Georgina Melone

Georgina Melone, Hasbro's "Lead Futurist," has the kind of job most people think about when they think about working at toy company. In fact, she says, "when people meet me and hear of my life's work, the first thing they always gush is 'You make toys! That must be fun!' This is often followed by 'Is it like the movie Big?'" The answer to both questions, she says, is "yes and no."

"This is a fickle, fast-paced industry that can run at a fevered pitch," Melone explains. "It is an industry that is trending from a toy industry into an industry of play and entertainment … Fun? yes! Easy? No!"

In this environment, she says, the challenge of "futuring" lies in the ability to see patterns and make meaningful connections. "To compete as an inventor, one must always be 'on' to pick up these trends and consumer insights. Constant curiosity and wonder are the consistent traits of the most progressive toy people I have worked with," she says. "Also, as all inventors in this industry know, it is helpful to be able to embrace rejection. I have far more failures than successes that I can list. Effective concept people are only briefly discouraged by this high rejection rate and are quite easily captivated by the next shiny new idea. I am grateful to have landed in an industry that demands such a constant churning of new ideas, because I enjoy such work."

Melone has spent the past two decades at Hasbro. She began her adult life as a puppeteer with an illustration degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). "It was the ideal job for a young designer," she says. "I wrote, designed, fabricated and performed. Except for the fact that they would sometimes not pay me, this would have been my dream job."

An RISD connection lead her to the toy design department at Hasbro. "Back then, I had not even considered such a thing. I thought, perhaps, that it was the elves that accomplished such tasks, but never dreamed of such a career choice. I applied twice and started my toy design career in the '80s, a time considered by some to be the golden age of plastic playthings," she says. Her focus in those days was character design. "I sketched many a mini-doll, made some pony friends and dabbled in creative play, slaving over the heat of the Easy Bake Oven. I have been called upon to draw, sculpt, paint, compose songs and record many sounds, both human and animal." [She's the voice of most of the Furreal Friends plush animals.]

During the last 10 years, Melone's been called upon to "concept" for divisions throughout Hasbro. "I have been very fortunate to work for a corporation that recognizes the value in making this investment in the future," Melone says.

The decision to leave puppetry for playthings has been a good one, Melone says. "The toy business has graced my creative life with vibrant experiences. My career has led me to remote and unpredictable places, researching all kinds of subject matter. Looking at concepts in Tokyo, developing doll hair in a vineyard in Italy, brainstorming with astronauts and creating artwork with the children of Zambia have been just some of my very memorable experiences."

As to her Wonder Women award, she says: "Truthfully, I must confess that I believe that there was some 'chemo sympathy' involved in my nomination. This past year, I have been battling breast cancer and I believe that my friends and colleagues were eager to help me grasp onto my life through the recognition of my work. It has been profoundly humbling to witness my life's work being appreciated in such a way. Now, as a survivor of cancer and this award, I must attempt to live up to the reputation of Wonder Woman and continue to bug the toy industry with my many ideas well into the future."