Resumé

WORK EXPERIENCE
Chris Lauria Design, LLC.
Cherry Hill, NJ
Proprietor / June 2001 to Present
Manage all aspects of an independent toy design company including, client relations, company promotion, project management, financial management, and project billing - Design toys through various development stages including initial concept sketches, color presentation art, control styling drawings, and product deco
- Create and design toy packaging including directional layouts, die-line creation, color comprehensive packaging, package illustration, and finished package mechanicals - Research and study continuing trends within the toy and game industries
- Current manufacturer accounts include:

Fisher Price
Hasbro
Spin Master
The Bradford Exchange
4 Kidz
Basic Fun
Jakks Pacific
Tucker Toys
Wild Planet
Play Along
Lenox, Inc.

 
Basic Fun, Inc.
Southampton, PA
Product Manager / Designer
December 2005 to July 2006
- Designed toys through various development stages including initial concept sketches, color presentation art, control styling drawings, presentation videos, and product deco
- Managed various aspects of toy design and development through to production, including hiring of service vendors, communication with Hong Kong factories, and submitting and tracking licensor approvals
 
Goldman Toy Group, Inc.
Cherry Hill, NJ
Design Director / June 1997 to June 2001
- Generated and developed new toy concepts starting with initial concept stages, color presentation art, and control styling views with product deco
- Product development also included prototype models, marketing strategies and presentation sales videos - Met with inventor submissions departments of major toy manufacturers to present new toy concepts
- Set up and managed toy development department which contracted toy design work from several major manufacturers including:

PlaymatesToys
Toy Biz
Tiger Electronics
Shelcore
Basic Fun
Hasbro

- Researched and studied continuing trends within the toy industry
 
Scrambled Eggz, Inc.
Marlton, NJ
Toy Designer / March 1995 to June 1997
- Designed and developed toy concepts for major toy manufacturers including:

Playmates Toys
Toy Biz
Capp Toy
Tyco Toys
Basic Fun
Hasbro

- Worked on projects from the various toy categories such as action figures, playsets, vehicles, ride-ons, games, preschool, and activity sets
- Designed toys through various development stages including concept sketches, color renderings, control drawings, and prototype models along with label art /deco
 
Treehouse Communications, Inc.
Williamstown, NJ
Assistant Art Director / October 1994 to March 1995
- Developed concepts for toy packaging starting from directional layouts to color comprehensive through to finished mechanicals
- Completed all aspects of package development including design of cost effective construction, hiring freelance photographers, and producing finished illustration
 
Larami Toy Corporation
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Assistant Art Director / Senior Artist / November 1991 to October 1994
- Designed and developed ideas for new toy concepts - Managed and developed all aspects of toy packaging
- Set up and organized art department consisting of eight full-time artists SKILLS • Strong problem solving, design and layout skills
• Excellent conceptual and idea development abilities • Extremely proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator • Extremely proficient in traditional illustration skills such as pencil, pen, marker comps, and air-brush illustration • Ability to work independently or with a multidisciplinary team • Excellent communication and instruction skills
 
EDUCATION
Art Institute of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Graduated March 1991 - Associate Degree Major: Visual Communications specializing in advertising design, graphic design, and illustration

Projects by Chris Lauria - Toy Design