TOY DESIGNER

Welcome to the magical world of toy design! In this session, you'll meet your instructor, explore the course roadmap, and get a sneak peek at the exciting creative challenges ahead.

• Instructor introduction
• General housekeeping
• Assignment overview

Every toy designer starts here: looking back at the toys that shaped us. In this session, we’ll dig into the memories and emotions that made our childhood toys unforgettable—and discover how these nostalgic sparks can fuel brand-new ideas.

• Secrets behind memorable toys
• Magic in childhood favorites
• Case Study: Uncover what sets legendary toys apart. 

Assignment #1: Toy Memory Map
A single-slide visual mood board with images and keywords capturing your toy’s magic.

To design for today’s kids, you need to understand the toys of yesterday and the trends of tomorrow. This class is all about how culture, age, and play style shape what toys become hits—and what’s coming next.

• How history shapes iconic toys
• Toy categories: Age, needs, & play styles
• How culture influences play
• Workshop #1: Back to the Future! Predict what's next—what’s trending in 3-5 years?

Assignment #2: Trend Forecast Folder
Predict a trend kids will be obsessed with in 2027. Collect 5–6 images in Vizcom to kickstart your visual exploration.

Bonus Assignment: Play with Vizcom! Sign up and get familiar with the tool you’ll use in the next session.

Every big idea starts with bold brainstorming. Dive into team challenges, spark creativity with AI, and generate early toy ideas. This is your playground—no idea is too weird!

• Demo: How AI sparks creativity and innovation.
• Brainstorming rules
• Workshop #2: In teams, tackle unique toy-design challenges & bring ideas to life instantly with AI.
• Showcasing your ideas

Assignment #3: AI Exploration
Use AI to build out and experiment with your toy idea. Come prepared to share your concept with visual support in the next class.

Now it’s time to go deeper. What makes a toy truly fun? Explore how design, character, and storytelling create immersive play that sticks.

• Sharing AI-enhanced ideas
• Power of play in design
• Creating unforgettable characters
• Relatable stories & immersive worlds
• Case Study: Behind the scenes of an iconic success.

Assignment #4: Pitch Perfect Workshop
Craft a short, snappy 30-second pitch using storytelling prompts. This is where your character and toy start to come alive.

Before you pitch your toy, make sure your idea is solid from every angle. In this class, you will get a checklist and tools to validate and test your concept before it hits the spotlight.

• 7 must-check elements before pitching
• Case Study: How do pros pitch?

Assignment #6: Concept Tease & Validation
Create a 3-slide proof of concept using AI visuals or basic mockups to show your toy’s potential—and prep for feedback.

Ever wonder how a toy goes from sketch to shelf? Class 8 breaks down how toys are manufactured, tested, and shipped—so you can design with real-world production in mind.

• Tooling, molds & materials
• Painting techniques
• Quality control & regional regulations
• Factory sample process
• Shipping & logistics

Assignment #8: Take-Home Quiz
A short quiz covering manufacturing terms, processes, and global standards.

In today’s toy market, branding can make or break your idea. Explore how to craft a toy brand that resonates—and how to design packaging that pops.

• Branding & naming
• Logos & trademarks
• Packaging design
• Retail & marketing alignment

Assignment #9: Brand Tease Slide
Design a teaser slide with your toy’s name, logo, tagline, and moodboard—your first glimpse at the brand.

Great toys sell because of great stories. In this class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of writing and visualizing toy commercials that connect, entertain, and sell.

• What makes a toy ad work?
• Emotional hook & storytelling 
• Highlighting the “WOW” moment
• Filming & visual techniques
• Toy commercial script writing
• YouTube & social media strategy

Assignment #10: Commercial Storyboard
Write a 3-line ad story and sketch a 4–6 frame storyboard to sell your toy’s play pattern and wow moment.

So how do you turn your passion into a career? Class 11 equips you with insider tips on how to stand out and land a role in the toy industry.

• Where toy designers come from
• Portfolio & resume tips
• Essential skills & software
• Character & brand knowledge
• Toy history & geek culture
• Soft skills & job search strategies

Assignment #11: Final Pitch Prep
Refine your slides and polish your pitch. You’ll present your original toy concept in the next session!

It’s showtime! Share your finished toy pitch with your peers in a supportive, creative environment. This is your chance to showcase your full toy concept like a pro.

• Student Presentations
• Feedback & Q&A