The Toy Design Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology is currently seeking a part-time Modelmaking Technical Design Classroom Assistant starting winter 2018. This 21-hour position supports students in the engineering of hard toy prototypes from two-dimensional sketches. Final prototypes should function with complex internal mechanisms and maintain the personality of design with engaging forms and personable characteristics that maintain the integrity of the toys’ intent.
This position requires the ability to operate and maintain complex and specialized equipment and materials as required by the courses in the toy program, as well the ability to instruct and supervise students on the safe operation of the equipment. The equipment includes but is not limited to: belt sander, panel saw, band saw, sanding table, drill press, grinder, jointer, lathe, milling machine, planer, scroll saw, spindle sander strip sander, cabinet saw table, rotatimed molder, vacuum former, and vacuum pump. The position additionally requires the timely ordering of equipment and materials for class, and the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the toy design shop.
Ideal candidates have 5+ years working in modelmaking, preferably within the toy industry; 3+ years of this experience must be in a supervisory or training capacity. Preferred candidates possess a BS, BFA, or equivalent.
The Toy Design Department at FIT is the world’s first BFA program devoted to toy design. This immersive two-year program teaches students to design and build toys in and environment that simulates a toy industry facility. Courses are led by active professionals within the toy design field, and alumni from the program have gone on to design product and lead teams at brands such as Disney, Fisher-Price, Spin Master, Alex Brands, Hasbro, Mattel, LEGO Systems, Nickelodeon, and Toys ‘R’ Us, among others. The Toy Design Department at FIT is part of the internationally renowned college of Art and Design, Liberal Arts and Business and Technology of the State University of New York (SUNY).
For any questions about the position, call Kourtney Rutherford at the Toy Design Department at FIT, 212-217-5130, or email toydepartment@fitnyc.edu. You can also apply directly for the position here.