Education
- Master of Business Administration, Marketing
Marshall School of Business (USC), Los Angeles- Albert T Quon Award for Academics and Activities - top three students in the graduation class awarded
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles- Chancellor's Marshal Service Award
Bio and Affiliation
Associate Professor | Design & Development Consultant | Consumer Insights | Toy Curator and Copyright Expert
Lynn Rosenblum is a Full Time Associate Professor in the Toy Design department at Otis College of Art & Design with decades of professional toy and consumer products experience, a wealth of industry knowledge, and a true commitment and passion for teaching and mentoring students as the academic advisor for Toy Design. Currently Lynn teaches in Toy Design and also teaches and has taught Liberal Studies subject matter including Child Psychology, History of Toys, Methods & Materials and Math.
Her academic experience with Otis Toy Design spans decades, starting in 1998 when she began her journey as Guest Lecturer and in 1999 Part Time Faculty. Over the years, in addition to teaching at Otis, she’s taught at University of Wisconsin (Consumer Behavior), University of Redlands (Entrepreneurship) and lectured at both the USC Marshall School of Business and Marquette University.
Lynn’s toy industry experience spans every toy category from arts and crafts to dolls, plush, and beyond. Her work experience includes many companies including Disney, Hasbro, Jada, Lionel Trains, Mattel, and Spin Master. She has 360 expertise in the toy industry, having worked across numerous departments and roles.
She remains active in the industry through toy design, development, and marketing consulting and as a legal expert witness in toys and consumer products.
Awards and Honors
- Toy industry recognitions include being nominated twice for the prestigious Wonder Woman of Toys Award (2006 and 2017) and winning in 2006.
- Recipient of two Mattel “Chairman’s Awards” 1992 and 1993
Professional Accomplishments and Exhibitions
Certified Expert Witness
Lynn has been an expert witness offering opinions and testimony in over 25 toy industry and consumer product legal expert cases and matters since 1994 and her understanding of the toy industry is unique and unparalleled in the expert witness space. She is often called upon to speak and opine on topics related to commercial success, consumer insights, similarity and toy curation, copyright and value.
Exhibitions
American International Toy Fair – 1988-2020, 2023-present
Publications
Lynn has contributed to, been quoted and appeared in many articles, books, podcasts, publications and television broadcast appearances regarding the toy industry including the following:
- An Oral History of Gross-Out Toys 1985–1995 by Casey Roberson, 2026
- The Toys That Made Us: Polly Pocket: An Unauthorized History of Mattel’s Micro Moneymaker by Maude Campbell, Nacelle Books, 2025
- Round Table Group’s “Engaging Experts” Podcast, August 2025
- “Trump says American kids will be fine with fewer dolls, but the toy industry is bracing for a ‘nuclear bomb’” by John L. Dorman and Graze Eliza Goodwin, May 7, 2025
- “The Inventor’s Checklist With Assistant Professor of Toy Design Lynn Rosenblum,” Los Angeles Public Library, December 7, 2024
- “Sonny Angel fever soars as Gen Z collectors clamor for popular ‘emotional support’ dolls” by Brooke Kato, New York Post, July 26, 2024
- “‘Polly Pocket’ creator Chris Wiggs dead at 74 — inside the global phenomenon that began with a simple makeup compact” by Maude Campbell, New York Post, June 28, 2024
- “Nintendo Game Boy Turns 35” on Good Evening San Diego, April 2024
- “Holiday Toy Gifts for Kids—That Parents Won’t Think Are Hideous” by Michelle Slatalla, The Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2023
- “The Art of the Law” Podcast, January 18, 2019
- “Power Kid” Podcast, 2017
- Los Angeles Business Journal, 2007–2010
- Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel by Jerry Oppenheimer, 2009
- Le monde selon Barbie Documentary, 2008
- Playthings Magazine (featured in three stories, one a cover story), 2005–2006
- People of Play tBR Person of the Week, August 2005
- “Pokémon Is Catching, and Keeping Them” by Rick Lyman, The New York Times, November 13, 1999
- “Toy Power Talk” Young & Rubicam and ToySmart Blogs, 1999
- Channel 6 News Milwaukee (numerous on-air contributions, toy expert segments, and off-site shoots), 1998–1999
- “Fa-la-la-la-la Furby Frenzy,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 30, 1998
- KidScreen Magazine, February 1998
- “Move Over Elmo,” Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, December 1997
- “TV Holiday Segment” on Home Team with Terry Bradshaw, November 1997
Clients and Employment History
Brio Trains
Disney
Ertl
Hasbro
Ideo
Jada
Jakks Pacific
Lionel Trains
Mattel
Rokenbok
Spin Master