The Toy Pitch - Week 5

Project 1 is nearing an end, our designs and ideas now must into the mix and be presented. Tonight we looked at commercials as the ultimate marketing vehicle, but telling your story to the group is the most honest way to gain fans and bring out the critiques. We saw many come back from the bring to save their toy ideas!

Rendering Workflows - Week 4

Once we have ideas and innovations bouncing around our brains, we need to be able to get those out onto paper. The ability to share your thoughts in visual form is paramount. Time becomes a factor as we need to work, sketch and iterate fast.

Understanding Toys Through Deconstruction - Week 3

When we first look at toy and toy construction, a complex order of elements seems to be in place. But when we actually begin to dismantle common toys, we find an ordered design and clever understanding. How can this happen? And to go a step further, this thinking helps us to begin to design and construct our own toys.

Toy Store Research and Insight - Week 2

Well it was great to have such a packed class last night. Everyone had really insightful visits to the different toy retail places they went.

As we discussed, what you see on the shelf as a consumer has been all planned and designed prior by the toy folks. Remember also that all our handouts, assignments and projects are on Oasis.

Next class we start thinking with pencils like toy designers!

WELCOME TO TOY DESIGN 2010 AT COLUMBIA!

Well it's time to start up another semester of Toy Design at Columbia. I want to welcome all new students to this really cool and hyper-look into the world of toy design and invention. See you all on Thursday!

John Popadiuk