Stefanie Eskander papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 118.8603

Staff Only

The Stefanie Eskander papers contain concept sketches, control drawings, presentation renderings, and other graphics and artwork for toys, dolls, and games created by designer and illustrator Stefanie Eskander. While many of these materials represent unproduced playthings, several included here did make it to the consumer market. Major toy companies represented within this collection include Fisher-Price, Playskool, Tonka, and Hasbro. The bulk of the papers are from the 1990s. Additional scope and content information can be found in the Contents List section of this finding aid.

The Stefanie Eskander papers have been arranged into two series, one of which has been further divided into subseries. The physical materials are housed in three archival document boxes and five oversized folders. Digital materials can be accessed on-site at The Strong.

Dates

1986 - 2018
Majority of material found in 1990s

Creator

Eskander, Stefanie (Person)

Language

This collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, she has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes, 5 oversized folders)

130 Megabytes (Digital files) : Accessible on-site at The Strong.

Additional Description

Abstract

The Stefanie Eskander papers are a compilation of concept sketches, presentation drawings, and other artwork for dolls, toys, and games created by Eskander for various toy companies. The bulk of the materials are from the 1990s.

Biographical Note

Stefanie Clark Eskander is an American illustrator and toy designer, best known for creating dolls such as Moondreamers, Cupcakes, Cuddle-Bye Baby, and Jem and the Holograms. She worked for several major toy companies during her career.

Eskander grew up in Southern California and studied illustration in college, focusing on art for children. In 1985, she attended a job fair hosted by Mattel and was hired on the spot to work as a Designer for both small and large dolls. Hasbro recruited Eskander in 1986; while there, she worked on Jem, Dolly Surprise, and My Beautiful Doll. Eskander left Hasbro for Tonka in 1990. While at Tonka, Eskander created her most commercially successful product, WWF Wrestling Buddies. (She also designed several lines of Cupcakes dolls.) After Hasbro purchased Tonka in 1991, Eskander began freelancing but joined Fisher-Price as a Senior Designer in 1992 after they bought her doll design for Cuddle-Bye Baby.

After several years creating toys and dolls for Fisher-Price, she went back to Mattel in 1995, now as a Senior Staff Designer, to work on Cabbage Patch Kids and Polly Pocket. In 1997, Eskander established Stefanie Eskander Design, devising products for MGA, Playmates, PlayAlong Toys, Manhattan Toys, Mattel, and Hasbro. She joined Spin Master as a Staff Designer in 2009, where she developed doll and accessory lines such as Victorious and Liv. Eskander’s experience landed her as the Design Manager for Girls’ Toys at Toys R Us from 2012-2015.

In 2016, Eskander returned to freelance work, and she still designs for the toy industry as well as producing children’s illustrations and graphic artwork.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Product design concepts, 1986-2018

Subseries A: Dolls and toys, 1986-2003

Subseries B: Play sets, 1991-2015

Subseries C: Games, c. 1990s

Subseries D: Other playthings, 1987-1999

Series II: Professional papers, 2001-2003

Custodial History

The Stefanie Eskander papers were donated to The Strong in August 2018 as a gift of Stefanie Clark Eskander. The papers were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID 118.8603 and were received from Eskander in a portfolio and several oversized folders.