In conjunction with Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births, MAD presents Baby Gear, Then and Now, a virtual panel discussion examining the baby gear industry through the lenses of design, research, marketing, and user experience. Moderated by the exhibition’s co-curator, Alexandra Schwartz, the discussion brings together New York Magazine’s Liza Corsillo, senior writer for The Strategist; Fisher-Price toy designer Bud Kolich, inventor of the first mass-produced baby monitor; and industrial design leader Lea Stewart, who led product development for baby gear brands Baby Jogger, Graco, Nuk, and Aprica. Together, the panel will dive into the industry's tension between innovation and excess, while also addressing its impact on parents navigating anxieties around the promise of easier and safer baby products.
The webinar link will be shared 2 days prior to the event via email.
About the Speakers
Liza Corsillo is a senior writer at the Strategist, New York Magazine’s shopping vertical, who covers kids’ toys and tech, baby gear, art supplies, and personal style. She is a former writer for GQ and an accomplished illustrator.
Inventor of the first mass produced nursery monitor launched by Fisher-Price in 1983, industrial designer Bud Kolich worked for the popular toy brand for more than three decades. In the early nineties, Kolich spearheaded the company’s use of computers in the design process, which in turn led to establishing Fisher-Price’s first department dedicated to creating photorealistic digital models and animations for use in product development, research, marketing, and sales. The culmination of this effort resulted in the first ever product holograms used internally and at sales shows in the last year before he retired.
Lea Stewart is a visionary product development leader who bridges the gap between creative artistry and business strategy. She has directed global teams at companies including Newell Brands, owners of baby gear brands including Baby Jogger, Graco, Nuk and Aprica. She has received many design awards for launched products, as well as recognized for her volunteer roles with juvenile organizations and design industry non-profits.