BFA in Toy Design

Toy Design student work will demonstrate:

• Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills:
  Mastery of core principles and practices of toy design, including research, ideation, aesthetics, ergonomics, materials, and manufacturing processes to develop feasible toy concepts ready for production and the market.
• Proficiency in Industry-Standard Skills, Technologies, and Processes:
  Competence in using industry-standard software and tools, such as CAD software, 3D printing, and prototyping technologies, as well as understanding production methods leading to the creation of looks-like/works-likes models and production ready designs.
• Cross-Disciplinary Awareness and Practice:
  Ability to integrate knowledge from various disciplines including engineering, marketing, child psychology, packaging, and costing to develop toys that improve user experience and ensure market success.. 
• Audience-Focused Research, Historical Context, and Field-Specific Discourse:
  Recognize when information is needed and be able to locate, evaluate, and effectively conduct thorough research to understand user needs and preferences to create insightful and suitable design solutions.
• Capacity to Identify and Solve Creative Problems:
  Proficiency in critical thinking skills to demonstrate effective problem-solving, coupled with a commitment to innovation and creativity in addressing design challenges, throughout the entire design process.

Toy Design student work will demonstrate:

• Innovation
  A commitment to the creation of unique, innovative toy concepts and designs.
• Experimentation and Play
  Experimentation in developing and exploring new approaches, innovative methods, materials, processes, or applications.
• Challenge to the Status Quo
  A dedication to challenging existing norms and designing toys that address current social, environmental, and cultural challenges.
• Bravery in their Work and Interactions with Others
  Courage to take creative risks in both their design approach and their collaborative work, challenging themselves and others to think beyond traditional solutions.

Toy Design student work will demonstrate:

• Self-Awareness
  A (self)-awareness of their current design philosophy and professional identity within the field of toy design.
• Capacity to communicate (orally, written, and/or visually) about their practice
  The ability to express ideas clearly and effectively through conceptual drawings, prototypes, and written and verbal presentations.
• Capacity to seek, assemble, evaluate, and ethically apply information and ideas from diverse sources
  The ability to generate insights by actively searching for, critically assessing, and  ethically incorporating information and ideas from a variety of sources.
• Analysis of both ethical and aesthetic impacts of art and design
  Apply an understanding of the ethical, social, cultural impact their design choices have on the environment and society to make informed design decisions.

Toy Design student work will demonstrate:

• Understanding of themselves as parts of a larger whole made up of human and non-human beings.
  A recognition of themselves as an integral component of a broader collective. The ability to make informed ethical choices by considering social and environmental considerations in the design of toys, while being mindful of the effects these products have on society and recognizing their position within the design sector and the human and non-human communities they engage with.
• Awareness of positionality – in the world, their field, their communities.
  Awareness of how their designs contribute to a larger ecosystem and how these perspectives influence their design choices. 
• Ability to work well, collaborate, and build relationships across differences in identity, perspective, aesthetics and disciplines
  Ability to work collaboratively and build significant connections across diverse identities, perspectives, viewpoints, cultural values, and disciplines to create inclusive and innovative design solutions.
• Integration of skills, information, and concepts
  Integration of cross-disciplinary skills, concepts, and information to develop toys that respond to real-world needs and opportunities.

Toy Design student work will demonstrate:

• Ability to define aspirations, future goals and their role within the creative economy.
  Clarity of their personal and professional aspirations, along with an understanding of their role within the evolving landscape of toy design.
• Awareness of audience and ability to cultivate relationships with others in their chosen fields.
  Awareness of target audiences and the ability to cultivate professional relationships within the field of toy design.
• Compelling presentation and exhibition skills, through Annual Exhibition, Capstone, and portfolios
  Strong presentation and exhibition skills, with a focus on effectively showcasing their designs through Annual Exhibition, Capstone projects, résumes, promo sheets, and portfolios.
• Proficiency in budgeting, time and project management.
  Competence in time and project management to handle the demands of a design career.
• Career readiness, as evidenced by strong interpersonal skills, self-advocacy, adaptation, autonomy, initiative, and willingness to both receive and offer feedback
  Demonstrate self-advocacy, adaptability, autonomy, and a willingness to both give and receive constructive feedback.