Tiny toy, big opportunity: How a student caught Fisher-Price’s eye

Rebecca Villagracia '26

Ava Guarino '26 brought a toy robot to an interview — and got the job with a renowned toy company.

Ava Guarino ’26 (illustration) entered the meeting, handheld companion in tow.

She exited with a dream opportunity on the horizon.

Guarino scheduled a portfolio review with Fisher-Price during Creative Industry Days, an event that connects students to industry professionals through one-on-one interactions. As a nod to the children’s toy company, she brought and presented a small truck that strongly exemplified her creative qualifications. The miniature food delivery robot originated as a 2D-animated class project that Guarino brought to life and transformed into a 3D-printed object fit for an interview with Fisher-Price.

“This is a dream situation,” Guarino said. “Everything I’m learning (at RIT) can be immediately applied at Fisher-Price.”

Building her future

“Creative Industry Days is an opportunity where you don’t have to go out and search. It is brought to you, and it’s up to you to decide what you do with it. This is an opportunity to build different paths and connections for the future.” - Ava Guarino '26

Guarino’s truck is a symbol of her ambition and skill-building progression.

In the fall, she made an eye-catching 2D form of the food delivery robot in Assistant Professor Chad Grohman’s Animating Digital Illustration class. After learning to use 3D software in an elective course, Digital Glass, Guarino designed a 3D version of the robot, colored it, and made a 3D print using the College of Art and Design’s FabLab.

“I love learning new things. That’s the benefit of the College of Art and Design,” said Guarino, from Limerick, Pa. “It’s important for people to integrate other skills that they take from studio electives. That’s exactly what I did here and that’s what can stand out to employers.”

Rebecca Villagracia '26

Guarino learned how to translate her 2D illustrations to 3D forms.

Fisher-Price took notice of Guarino’s firm grasp of 2D and 3D workflows, with the physical toy truck serving as proof.

“They said, ‘That’s incredible. That’s our entire production line and you demonstrated you can do that,’” Guarino said of the feedback she received.

As an illustrator, Guarino’s work can be recognized by intense line work, bold, bright color palette, and immense detail.

Ava Guarino

Guarino made this digital illustration of a cyborg musician.

“My style has always been edgy,” she said. “I’ve never been subtle. People have told me they knew a piece was mine before knowing it was mine. I like that because it feels like your work takes on a life and personality of its own. It’s a nice conversation between you and your work.”

An example of that style in action is her winning poster design submission for Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival.

Her detailed printed circuit board poster is a visual reflection of technology, the arts, and design being a pillar of RIT.

It’s also a byproduct of her own personal experience with RIT’s interdisciplinary Electric Vehicle Team (EVT) the last three years. She has worked on the design team to create and enhance the team’s brand identity, web and social media presence, merchandise, and decals for the bikes. This year, Guarino is EVT’s design lead.

To Guarino, EVT is an inviting space for engineering, technology, and creativity to co-mingle and spur new ideas and innovation. It’s also a microcosm of what drew her to RIT in the first place.

“If you have the right mindset, it’s this beautiful blend where you can learn many things you wouldn’t have if you didn’t communicate with engineers,” Guarino said. “The arts are valued here. There is so much dedicated to us and I can also learn about so many other things.”