• attended John Marshall High School, Milwaukee, WI
• graduated 1988 BFA Industrial Design
• currently a game and toy inventor + designer

“You won’t be the same person after MIAD - it’ll open up your mind in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Photo by Kat Berger

A. As a kid I didn’t think about it very much, but I was continuously engaged in crafts, drawing, painting, and making things. In high school I took every art class I could - in hindsight, I was destined for a creative future, but it wasn’t pre-calculated... it was just inside of me.

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Q. What was your first memorable experience with art and design?

A. I remember painting a spectacular butterfly on the big easel in kindergarten. My teacher made me take it and show the principal. I always loved to show things I made. I still do.

Q. How did your MIAD education affect where you are today?

A. It was instrumental. My first job after graduation was as a game designer, and I’ve been in the toy biz ever since. Beyond that, I draw upon my MIAD education all the time. MIAD taught me to be resourceful and to try and try again - it was like boot camp for a long and successful life as a creative. I’ve since always felt well-equipped as a designer.

Q. What was the most valuable thing you learned at MIAD?

A. Problem solving. There are a million different ways to solve a problem, and if you run into obstacles, you can always take a different tack. Approach a project from a fresh angle and you’ll come up with a unique and interesting solution.

Q. What’s the one thing you would tell a high school student who is considering attending MIAD now that you’ve experienced life after graduation?

A. If you’re serious about living a creative life, not only will you learn a tremendous amount in your classes, but you’ll be surrounded with creative people who will force you to constantly examine the world in different ways. You won’t be the same person after MIAD - it’ll open up your mind in ways you can’t even imagine.

Q. If you had to sum up your job in a single sentence, what would it be?

A. I get to make all kinds of fun things, teach people how to play and make things, too, and then go on television and share that with even more people.

Q. What are your goals for the future, in art/design and in life?

A. To continually immerse myself in projects that grab my attention and pose a good challenge - no matter whether they’re inventing toys, writing stories, taking photographs, making paintings, creating things....

Brown has been a frequent guest on the Rachael Ray Show, sharing her expertise on games, crafts, decorating and more. To see some of the craft and project ideas Brown has shared on the show: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/?q=peggy-brown

Q. What are some of your hobbies/interests?

A. Traveling around the world, writing, photography, painting, decorating, glassblowing, inventing, making art, among other things.

Q. Are there any specific parts of your resume that you’d like to share?

A. I’ve invented and designed hundreds of games that have sold millions of units, written a few books, run a design company, and caused a lot of people to laugh and have fun.

Q. Please define how you saw your major while in school, and how that definition has changed over the years.

A. In school, we designed mostly hard goods and environments. Some of my school projects were designing telephones, kitchen mixers, dustbusters, and other consumer electronics and appliances, as well as helicopter cockpits, office furniture systems, and even a park ranger station. Since then I’ve learned how to design more intangible things, like fun for kids, and family togetherness. Besides designing physical products, I get to design the experience people will have when they use my products. Now I think about the invisible aspects equally as much as the molded or printed parts.

A collection of games invented and designed by Brown, including Barbie Dream Date, Multimedia Mad Gab, ‘NSYNC, and People. She has invented and designed hundreds of games that have sold millions of units.

To read more about Brown:

http://www.mkeonline.com/story.asp?id=1400397

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=540922