award for the Senet: Ancient The Ancient Tomb Treasures Game
(Classic Board Games category)
- 2008 Creative Child Seal Of Excellence Award for the Mummy Maze; The Tomb Treasure Maze Book.
(Activity Books category)
- 2008 Creative Child Seal Of Excellence Award for the Fairy My Invisible Diary & the Merlin My Invisible Diary
(Creative Play category)
- 2008 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center
External links
- Review of Dinomaze: Colossal Fossil Maze Book. (Dino Stories). Publishers Weekly. 17 December 2001.
- Toy Directory - Mazeology
- TD Monthly - Mazeology
- TD Monthly - Mummy Maze: The Tomb Treasures Maze Book
- Mr. Dad Seal
- Dr. Toy Awards
- Dr. Toy Awards
- Board Game News article about Senet
- Article in NY Metro in NY Magazine
- New York Times article
- Mindgames
- Mummy Maze
- Mazeology