Joeydolls celebrates Asian heritage and culture by producing a high quality, and authentically representative toy line. Now available in 19 stores across the world, you may be surprised to know that this small toy business began during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and was funded by 1 powerhouse mom, Samantha Ong. The brand has won three awards for its effort towards creating more inclusivity and diversity during a period of Asian-hate, has just paired up with five new retailers to make its diverse, award-winning dolls more readily available to the public.

THE TOY FAIR SURPRISES KEEP ON COMING

It hasn’t gone unnoticed that The Toy Association has been carefully re-branding “New York Toy Fair” to “Toy Fair: New York” in hashtags, blog posts, and press releases. A subtle shift that perked my own feelers up in wonderment that maybe...just maybe they weren’t planning to stick around New York for much longer.

Well, the day has arrived.

After a 3 year hiatus, New York Toy Fair—excuse me— Toy Fair returned to the Javits Center in New York City with a few good and bad surprises in tow. Long time attendees were happily surprised to find a more organized show floor, some were offended by the increased cost and invasive scrutiny for pass approval, and others enjoyed the surprise of an unexpected star studded trade show. At the time of writing this article, I’ve spent just two days on the show floor and the efforts put into this year’s show have not gone unnoticed by the industry. Most people love it. Or, they’re loving to hate it.

Being a toy designer is an extremely rewarding, inspiring and creative job. But the big question is, how do I get a job as a toy designer? You may find yourself also wondering; What do I do to gain toy design experience? How do I cross over from other industries if I already have experience as a product developer, graphic designer, or industrial designer? Whether you are making a change from a different industry to come into the toy industry, or looking to change roles in your already thriving toy career, these 10 tips are sure to help you land the toy job you’ve been dreaming about.

Greg Watson, the national account manager for Publisher Services, Inc. (AKA PSi), one of the top toy distributors in USA, says that at PSi, they consult with buyers to learn about their needs. That allows them to pick the perfect products for their markets. Then, they also work with publishers and game developers to figure out how to provide the most value to the buyer.

Starting out in the toy (or any professional) industry can be a long, difficult, and even lonely journey. Luckily, there’s an organization dedicated to the success and empowerment of women working in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries.