An Interview with the Li’l Woodzeez Designer

May 6, 2025

Join us in celebrating 15 years of Li’l Woodzeez! Our lovable critters have been winning hearts since 2010, bringing delightful charm and personality to children’s playrooms all around the world. With over 150 toys in our catalog, we couldn’t be more proud of Honeysuckle Hollow—and all the fans who keep us going.

In the spirit of our anniversary, we’d like to introduce you to the wonderful person behind it all: Lisa Skolnick! Meet the designer who creates your favorite Li’l Woodzeez toys. We sat down with Lisa to talk about her work, her inspirations, and what she loves most about the critter community you know and love.

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! My name is Lisa. I’ve been designing toys for 25 years and designing Li’l Woodzeez for over 10 years! I truly love those little critters and creating their world is the best part of my job.

Could you describe a day in the life of a toy designer?

My day always starts with a nice cup of tea! Then it’s time to dive into the magical world of Li’l Woodzeez. I begin by checking emails to see how our projects are progressing and to connect with our amazing engineers, who help bring our ideas to life.

Most of my design work happens digitally, using illustration apps on my tablet and computer. I sketch new playsets or families, experiment with color palettes, and finetune the small details. But I still love to start designing with good old pencil and paper. There’s something special about sketching the first idea by hand!

One of the most exciting parts of the job is receiving physical samples; opening a box with a new prototype of something you designed! I carefully review each one and provide feedback or corrections if anything needs tweaking.

What brought you into the world of toy design?

My career started as a graphic designer. I enjoyed this for many years, but something was missing. I needed a new plan since I’ve always loved creating and I am the biggest kid at heart. Toy design felt like a natural path, where I could bring toys to life. I always design toys I would have played with.

What do you think is the most overlooked part of your job?

One part people don’t always see is how much thought goes into the tiniest details—things like how something feels in a child’s hand, or how a playset opens and closes. It has to be safe, fun but also something to intrigue their imagination.

What would you say is your proudest achievement?

I don’t have just one achievement but what makes me proudest is when we get emails and especially handwritten notes from kids and families saying how much they love our toys. Sometimes they send little drawings, too. Those moments mean so much. To know I have connected to the child means I did my job.

Li’l Woodzeez let imagination run free! Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration comes from everywhere: nature, books, childhood memories, a walk through a garden or a forest. Sometimes an idea starts with just a tiny detail, like the shape of a window or a teacup, and it grows from there.

What is your vision for the Li’l Woodzeez brand?

I’m always thinking about what would make the Li’l Woodzeez world feel even more magical for kids. My vision is to keep growing the Honeysuckle Hollow community and all the families that live in it in a way that feels playful, warm, and full of heart, like a little town you’d want to live in.

Do you have any favorite Li’l Woodzeez toys?

That’s a tough one! I have a soft spot for the Honeysuckle Hillside Cottage as it was my first large design and is a big seller for the brand. And of course, I love the original families—they’ll always feel like old friends. The fist families I designed were the Skyhopper panda and Canberra koala families. They were our first international famileez in Honeysuckle Hollow!

We have a question from a fan! Molly asks, do you have any advice on how to start a career in toys?

Design school can be a great start but what I think matters most is passion and learning.

Keep a sketchbook for toy ideas. Even if you’re not great at drawing, practice sketching characters, houses, accessories, or even whole playsets. Add notes about how they work or what they do. Build a Portfolio. Make a collection of your best toy ideas, sketches, stories, photos of models you’ve made—even out of clay. Show your creativity and thinking process. And follow toy design communities online, like on Instagram or LinkedIn.

All the best toy designers still love playing and are big kids at heart!!

Is there anything else you’d like to say to Li’l Woodzeez fans?

Just a big thank you. Every drawing, every kind word, every moment spent playing! It means the world. You’re the reason we do this, and we love creating for you.

Toy design is a rewarding and passion-driven craft. From jotting down a neat li’l idea to holding that idea in the flesh, every step of toy creation is fun and exciting. Then, to top it all off, we get to hear from you! Nothing beats the joy that our toys bring to li’l ones and li’l ones at heart.

Thank you for being a part of our 15-year journey. We couldn’t do it without you! For more Li’l Woodzeez content, check out the blog, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a thing.