A toy designer develops and implements toy concepts. Imagination or the observation of another toy or product usually inspires him. A toy designer can be a self-employed inventor or contractor, or they can work for a small or large toy company.
A toy designer usually sketches a picture of his idea after his initial inspiration, often from several different angles and perspectives. He usually builds a prototype of the toy once he determines that the drawing is balanced and has the correct angles to become a viable, three-dimensional object. He frequently photographs and dates each stage of his model’s development to ensure that the idea’s originality is never questioned.
Following the completion of the prototype, a toy designer usually takes one of three paths. If he is a self-funded inventor with funds to patent and market his invention, he will typically obtain a patent or patent pending application with the help of a patent attorney. After that, he usually hires a qualified manufacturer to construct the toy. His first order is usually small because his next step is usually to test the product’s appeal with the target age group of children.
If the toy is popular, the toy designer will usually have it mass-produced and launch a marketing campaign. He might hire advertising and public relations experts to help him sell the toy to the broadest possible audience. A toy manufacturer may approach him at this point and offer to buy his invention.
To market their toy, most independent toy designers enlist the help of a well-known toy company. In these situations, the designer typically shows his prototype to a number of companies in the hopes that they will purchase the idea and manufacture the product. The manufacturer can either buy the concept outright or work out a profit-sharing or royalty-sharing arrangement with the designer.
If he is hired by a toy company, the designer will usually present his design to his boss for review and approval. If the toy is found to be highly marketable, the designer usually moves on to the next project. The next prototype is built after he comes up with an idea that he believes will appeal to a large segment of children, and the cycle continues.
To become a toy designer, there are no specific educational requirements. Many people in this field have backgrounds in carpentry, art, industrial design, or computer-aided design. A college education is preferred by a significant number of toy manufacturers for toy designer job applicants, though it is rarely a requirement.