How to Get a Job Making Toys. How to Work in the Toy Industry. How to be a Toy Designer Toy Maker
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- Scott Toy Guru Neitlich from Spector Creative provides advice and direction on how to get a job not only in the toy industry but in one of the few positions that actually physically works on toys (vs data entry or logistics &c...). How to be a toy designer, a toy graphic artist, a toy copywriter or a toy marketing manager reviewed.
This video illustrates why the people that make the toys we purchase may not actually know anything about toys or the properties they represent. They come from marketing, or design, or management, or a host of other fields. So you have a group of people with little or no interest in toys making bizarre guesses on what people will actually buy. So it’s a rare miracle when you get someone like Dave Vonner or Derryl DePriest who actually know what they’re doing.
Yup for every Vonner or DePreist their are 10,000 non fans
@@spectorcreative1872 I just listened to your interview on RFR. You keep teasing an elaborate plan to save Star Wars toys. If your channel is for promotion, why not produce a video about it? If everyone agrees your plan is solid then maybe someone at Hasbro really will contact you?
Thank the maker for you getting to where you did when you did otherwise we wouldn't have our wonderful masters of the universe classics!
Never is the Universe lazy.
Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it, and its definitely a motivator. Personally, I've always been interested in market research.. Right now I'm working through my masters degree, and currently developing my thesis around the influence of nostalgia on buying habits, with focus on toys due to the gap in professionally published research. I just recently completed a test run of the sample collection, actually. I'm hopeful I'll get to present this market research to a company. The journey has had a lot of highs and lows, but gotta move forward somehow.
Thank you for all your work and these very insightful videos. It's really been a blessing
So glad it was enjoyed! Feel free to repost online in social media. It helps the channel a ton
This is such a real and honest video. This could apply to any job. There absolutely are steps to getting the job you want and then the ones you have to take to get there. Perfect explanation.
I am so glad it worked for you!
Step one: go back in time ten years..
Step three, profit
Now here's the ironic thing. I like buying customized action figures because I am starting to understand things thanks to your videos. I just wish I could write comics for Boom Studios and DC Comics. I have stories that could turn into action figures down the road. But I just want to write stories.
Toy companies do need writers
What's the ironic part?
Also it's helpful to have more than one skill.
For example I mainly do graphic design for toy packaging, but also product photography, copywriting, stickers, prototyping, voice work, modeling, animation, etc, and sculpt my own toys on the side. The downside is that you can be too good, they will fire everyone else, put you in charge and give you the work of several people.
I highly recommend getting a mid-sized 3D resin printer, they are like magic when it comes to prototyping and making toys.
While yes that is true, the larger companies tend to want employees to stay in their lane
@@spectorcreative1872 I avoid employment with companies who hold those attitudes, they are not typically health places to work. You want a big company that acts like they are small. The last billion dollar company I worked for was larger than Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and Bandai (over $8 billion in sales), but our office was located in another state and was the most profitable division, so we were able to eschew ridged corporate culture for over a decade. It was great while it lasted.
Dude, you are everywhere. Found this TH-cam channel, heard you on Rebel Force Radio, & saw you on the bonus dvd in the Masters of the Universe collection that I just bought. Awesome channel.
Hey go big or go home! Always up for topic suggestions as well.
Thanks Scott, we definitely need more of this info, there are lots of collectors out there who would love to take this journey, and I’m one of them 👍
I"m glad it has helped! Feel free to share it will assist the channel a ton!
I love your videos! Greetings from New Zealand!!
Hello from North Carolina!
This is a lot more complicated than I thought. I hope I can do it
Thank you for making this
Glad it was enjoyed! Feel free to share and repost, it helps the channel a ton
Toy Giver: "What's in the package? WHAT'S IN THE PACKAGE?!"
Not mud I'll tell you that
Thanks for posting this! Working in the toy industry would be a dream job kinda thing for me.
It really is!
Can you imagine making Star Wars toys..that would be insane
I LOVE THIS VID!!! SUCH A LIFE SAVER!! THANK YOU SIR!!
Glad to help! Feel free to reshare it online, it helps the channel a ton
Puppets and Dolls raised a generation who regarded others as their playthings. No repercussions for pulling the legs off a doll.
Except with the doll police
Another great insightful video. At 9:07 that looks like a character who could show up in Beast Wars (like the Fuzor) line; that is a sweet looking design! Would be a fun toy to play with.
Yeah caught my eye too
Great video. One other area to consider is product reviewers at licensors and brands, which is great if one does not know what they want to do. It helps if you like the brand, and will give you a lot of exposure into the production of toys and many other categories. They are also often entry level jobs that typically only require a college degree. While they might not pay great, it does give product experience and I know a few who were able to take what they learned from product development and turn that into a job at a toy company.
All about working your way up
Dang, that was super helpful especially now. Been trying to turn my manufacturing engineering degree into a toy design career but I guess there was a dedicated major for it lol.
Well so glad it was! Pass it along!
Fake it till you make it... Man! I thought my father had invented that phrase (in spanish, of course)
This was a very interesting video! Thanks for sharing, Scott!
Always fake it till you make it
I really appreciate all the behind the scenes info you provide thankyou!
My pleasure! Any helps sharing these videos online helps the channel a ton
For starters, I wanna work on personal things like the early design of woody for example, like bud lucky’s design in the story boards he can be found in the deleted chase scene in the first toy story as well as Eastern gate and for the ventriloquist dummy lock that was in the first early test animation for toy story
The five nights at Freddy’s game, accurate, plush toys that were seen in the games if you would like, I can show you images of what I’m talking about and the toys made by fazbear entertainment which is the company in the games and they’ve made a bunch of toys like tagalong, Freddy, plush trap, chaser, fetch, and everything especially the animatronics
Scott, that was an excellent, informative video. A good reality check for anyone wanting to get into the industry.
Well thank you, glad it was helpful
I want to be the president of Hasbro. 👍😂😂😂😀
I hear the job is open
If I were to start at the lowest level of positions and that it pays well enough to afford to live and pay all my bills. Well I would want to design animal toys just like to the one at 12:25. I am happy that you are one of those who made it as 1% to become Brand Manager. Even though you did not have the MBA degree your passion(s), proven success on assignments, relatability to a collector, and knowing what kids want helped us me satisfied with the He-Man line. I personally never got one but enjoyed knowing and see guys like Pixel Dan drools like little kids over them. Great job making adult kids and children happy and helping them use their imagination to role play with toys. Their skills to mature have to start some where before the boring life is reached as an aduult.
It was fun, but challenging too
I'm so grateful you made this video, it was a tempting question to ask you. Great advice, although I can't tell if it filled me with hope that it could happen, or depressing realism that it won't! Lol! 😂
Hey keep it handy and pass it along!
I'm really surprised (and disappointed) that you didn't post a special Arbor Day video. Seems like a missed opportunity 😂
Arbor day is such a holy day I didn't want to offend anyone from any religion
There must a been a literal boom after WWII with toys and all kids of the soilders
One would think
Thank you for this and recommending it!!!!!!
Glad it helped!
This does explain why my idea for a doll that gives real liquor to four year olds didn't get Mattel or Hasbro's approval; I didn't have an MBA!
Clearly.
Well, I am an architect with lots of experience in ofreign languages and very good eye for written details... You think I could do something in the industry?
(Heh, just asking, I actually have other passions beyond toys, but wanted to see if this could help to get something...)
I never thought doing medical copy would so yeah!
Fascinating, thank you.
Most welcome. Pass it along, it helps the channel a ton if you can!
Thank you for the great information!
Glad to provide! Pass it along when you can it helps the channel a ton
I’ve always dreamed of opening a toy store. Do you think an independent toy store can do well?
100%. The world needs more.
For a few months now, I've been working on the designs of a potential all-ages line with figures all based on various characters I've created and own. The only drawback, is that most of the characters I'm using, are either just visual concepts from unfinished projects, or not well developed. If I were to go through with this project, I'd definitely have the first wave or two be related to my comic characters, and figure the rest out later.
You can always contact us at Spectorcreative.com. Toy consulting is exactly what we do!
Say someone who makes customs wants to move into the business, what job would most of their skill carry over to? sculptor? design?
I would say sculptor
Yes sculptor, can you sculpt digitally? You could also be a general toy/game designer. Depends on the size of the company too - the bigger the company, the more specialized the roles. The smaller the company, the more broad your work and influence
I'm not necessarily interested in designer toys, just cool collectable kids toys. Specifically, ones that you play games with. There is a company I absolutely adore called Magic Box Int. and they produced a line called GOGOs crazy bones back in the day. It was huge. I whole heartedly believe in the concept behind that toy and have ideas for how it could work today.
I'm mostly just a visual artist. I draw and sculpt. I'm not bad but i haven't had much schooling. Just an associates. But I'd love to have the opportunity to involve myself in the creation and manufacturing of a toy like that. Plastic injection molding is cool. And collaborating with other designers to come up with peripherals, packaging design etc would be amazing.
What steps should I be taking right now as an artist to push myself in that direction? I'm drawing ideas and even casting my own resin figures ATM in hopes that maybe I can either get my own idea off the ground or someone wi see my vision and reach out.
Great video - I've worked with Hasbro and Mattel and I'm creating an online course covering how to make toys and games - coming soon! :D
Nice!
Awesome video as always Spector. Your comments on a portfolio make me think about fan projects. How do brand managers view fan projects? You have shown some awesome fan customs and it seems to be a cool way to show both your talent and what you can do for the brand. Then again... it is also a good way to get ceased-and-disisted, sued, and black listed. Why do you think some companies are cool with fan projects... pre Disney Lucas Film comes to mind, Nintendo and Post Axanar Star Trek on the other end, and Sega in between. Sega for example... Sega brought on the team working on a sonic fan game that morphed into Sonic Mania and got an official Sega release. On the other hand Sega shut down the Bomber Games Streets of Rage Remake when they released their fan game for free... do brand managers have any control over this kind of thing or just the executives and lawyers? Personally I think its an untapped gold mine. Write up an open license release it free with clear labeling, or if you monetize it you owe us X%, or offer to make stuff official if its popular enough. Seems to be a win-win-win. Fans or crowd funding to develop a product that works as either marketing, or a revue stream with virtually no financial investment. I'm just a fan looking in. As an insider, what do you think?
Most fan projects are looked at as "neat" and the good ones are shared around the office
What if you want to be a toy photographer for a toy company?
Same thing. Just apply to the photo department and have a GREAT portfolio.
Do you have a list of schools for toy design?
Where would a project manager typically appear? Who is it that would help with the scheduling and planning for the toy design? Is that part of the brand manager's role; or do toy companies usually have a PMO to help with that?
Thank you so much for these videos. They are very informative.
Well the planning is done by a (shocker) product planner. This role is just about keeping the schedule. Most companies have this role. .
@@spectorcreative1872 Thank you. Much appreciated. I'm trying to work through some career ambiguity and this helps to clarify.
Awesome video! Do toy companies ever scout for concepts, or does that mostly happen internally? I guess it probably depends on the company. I wonder if at a show like Designer Con in Anaheim, if maybe companies might look at the work there as potential products, like how a publisher might scout talent at the artist alley of a comic convention. Just curious! Keep up the good work, sir!
Mostly through official inventor submissions
I'm realistic enough to know they wont let me do Marketing. I passed the Keyboard Specialist Test for my state so I'd be good at Copywrite just not the legal parts really. I'm able to tell where the words should go or not obscure the art like for Comics or Manga. I know what people like or are attracted to or want to see not have obscured. I did a lot of Zones for MUDs so the design of how to do everything I would be able to adapt. Though its just so few jobs seeing the toy industry in decline it seems hopeless or very daunting heh. Unless you can create them or do the graphic art well.
If you wan to be a copywriter, my advise is WRITE!
@@spectorcreative1872 Thanks I write a lot of my own stuff one way or another so I guess its good practice. Where to put the words is often the most important aspect. I will often see art where something is obscured by words that people would rather see or they are down when should be above everything etc. I like to play with words or initials so make new ones too :).
I was wondering if possible... 🤔 if you can do a video or maybe just a response on a toy store ( ex. T.R.U) vs a toy company (ex. Mattel & hasbro) why dont mattel / hasbro open a toy store or chain? Or like what super 7 is doing ( a few small stores) and walmart has their own toy brands ( 3 that i know of). I know some of the logistical reasons but would like to know your thoughts. Ill send you some more 🍪 cookies 😀
I'll add this to the list! Thanks.
Hey I got the Best ideal is always such thing as a shopping online like BigBadToyStore if you order stuff why not make a online toy store and also commercials of toys online I don't believe the toy interest will died out it's not that possible the kids got taken a brake off the screen sometimes
Online toy buying has changed things a lot!
So you're telling me that the marketing degree I ended up getting is less useful for acquiring a marketing position than the business degree I'd initially set out to get would have been? Oof.
Alas...
Thanks for these videos, I am enjoying them so much..
I am just curious, as I am huge WWE fan and lifelong collector of everything WWE/WWF/WCW and wrestling for that matter. Did you ever work on the Mattel WWE lines. I remember when Jakks lost the license and it went to mattel. I was a bit worried about how mattel would do this, as Jakks absolutely smashed the Classic superstars line.
Thanks in advance for answering 😊
No I never worked on Mattel's WWE line, but I was surrounded by those who did!
@@spectorcreative1872 amazing
Now here it is where i offer a rant that some might share and on the 2nd point i know a LOT od people share.
1) so....(chomp chomp chomp (im eating fruit as i write this😋) why cant i be the toy designer and brand manager?! After all i designed and came up with the idea of a toy. And maybe even design the package thatbis should come in. But then i can also say.. 'hey Scott did you see the robot in movie? ' i want to make a toy out of it, make it happen. 😂
2) Kinda like a LOT of people in the movie industry we argue about why does the director get all the credit and not the writer?! After all it was his idea and creation. (ok unless you're like a George lukas type)
3) ok ok like a music conductor, probably didnt write the song but performs it based on the "script " er notes given. But then can do their own interpretation of the piece.
Finding someone qualified to be a brand manager who also has artistic talent is a bit rare. Also most toy companies want you to "stay in your lane" and not try to do someone else's work. I got in trouble for this A LOT
@@spectorcreative1872 i guess i would be getting in tons of trouble. But then again, ive always been the "brand manager" and the "janitor " at the same time. If that makes sense 🤔
Shouldn't this be... I dunno, the literally last video you ever make, just before you retire?
Or.... before I make my next BIG move...
I've been looking to translate out of my current day job and into something (that actually pays a living wage) . I have experience ranging from running an editing/quality assurance department for a nonprofit (lots of written work) to caregiving (current job), with a background in history with a LOT of research and writing (a few published academic articles, my books/short stories, and even one job "researching" customer info). So it looks like corporate historian and grant writing jobs are right down my alley. What's the best way to pinpoint those and try to get in rather than just throwing my resume around and hoping for a hit?
Also, how do you avoid getting grossly lowballed? You don't want to know how little I've been paid even in higher-"prestige" positions.
Try Glassdoor.com, it has salary info for all major companies and careers.
Well first of all, stop whining about a "living wage". I worked, went to college, and shared apartment expenses with a roommate until I could afford my own place. If you really want something, you make sacrifices.
@@studebricker2845 Let me rephrase. The last time I actually discussed my wage with anybody, they freaked out because I was making half of anyone else at the same company. If you're running a department but they're paying minimum wage with illegally-denied benefits, it's time to find something better. Period.
@Studebricker My current job finally reached the point where, after five years, they just admitted that they never intended to offer me benefits no matter how many hours I worked - and that the more hours I work, the more they cut my salary so it costs less. And this after nine months of being put in physical danger (more than once I've had to intercept the police to keep a mentally ill client safe). Other coworkers even got pissed off when they found out how small my salary is here (hey, we're not supposed to talk about it, so i had no point f reference), but they got the "Well, it' a rough job market. We can replace anybody" speech. So I'm finally motivated to look for something that'll treat me marginally better, and possibly pay above the bare, bare, bare minimum. I've been recruiting help from my contacts, all of whom are having roughly the same apopleptic reaction, so hey. But since I' not actually good at, you know, making sure I get a good deal rather than being lowballed into the sewer, I'm asking for help. Getting help.
(reply part 3) so I used to have the mentality of "don't whine about how much you make! Just take what they give you and accept it!" but that strategy has produced a wreckage of my professional life, and it needs to end.
Why did you resign?
I wanted a better quality of life for my daughter and CA became un livable. due to high crime and cost of living
@@spectorcreative1872 I understand, but it must have been a difficult decision. It sounds like that was a dream job. Do you still work in the toy industry?
I would like to be the funeral attendent
Several companies are currently hiring for that role
The American education system is so backwards. You need an MBA, but not from any school, a TOP school. Implying there is top 10 of schools, and that they would somehow teach you the same thing better or worse than someone else. Standardize it, so all people can get the best education, and the better jobs? Seems nuts to me.
Think that is nuts, trying surviving the internal politics of being employed by a toy company!
my interest is being a digital sculpter
Great! D it and have a portfolio with you!
Know any company that needs a writer? I can give you my Archive of Our Own account. Has all my fanfictions.
Most major toy companies have a "now hiring" section on their website with open recs
The easy way is working in a plastic factory. haha
Or owning the factory
Stop the Cap😒
I suppose