17 Toy Designer Interview Questions and Answers

As a toy designer, you’ll be tasked with creating the products that bring joy to children (and sometimes adults) all over the world. But before you can start designing the next big thing in the toy industry, you’ll need to sit down for an interview with a potential employer.

Toy designer interview questions will focus on your experience with designing toys, your understanding of the toy industry, and your ability to come up with new ideas. You’ll also be asked about your experience with CAD software and other design tools, as well as your ability to work in a team environment.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample toy designer interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act? How do you follow its guidelines when designing toys?

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is a federal law that requires toy designers to follow specific guidelines when designing toys. The interviewer may ask you this question to see if you are familiar with the CPSIA and how you would apply its guidelines in your work as a toy designer. In your answer, try to show that you understand what the CPSIA is and how it applies to your work.

Example: “I am very familiar with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act because I have had to follow its guidelines for all of my previous positions. When designing toys, I always make sure they meet the safety requirements outlined by the CPSIA. For example, I ensure that any small parts on a toy cannot come off easily and pose a choking hazard. I also make sure that the materials used to create the toy are safe for children.”

What are some of your favorite toys that you played with as a child? What do you like about them?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand your design style. It also helps them determine if you have experience designing toys that are similar to those you enjoyed as a child. When answering this question, try to pick toys that relate to what you do now or ones that show how your interests have changed over time.

Example: “I loved playing with dolls when I was younger. My favorite doll was one of Barbie’s friends who had an ice cream shop. I liked it because it came with so many accessories like different flavors of ice cream, cones and toppings. I would spend hours making up new combinations for my ice cream treats.”

How do you determine the price point for a toy you’ve designed? What factors do you consider?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your business acumen and marketing skills. Your answer should show that you can apply your creativity, problem-solving and analytical skills to determine the price point for a toy product.

Example: “I consider several factors when determining the price point of a toy I’ve designed. First, I look at the cost of materials used in making the toy. Then, I compare it with similar toys on the market. Next, I check if there are any additional costs involved in producing the toy such as shipping or storage. Finally, I decide on the price based on my target market and the competition.”

What is your process for creating a new toy design? Can you give me an example?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer how you approach a new design project and the steps you take. Your answer should include details about what you do, when you do it and why you do it.

Example: “I start by researching my client’s brand and its target audience. I also research other toys that are similar to the one I’m designing so I can see what works well and what doesn’t. Then, I sketch out some ideas for the toy using paper and pencil. After that, I create digital sketches of the toy using computer software. Next, I build a prototype of the toy using materials like clay or wood. Finally, I test the toy with children to make sure it’s safe and fun.”

Provide an example of a toy you designed that was a failure. What did you learn from this experience?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to failure and use it as a learning experience. Use your answer to highlight your ability to learn from mistakes, analyze data and make improvements.

Example: “In my first design position, I was tasked with creating a new toy for an established brand. The client wanted a toy that would appeal to children of all ages, so I designed a toy that could be used by kids of different ages. However, when we tested the product in the field, we found that older kids didn’t find the toy appealing because they couldn’t play with it on their own. We ended up redesigning the toy to include more age-appropriate features.”

If a toy you designed was successful, what would you do to maintain and grow its popularity?

This question can help interviewers understand your marketing and sales skills. Use examples from previous experience to show how you would promote a toy’s success.

Example: “I have designed several toys that were very popular with children, including one I created for a dollhouse. The popularity of the dollhouse led me to create more furniture pieces for it, which increased its sales. To maintain the popularity of my designs, I would continue to add new elements to them so they remain fresh and exciting for kids.”

What would you do if a toy you designed was recalled due to safety concerns?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your problem-solving skills and how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure the safety of children using the toy and minimize any negative impact on the company’s reputation.

Example: “If I designed a toy that was recalled due to safety concerns, I would first make sure all children who used the product were safe. Then, I would work with my team to develop an alternative design or modify the existing one so it met safety standards. Finally, I would communicate with customers about the recall and provide them with information about how they could get a refund.”

How well do you work with others? Can you give me an example of a time you collaborated with others on a toy design project?

Collaboration is an important skill for toy designers to have. Collaborating with others can help you come up with new ideas and solve problems more efficiently. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of how your collaboration skills helped you complete a project successfully.

Example: “I am very good at collaborating with others on projects. In my last role as a toy designer, I worked with two other designers to create a line of toys based on the popular children’s book series ‘The Adventures of Jack and Jill.’ We each had our own strengths when it came to designing toys, so we decided to split up the work among ourselves. This allowed us to design three different collections of toys within six months.”

Do you have experience working with a team of designers to create a toy line for a company?

Working as a toy designer often requires collaboration with other designers, engineers and marketing professionals. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working in teams and can communicate effectively with your colleagues. In your answer, explain how you worked with others to complete projects or tasks. Share an example of a time when you helped someone else succeed on a project.

Example: “In my previous role, I was the only designer for our team. However, I am used to collaborating with other designers to create new toys. For instance, once I designed a doll that had a wheelchair. The company wanted to include a child’s guidebook about wheelchairs inside the box. So, I collaborated with another designer who specialized in children’s books to help me design the book.”

When designing a toy for a specific age group, what is your process for determining what features and functions it should have?

Interviewers may ask this question to understand how you apply your knowledge of child development and psychology to the design process. Use examples from past projects to explain how you considered age-appropriate features, materials and colors when designing toys for different age groups.

Example: “When I designed a toy for children ages three to six, I first looked at what developmental skills they were learning at that age. For example, I knew that children in this age group are developing their fine motor skills, so I made sure the toy had plenty of buttons and knobs for them to play with. I also used bright colors and shapes to appeal to their visual senses.”

We want to expand our toy line to include items for older children. What toys do you recommend we add to our inventory?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience designing toys for different age groups. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I think it’s important to consider what older children want when expanding a toy line. For example, I worked on a project where we wanted to expand our current inventory of baby toys into toddler toys. We decided to create a new line of toys specifically designed for toddlers because they are more mobile and can interact with toys in different ways than babies. This helped us design toys that were appropriate for their age group.”

Describe your process for testing a toy design before releasing it to the public.

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you use your creativity and problem-solving skills to ensure the safety of children who play with toys. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for testing a toy design before releasing it to the public.

Example: “I start by creating several prototypes of the toy, which I then test on children between the ages of three and six years old. After observing their reactions to the toy, I make any necessary changes to improve its functionality or appearance. Next, I conduct additional tests to ensure that the new design is safe for children to play with.”

What makes a toy successful? How do you apply this knowledge to your designs?

This question can help interviewers understand how you apply your knowledge of toy design to create successful products. Use examples from previous projects or experiences to explain what makes a toy successful and how you use this information in your designs.

Example: “A toy is successful when it’s fun, safe and easy for children to play with. I always start my designs by researching the age group that will be playing with the toys and designing them based on their developmental stages. For example, I recently designed a set of stacking blocks for toddlers. I started by looking at other stacking toys they could use and then adjusted the size and shape of each block so they were easier for small hands to hold.”

Which toy designers inspire you? What are some similarities and differences between your work and theirs?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your design style and how you approach projects. You can use this opportunity to discuss some of your favorite toy designers, what you admire about their work and how it relates to your own.

Example: “I’ve always admired the work of Tomy designer John Paulus. His designs are so creative and fun, but they’re also very functional. I love that he’s able to create toys that kids will enjoy for years to come. Another designer who inspires me is Melissa & Doug designer Julie Aigner-Clark. Her designs are so bright and colorful, which makes them appealing to children. She also uses materials like wood and fabric in her designs, which I find interesting.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a toy designer to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine what you value in a toy designer. They may also use your answer to decide which skills they should test during the interview process. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the most important skill that helped you succeed as a toy designer.

Example: “I believe the most important skill for a toy designer is creativity. A good toy designer needs to have an innovative mind and the ability to create new toys or improve existing ones. I’ve always been creative, so I find it easy to come up with new ideas and implement them into my designs.”

How often do you update your knowledge on toy design trends?

Employers want to know that you are committed to your career and continually learning new things. They may ask this question to see if you have a passion for the industry and how often you attend conferences or read articles about toy design trends. In your answer, explain what steps you take to stay up-to-date on the latest news in the field.

Example: “I am passionate about my work as a toy designer, so I make sure to keep an eye out for any new developments in the industry. I subscribe to several newsletters from different toy companies and visit toy blogs regularly. I also try to attend at least one conference every year to learn more about the newest toys.”

There is a lot of competition in the toy design industry. How do you make sure your toys are unique and stand out from the rest?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the creativity and problem-solving skills needed for this role. Use examples from past projects where you had to create something unique or innovative.

Example: “I always try to make sure my toys are as unique as possible, which can be challenging because I’m often designing toys based on popular characters or brands. In my last position, I was tasked with creating a toy line based on a popular movie franchise. The company wanted to release new toys every month leading up to the movie’s release date. This meant I had to come up with new ideas quickly and efficiently.

In order to do so, I met with the marketing team to learn more about the upcoming movie. From there, I started brainstorming different concepts for each character in the movie. After narrowing down my ideas, I presented them to the client and they chose one of my designs.”