Doll Designers and Makers

High School

Doll designers and makers generally need a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent. While self-employed doll designers and makers do not necessarily need any specific education achievement, it is highly recommended. Classes in sewing, woodworking, sculpting, sketching, computer design, and art will be helpful.

Postsecondary Education

While there are no hard and fast requirements for doll designers and makers a postsecondary degree is often recommended, especially for those interested in pursuing careers with toy and doll manufacturers. Earning a bachelor’s degree opens valuable opportunities for learning new skills, making contacts, and the possibility of internship opportunities. College majors that will help prepare you for this career include product design, toy design, and fashion design.

No matter what your major, be sure to take classes in child psychology, sociology, anthropology, business, merchandising, and administration. These will be helpful in both rounding out your knowledge and advancing your career.

Many students participate in internships with doll and toy manufacturers and doll makers. A few people train for the field via informal apprenticeships with doll makers and designers.

Certification

Colleges and universities, online learning platforms, and other entities offer certificate programs in fashion design, industrial design, toy design, and related fields. These programs typically last six months to a year. Such programs are a good way to build your skills without enrolling in a degree program.

Other Education and Training

There are a variety of classes, seminars, and programs offered throughout the country on various forms of doll making and design. Contact local, state, regional, and national craft societies or guilds, as well community colleges, for information on these programs.

Art and craft associations also offer classes and seminars. For example, the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) offers conferences as well as an annual three-day doll-making school. Classes are taught by NIADA artists for people of all skill levels in techniques such as sculpting, painting, fabric-figure making, textile design, armature design, costuming, and more. Learn more at http://www.niada.org.

The Doll Artisan Guild offers seminar programs for porcelain doll makers through its School of Dollmaking, whose Web site can be found at https://dollsbeautiful.com/school-of-dollmaking.

Colleges and universities offer online and in-person classes in doll and toy design, as well as fashion design. For example, The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City offers courses such as Introduction to Toy Design, Soft Toy and Doll Design, and Drafting and Technical Drawing.