Mari Richards

Mari Richards is a product designer, shiny object addict, writer, and professor. With 400+ designs and 30+ industry awards, she is a freelance designer and design blogger at SmallforBig.com. She is also a contributor at Houzz.com and LetsNeighbor.com.
Easter Egg Hunt: Finding DIY Plastic Egg Alternatives
image:7d74fc83aef78b69be116ea2c239023ef6b7475f w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" We love having an Easter Egg hunt. It’s a tradition my mom kept alive well into my college years. No matter what the weather – even with snow on the ground – my brother, myself, and our parents went outside with our baskets and color-coded eggs.
Mar 13, 2013
A Toy Designer and Mom Shares Her 6 Favorite Online Toy Shops
As a toy designer and a parent, this time of year is fraught with not only finding the usual Christmas gifts, but finding gifts that I admire both as a designer and a mom. It can be a tall order. I have high expectations! Until recently I felt like I had most of the control over what my daughter would play with. These days, as she approaches the ripe old age of 4, I’m realizing my hold on our curated collection of toys is slipping fast.
Dec 12, 2012
Fashion Dolls: Alternatives to Barbie
Here’s a hot button topic: are you pro or anti-Barbie? It seems people fall into two camps: those who think girls know better than to believe they should look like a plastic toy, and those who think a doll’s body image and message should reflect a more realistic point of view. With the plethora of recent additions – from Bratz to Monster High – I think the question is even more loaded than ever.
Oct 31, 2012
7 Flash Sale Sites with Kids in Mind
Being a design lover and a parent is tough, isn’t it? We crave beautiful things – clothes, toys, shoes, decor – for our kids, but the price tags can be steep. I’ve found the best way to keep my sweet design tooth satisfied is with flash sale websites. They feature all of our favorite brands – and many new brands you may have never heard of before – at steep discounts, usually 40 – 70% off retail prices.
Sep 26, 2012