How An Illustrator From Pittsburgh Helped Design Sesame Street

If you love the look of Sesame Street, you have Peggy Ann Owens Skillen to thank. After graduating from Monessen High School in 1948, she majored in graphic art at Carnegie Tech. Skillen worked at the Pittsburgh Courier before moving to New York, where she gained acclaim as an illustrator.

From 1871 to 1973, Skillen was part of Sesame Street’s graphic design team, which created graphic depictions of now-familiar characters such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Count Von Count, Grover, and Kermit the Frog. While not the creator of these characters, she played a key role in designing the show’s visuals and her work helped establish the artistic appeal of the show, turning its characters into icons that would significantly impact children's television and popular culture for years to come.

Her art didn’t stop there. Skillen later illustrated children's books, designed fabrics, and collaborated with producers and designers for musical shows.