Toy Designing/Making : Introduction

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Toy designing/making is a massive field. A career in toy designing has much scope as toys are vital to a child's growth and development. As long as there are babies and children around there will be a need for toys- Toys expand the realm of imagination, and toy designers play an important role in the entertainment and education of children. Toy designing is a culmination of two qualities - creativity and ability to understand children or user needs. Playing is the means by which children have fun, learn things more easily and become creative.

Toys and games have a great role to play in self learning. Toys help in boosting up problem solving skills in children and makes them self reliant. It helps the children to develop their imagination and fantasies. There are different kinds of toys - toys that teach, that are games for the family and those that are just fun and play. In the case of adults, toys and games enhance the quality of life and improves the developmental and physical aspects. Toys in ancient times used to be made of natural products such as wood, stone and clay, indeed the first yo-yo's are recorded to have been made of clay discs. Today, toys are often made from plastic, fur and other synthetic materials.

Toy designers are those who design and create toys. Toy designers work starts with drawing, sketching or making a computer model of the concept, deciding how to make each component and then creating a prototype of the toy. They design toys keeping in view the two market sectors: children, who play with it and those customers who are collectors of toys. The complexity of toys can vary, from simple dolls with no movable parts to complex mechanical sets with configurable moving parts. Toy designers create toys like board games, puzzles, computer games, stuffed animals, remote-control cars, infant toys, and dolls.

While designing toys, Toy designers need to be aware of the market trend for toys and the needs and wants of the different age groups. To become a toy designer one should be a child at heart. For little ones, fun toys and building blocks; for school age groups materials that fit in the curriculum; for the group of teenagers and collectors more classic and intellectually valuable toys is preferred.

Toy design is multidisciplinary in nature. It revolves around the elements of product design, animation and human psychology. Knowledge in graphic design, mechanical drawing, and color usage is essential for success in this field. Toy designers work with child experts in determining the requirement of each age level and create toys suited for each group. The success of toy designers depends on their ability to understand the market and develop beautiful, entertaining, imaginative and safe toys.

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creative career , designing career

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