Meet Carol Demick | Toy Designer and Aspiring Children’s Book Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carol Demick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carol, why did you pursue a creative career?
I want to note first that I am extremely privileged and fortunate to be able to pursue my passion as a full time career. I have always had the support of my family, from when I first wanted to go to art school, to when I moved cross country for my first toy design job. Now, working in toy design and creating an illustration portfolio on the side, I can’t picture myself doing anything else. I have loved drawing my entire life; my drawings were a safe haven for me when I was a kid, and even as an adult it’s something that I do to unwind. When I went to art school and started refining my artistic style, I discovered that I gravitate heavily toward children’s illustration and media. When I began studying product design, it was a pretty logical jump to start designing toys!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
During school, I double majored in illustration and industrial design. My interest in toy design took me to an internship and later some freelance work at LittleKidsInc in Seekonk, where I designed splash mats, bubble blowers, and other outdoor toys. I am so grateful for this work experience, as it helped me understand the toy industry better when I applied for a job at Mattel. Right after school ended, I moved from Massachusetts to Los Angeles to begin my career as an action figures designer. I designed toys for Minecraft, from animal playsets, to stackable mini figures, to articulated action figures.

I worked there for almost two years, until February of this year when I was laid off. It was a very difficult thing to go through; it felt like my dream job had been pulled out from under me. But unfortunately that’s just the nature of the industry.

I think more out of anxiety than determination, I frantically rebuilt my portfolio and began applying for toy design positions. And that’s when I came across a career posting at Jakks Pacific for an outdoor toy designer. I have been working there for a little over three months now, and I am absolutely loving the job. I get to work on a variety of products and licenses, and I work with a group of very passionate and lovely designers. In a way, it’s pretty full circle, because I started my career doing outdoor toys, and I found my way back to them again.

My passion for toy design is still strong, but being laid off forced me to examine my own identity and ambitions outside of work. I decided to seriously pursue children’s book illustration (something I had left on the back burner since I graduated) and dedicated my free time to buffing up my portfolio. It has been a very empowering experience creating art that I love while working towards a tangible goal.

I have also learned that you can, and should, draw strength from different parts of your life. When I lost my job, I still had hobbies that brought me joy, friends that enjoyed my company, and a partner who was always there for me. I feel like that’s a really important thing for creative people to know; your work is important, but it can’t be the only source of happiness and fulfillment in your life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That is such a difficult question, there’s so much to do here! Most of my friends are on the East coast, so I would want to show them all the natural beauty that California has to offer. The beaches of course are lovely; I’d probably take them to Paradise Cove in Malibu, where we’d sip on some cocktails and eat some fried food on the beach. Then maybe a hike in Griffith Park and check out the observatory. Then I’d probably take them the Culver City steps, where we’d go eat some delicious food at Arth or Ugo, and then get some ice cream at Salt & Straw. Sometimes the steps have live music or movie screenings, which is super cool. Lastly, I’d have to take them to Smorgasburg, which is a huge food truck festival that has every food or drink you could possibly want.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family, who encouraged me to pursue my passions, supported my decision to go to art school, and helped me move all the way across the country. They gave me the foundation that I needed to be able to do what I love.

Website: https://caroldemickdesign.com/

Instagram: @caroldemickart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-demick-33773114b/