Otis College toy design students adapt to industry trends

The holiday season is the most important time of the year for toy manufacturers and retailers. It's also when some local college students aiming for careers in the toy industry finish their studies.

Only a fraction of students at Otis College of Art and Design are enrolled in the toy design program. But department chair Deborah Ryan says that small group goes on to some high profile work.

Ryan says that includes a 2005 graduate who worked on a Disney line of dolls for Mattel.

"She was so proud that she designed the One Kiss Tiana doll for the upcoming movie, "Princess and the Frog," and that it's been nominated for a TOTY Award."

The TOTY Awards are the Oscars of the Toy Industry Association.

Otis students learn the art of the idea pitch on the seventh floor of the college's Westchester building where Linnette Abcede and about a dozen other Girls' Toy Design students present final projects. On a large television screen, the 27 year-old student shows off her computer designs for her Sweet Dreamers product line.

"Since I love to sleep, and apparently all you guys do, too. I decided to create a girls activities blanket. What I noticed in the market is that the girls' blankets — like for example, the Disney blankets — they're very feminine, very cute, but there's not a lot of activity to it."

When done, in Project Runway-style Abecede faces a row of Hasbro and Mattel professionals and her college instructors, including Candace Correa. "I like it. I think it's really cute."

Lots of praise, some constructive criticism — and the semester is over. Abecede's hoping to enter the $20 billion a year U.S. toy industry with a brand line that includes vinyl figures, accessories and apparel.

Industry sales have been down in recent years. But Otis College toy design chair Deborah Ryan is upbeat about the role of toys in this economy. "And especially now, the toys are more geared towards family fun, the whole family getting involved in the play and I think that has a lot to do with the economy and people aren't taking as many vacations and traveling and they're looking for more entertainment within their own home."

Besides teaching how children play and have played over the ages, Otis is pushing the toy designers of the future to come up with eco-friendly toy manufacturing ideas.

A Chinese company that makes bamboo toys has invited Otis students for a visit to try out designs. And one student helped create a line of Barbie doll fashions out of recycled material, including Starburst candy wrappers.