The three students who designed and created their own toy designs last year — seniors Kayla Tucker, Deborah Spies and Michael Carhartt — are the first students to enroll in the inaugural senior independent design course this year.
In the senior independent design course, Dwyer said he’s lined up professional contacts from the students’ prospective careers to provide relevant assistance and exposure to the field. Students enrolled in the course are required to take a speech class to develop public speaking skills.
“You need to have speaking skills to sell a product,” Dwyer said. “This class is meant for their careers.”
During the toy design course last year, Dwyer said students used wire armatures and clay to design and create the toy prototypes. Students partnered with faculty from Otis College of Art and Design in California for feedback on models and sketches of the toys, packaging designs and marketing strategies.
“Toy design is a passion of mine,” Dwyer said.
Tucker, of Cincinnati, said she’ll be studying the field of architecture this year. She will begin developing an architecture portfolio and will try out 3D model making through a partnership with Anton Harfmann, an associate dean in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at University of Cincinnati.
“Dwyer is the best teacher ever; last year we learned sculpting and marketing and how to sell it (the toy),” Tucker said.
Spies, also of Cincinnati, said she’s interested in a career in pastry arts. She will be working this year with Emma McAdow, a head decorator for Busken Bakery Hyde Park.
“(Emma McAdow) will be working with Deborah in creating a plethora of edible art including cakes, pastries, and building her portfolio,” Dwyer said.
Carhartt, of Fairfield, said he was inspired by the toy design class year and hopes to study the field at Otis College. Dwyer said this year, Carhartt will be designing a remote control car through work with faculty from the Industrial Design Technology Department at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
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