IDEA & DESIGN WORKS, LLC/IDW PUBLISHING
CORPORATE HISTORY
IDW
Idea + Design Works (IDW) was formed in 1999 by four entertainment executives and artists. They decided to create a company that would allow them to work with a variety of clients on the things they liked: video games, movies, tv, collectible card games, comic books, and trading cards.
IDW can develop the full concept for an entire new world or help with a single illustration or design. The company’s services include character design, concept design, logo design, computer color, custom comic books, custom trading cards, trading card games, DVD menu design, online and print style guides, text stories, and more.
The company has built a client base that includes: Activision, Artisan Entertainment, Bandai America, Brady Games, Cartoon Network, Dimension Films, Electronic Arts, Fox Family, Golden Books, LEGO, Lion’s Gate, The Man Show, Microsoft, Pepsi, Pioneer, Revolution Films, Square, Simon & Schuster, Trimark Pictures, Upper Deck, and many more.
More information about the company can be found at www.ideaanddesignworks.com.
IDW Publishing
In July 2000, IDW made the decision to form a new division, IDW Publishing, which would focus on producing a small number of high quality publications. The company’s first title, Uno Fanta: The Art of Ashley Wood, received rave reviews and continues to be heavily reordered by both comic shops and mainstream bookstores and is now available in both hardcover and softcover editions. IDW Publishing’s second title, Popbot, was immediately acknowledged with two Spectrum Gold Awards.
The company's first comic series, 30 Days of Night, started a seven-figure bidding war between Dreamworks, MGM, and Senator International with Senator winning and Sam Raimi attached to produce. 30 Days of Night has been named the #1 Hot Comic of the Month by Wizard Magazine (several months running) and the #1 Breakout Product of 2002. It was also the #4 best-selling graphic novel of 2003 and has won multiple awards.
Konami acquired the video game rights, and minority ownership, in IDW’s CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations.
Dimension Films has an option on two Steve Niles/IDW properties: Wake the Dead, with X-2 screenwriter Michael Dougherty attached to write, and Hyde, with Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor, Texas Chainsaw Massacre) attached to produce
Paramount has an option on the Steve Niles/IDW property Aleister Arcane.
IDW also publishes the comic based on the hit CBS TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the book has been well received by both comic readers and fans of the show. The company’s other licensed comics include Sony’s Underworld,; FX’s The Shield; Fox’s 24 and Angel; Hasbro’s The Transformers, Universal’s Land of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead; and Konami’s Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Metal Gear Solid.
IDW Publishing titles have been featured in major media outlets, including USA Today, CNN, E!, TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, Access Hollywood, Emmy Magazine, GamePro, Official US Playstation Magazine, PSM, Play, and many more.
In 2004, 2005, and 2006 IDW was named ‘Publisher of the Year’ by Diamond Comic Distributors.
IDW Publishing is represented by Jon Levin at CAA and managed by Jim Strader at AniManagement.
The company works with a foreign licensing agent to sell their comics around the world and their titles have been published in multiple languages in dozens of territories.
More information about the company can be found at www.idwpublishing.com.
