Character Design Quarterly — known as CDQ — is a high-end quarterly magazine for illustrators, painters, animators, and fans of character art. Published four times a year, it provides inspiring and instructional content alongside tutorials and interviews with top industry leaders, all aimed at helping artists hone their character design skills. The magazine delivers a steady stream of insider knowledge and insightful guidance from seasoned professionals and freelancers, assisting artists of all skill levels in improving their workflow and designs.
Character design sits at the intersection of art and commerce, personal expression and industrial production. The characters that populate animated films, video games, children's books, and advertising campaigns are designed by people whose names most audiences will never know, and whose craft is rarely discussed outside the industry. CDQ gives that craft the attention it deserves — not as a service to the industry but as a celebration of the artistry involved. A great character is not just a drawing. It is a personality encoded in line, colour, and proportion, and the skill required to create one is as demanding as any in the visual arts.
For the global community of character artists — professionals, students, and enthusiasts alike — CDQ is the magazine that speaks their language, understands their challenges, and showcases the work they aspire to create. In a creative industry where the final product gets all the attention and the process remains invisible, the magazine pulls back the curtain and lets you watch the artists work.