It made its appearance a few years ago and is considered a relatively 'new' profession. Today it is very much in demand and popular, partly due to the fact that the educational value of play has been rediscovered at all ages and an industry, that of toys, that is constantly growing.
Let's talk about the profession of Toy Designer or toy designer.
Often the toy designer work as a freelancer, for consultancy or ad hoc projects, or as an employee.
Who is the toy designer?
The Toy Designer is indeed a designer in his own right and therefore possesses a cultural and professional background very similar to that of a designerbut at the same time possesses special characteristics that make it a specialist in the Toy sector.
His profession places the need for preparation not only in the 'design' proper, but also in the realisation of a toy in its entirety: from the concept to the educational aspects to those elements that concern safety, the marketing to salesquality.
The path to becoming a toy designer.
Talking about a single route for becoming a toy designer is perhaps incorrect. What is certain is that today the Toy Design sector is looking for specialised professionals with knowledge of the techniques, tools, processes and approaches of the toy world.
A valid course of action is, usually after a degree in design, architecture or engineering, to follow a specialisation course in Toy Design such as that of Italian Design Institute.
IDI's training offer includes a full immersion course that aims to provide the basic tools of the trade of the Toy Designer.
The course includes a home-study phase, preparatory to the training that subsequently takes place in the classroom with lectures by top lecturers, experts in the field.
To conclude the course, a project work and an internship, in which the student can experience first-hand all the stages of the designing a toy.
Topics for a Toy Designer to learn.
The Toy Designer will have to learn and deepen the following topics:
- How a Toy is Born
- Tools of the Trade
- The Fairy Tale As Starting Point And Concept Engine
- Mathematics in Games
- Deformation
- Creative Error
- The Toy As Imitation Of The Adult World
- Play As A Tool To Keep The Adult With It
- Prototyping And Product Development
The portfolio.
La creation of a portfolio is a great way to make yourself known and to show the outside world what you are capable of. The advice, therefore, is not to neglect this part of one's training, where one's ideas, skills, creative flair and accomplished study converge.
A sensitivity to the game.
Needless to say, perhaps, but a Toy Designer must be a fan of play and stories, able to range with imagination and imagine the impossible.
So game sense, creativity and passion for stories are very important skills.
