Film + Design

Digital Film

Discovering the worlds of abstracted characters attempting to surmount their dilemmas, Cynthia’s projects begin with movement. Camera and computer exploration follow, after which a trade between all three evolves. She had developed a series of short digital films, and was then invited to present the project ‘Delphie takes a breath’ in a performance venue. She chose to interact with the projection, this experiment leading to additional fusions of dance and design. Currently she is developing a series of dance film Studies, ‘EXPERIMENT for transformation’, begun early COVID-19, which will include community workshop participation. Her work has been presented at festivals, on television and in performance venues.

Design

The allure of colored pens and paper textures, along with a fond memory of her grandfather’s large wooden drafting table, with silver tools aligned, provided inspiration for Cynthia’s entry into graphic design. Beginning with typesetting, followed by layout and design, Cynthia then worked for several major NYC advertising agencies, as a production artist/designer/art director, including DDB Worldwide NYC, Sesame Workshop and Bloomingdale’s. Other clients include New York Insight Meditation, Renegade Performance Group and Strategies for Change. Currently she freelances, particularly enjoying pattern and social service design, bringing her curiosity to content with the tools of: energy - color - form.

“Cynthia Berkshire has been a pleasure to work with because she has shown the sensitivity to balance my ideas with her own richly informed, creative sense of design, beautifully rendering both the interior of my book and its cover. Thank you, Cynthia!” — Betsy Small