"Kids are smart; you can challenge them visually," says Christina Nicodema, a recent Illustration graduate who works at the children's online game and animation company Fantage. "They respond well to challenge." Nicodema's aesthetic sensibility and narrative style bring an edgier flavor to Fantage's sunny cartoon landscapes and cute avatars, something that she believes enriches her young audience's gaming experience. "I tend to bring my own cultural references into my design," she explains. "Kids learn indirectly by being exposed to them."