Hi, I'm Matt Velardo
I am a toy and game designer from Rhode Island with a simple goal: to create impactful experiences. My design journey started in childhood. I’ve always loved building worlds and characters that tell stories and explore the “what if” ideas we all grow up with. Whether crafting wooden swords and shields, building dioramas, or building with LEGO, I was always creating something.
My first “official job” was with the National Park Service at the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. Over four years with the NPS, I gave talks and led tours for visitors from all over the world.
Conversations with people from so many different backgrounds taught me the importance of active listening and presenting information in a way that resonates with everyone—a lesson that deeply shapes how I design today.
My lifelong dream of becoming a professional designer became a reality in 2016 when I entered the Toy Design Program at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Those two years were an incredible time of growth, learning, and building lasting relationships in the industry.
In 2017, I interned with Hasbro Gaming on the Preschool team, collaborating with top industry minds on high-impact products. After graduating in 2018, I returned to Hasbro as a full-time designer, creating toys and games through the fall of 2026.
Outside of my regular design work, you can find me kayaking Narragansett Bay, hiking local trails, or restoring antiques and historical artifacts. Exploring nature and mastering both new and old crafts continually fuels my creative drive, ensuring every product I build delivers an unforgettable experience from concept to shelf.
Education
2016-2018
BFA, Toy Design
Fashion Institute of Technology, NY
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FIT: 2018 Toy Design Department Award
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April 2018 Toy design featured on the cover of W27 Magazine (Volume 50 Issue 5)
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Presented Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award for Best Doll and Best Plush categories - TOTY Awards Ceremony, 2018
2014-2016
AS, Visual Arts
Dutchess Community College, NY
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Best of SUNY Art Exhibition 2016, Artwork displayed at the NY State Museum
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President’s List Student [3.9 GPA]
