Freelance Inventor, Louise White been an award-winning Industrial Designer for over eighteen years. She specializes in plush toys, plastic toys, fabrics, and accessories for the infant – teen market. So Louise has designed individual products and entire lines for some of the biggest companies in the industry including; Toys R Us, International Playthings, Rashti & Rashti, Bestever, Alex Toys, Ohio Art, Mary Meyer, Brainy Baby, Dolly, Summer Infant, Infantino, Kids II, Prestige Toy, Goody Products, Crown Craft, Sassy, and many others. Her “Taggies” product line for International Playthings was a highly successful and lucrative license.
Louise White has been the President and Head Designer at Me First! Designs since launching it in 1998. Her designs have earned more than twenty awards including the prestigious Oppenheim Best Toy award, the Dr. Toy Best Toy award, and the Parenting Media award. Louise designs have also been featured in numerous publications and she is considered among the elite in her field.
The Invention Stories Podcast Episode 39 Recap
We are often contacted by inventors on how to become a successful freelance inventor. Louise White has made a career of being a freelance inventor/designer. So she has spent nearly 20 years working as a freelance inventor, developing products from ideas. And that is why we contacted Louise to interview on the Invention Stories Podcast.
Freelance Inventor…
We started off by asking Louise about the recent Toy-R-US struggles, it didn’t catch her off guard. One day while presenting some ideas them, she learned of the layoffs. Louise believes that Toys-R-Us will rebound but they will still need to learn to compete with Amazon. She shares her ideas on how they can do just that.
As a Result
As a child, Louise wanted to be an artist. Her parents were teachers, so higher education was encouraged. They also collected antique toys that fascinated her. Louise learned about industrial design and choose to attend the Pratt Institute in New York City. She shares the details of some of her assignments. Her father drove her to college each day and has been an integral part of her success. Louise’s father has a mechanical engineering mind and they work together on her freelance invention today.
So…
So Louise has a freelance inventor mindset. Meaning that everywhere she goes if she sees something that does work efficiently, she imagines how to fix it. I have spoken with many inventors who think the same way, it’s very common. In fact, they HAVE to imagine the improvement, it’s not an option.
Working In-House
So Louise shares how she ended up working at Prestige Toys and what she learned there. So she found out quickly that she didn’t want to work in-house. Louise likes the freedom that comes with being a freelance inventor and shares the pros and cons. Being a freelance inventor, her design can end up being modified, occasionally for the better but sometime for the worse.
Would Rather Work in Partnership
Louise prefers to work in partnership with another inventor. She believes two minds can create a better product. So having been burned by companies who stole her idea she shares her theory behind partnerships. There are “quality” companies she prefers to work with and Louise happily shares her best ideas with.
Rather Recieve a Royalty
I talked with her about how she is being paid. So Louise enjoys receiving a royalty agreements with an advancement. Some companies only give royalty agreements and that can be risky. Other companies pay you and you’re done. So she believes companies should always include a royalty because the inventor or designer will have a vested interest in its outcome. “They will give 1000% effort instead of 100%.
Most of all, Louise prefers…
I asked her about her dream phone call. So Louise says its when she offers multiple concepts and they accept all of them. She enjoys doing entire lines of products and explains what that means. So Louise loves working with licenses like with Disney and Hello Kitty. She enjoys finding out what the client wants and creating them options.
Freelance Inventor…it’s up to You
Being a freelance inventor…you have to hustle. And you can’t get down from rejection. So Louise believes that you can’t get comfortable with a client because anything can happen. You have to grind. Any client can change their mind at anytime. I asked her about when multiple clients offer her work and she prefers that. So she enjoys juggling her time and he family supports her. Louise works lots of odd hours and prefers working late at night.
Benefits
Louise shares the benefits of being a mother of three has on designing toys. She gets regular feedback by watching her children’s interact with toys. And Louise is a big believer of creating more affordable toys. Every kid deserves the opportunity to enjoy them.
Audiobook Now Available
e-book paperback
In Conclusion
Finally, I ask Louise what advice she would give to those interested in inventing. So we encourage you to listen to this episode of the Invention Stories Podcast to find out her answer.
The Invention Stories Podcast
on YouTube and More…
Click here to learn more about Invention Stories
and here for Women Inventors and the 7 Percent.
To watch more Invention Stories on YouTube, please click here.
If you are new to inventing, we invite you to visit Episode 1 with Forbes Riley.
Click here to visit (and Like) the Invention Stories Facebook Page.
Finally, we invite you to sign our Guest Book.
Thank you for reading this and please…tell a friend.
10 Freelance Inventor Links
Best Freelance Autodesk Inventor Jobs Online In January 2018 – Upwork
Freelance autodesk inventor jobs Jobs, Employment | Freelancer.com
Autodesk Inventor – PeoplePerHour
Autodesk Inventor Freelancers – Guru
Where to get freelance work? – GrabCAD
Top 4 Autodesk Inventor Designers for Hire in January 2018 – Cad …
Top 10 Autodesk Inventor Freelancers | Best Freelance Autodesk …
Freelance Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD work – 3DCADForums
UK Freelance Autodesk Inventor Jobs – UK Freelancing – weliketowork …
How to become an inventor (freelancing/self-employed) | Inventors …
Freelance Inventor Stories
So click here to visit the Mail Tribune Facebook Page.
Also click here to visit the Edge Markets Facebook Page.
Most of all click here to visit the Forbes.com Facebook Page.
And here to visit the Fosters Daily Democrat Facebook Page.
Finally, click here to visit their Facebook Page.
10 Invention Stories Links
5 Freelance Inventor Links
So…Best Freelance Autodesk Inventor Jobs Online In January 2018 – Upwork
Also…Freelance autodesk inventor jobs Jobs, Employment | Freelancer.com
Another…Autodesk Inventor – PeoplePerHour
In addition…Autodesk Inventor Freelancers – Guru
Furthermore…Where to get freelance work? – GrabCAD
5 More Freelance Inventor Links
So…Top 4 Autodesk Inventor Designers for Hire in January 2018 – Cad …
also…Top 10 Autodesk Inventor Freelancers | Best Freelance Autodesk …
another…Freelance Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD work – 3DCADForums
Especially Relevant…UK Freelance Autodesk Inventor Jobs – UK Freelancing – weliketowork …
Finally…How to become an inventor (freelancing/self-employed) | Inventors …
Louise White- Work Experience
Designer/Inventor in Partnership with Dibzy
Dibzy
Jun 2015 – Present
Freelance Toy Designer/Inventor
Toy Target
Nov 2015 – Present
Creating bath & pre-school toys, plush, craft kits, graphics
Freelance Designer
Toys R Us
2009 – Present
Freelance Toy Designer
Freelance Designer
Crown Crafts, Inc.
2009 – Present
Designed bedding, bibs and bath accessories
Freelance Toy Designer/Inventor
International Playthings, Inc.
2005 – Present
Designed and invented many award winning toys including Hello Kitty license, Earlyears and Taggies’s license.
Freelance Designer
ALEX Toys
2006 – Present
Toy Design & Invention
Freelance Designer
The Ohio Art Company
2007 – 2015
Toy Design
Freelance Designer
Kids ii
2003 – 2014
Fabric & Toy Design
Freelance Designer
Sassy Baby
2011 – Jan 2013
Fabric & Toy Design
Toy Designer/Fabric Designer
NameKids II
Apr 2010 – Aug 2012
Fabric & Toy Design
Designer
Danara
2008 – 2009
Fabric & Toy Design
Freelance Designer
Dolly, Inc.
2007 – 2008
Worked on the Classic Pooh line for Target as well as other licenses.
Freelance Designer
Mary Meyer/Brainy Baby
2006 – 2008
Toy Design & Invention
Freelance Designer
Delta Children’s Products
2006 – 2007
Fabric & Toy Design
Freelance Designer
Carter’s
2006 – 2007
Designer of Soft goods
Freelance Designer
Summer Infant
2003 – 2007
Fabric & Toy Design
Freelance Designer
Infantino
2003 – 2006
Toy Design and Invention
Designer
Shelcore Toys
2000 – 2001
Toy Design
Designer
Prestige Toys
1998 – 2000
Toy Desing
Asst. Designer
Fallani & Cohn
1997 – 1998
Table top designer
Designer
Six Flags Great Adventure
1996 – 1997
Signage & thematic design
Freelance Designer
Goody – Newell Rubbermaid Company
1994 – 1996
Hair accessory design
Louise White- Education
Pratt Institute
Degree NameBID
Field Of StudyIndustrial Design
Dates attended or expected graduation –
BA in Industrial Design
Pratt Institute
Degree NameBID
Field Of StudyIndustrial Design
Dates attended or expected graduation –
Industrial Design
More Information about Louise White, Freelance Inventor/Designer
For more information please visit http://www.mefirstdesigns.com/