Q&A with Livia (SKELLY-DORN) Roustan '98 P ’28

After honing her skills in graphic design at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, Livia (Skelly-Dorn) Roustan dove into the world of package design at Hasbro and Mattel. For over two decades, she has mastered the art of creating packaging that is both functional and visually captivating, carefully balancing brand storytelling, consumer engagement, and industry regulations to bring toys to life — before they’re even unboxed. She is now a director of package design at a leading global toy and family entertainment company home to some of the world’s most well-known and beloved brands, including Barbie, Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, and MEGA.
 

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When did your passion for art begin?
I enjoyed art from a young age. In middle school, I took private lessons. While at Pomfret, I focused on painting and drawing and took AP art classes. I applied to and got into the top five art schools in the nation. When I visited the Art Institute of Chicago, it felt like the place I was meant to go.

What made you decide to focus on graphic design?
Art is personal and therapeutic for me. I wasn’t allured by the idea of galleries, agents, and selling myself. Coming from a middle-class family, I knew I would need to find a way to support myself. I took many graphic design courses while in college to learn the field because it is a more commercial art form.

How did you enter the world of packaging design?
While at the Art Institute of Chicago, I took part in an internship at an agency. I learned a lot about photo editing and design. It was a fun place to work. After I graduated, I worked there and did a variety of different work. When I moved back to the East Coast, I worked for an agency that Hasbro vended work to. That is where I dipped my toes into the packaging world and fell in love with it. After a year and some change, I left the agency and went to work at Hasbro. 

What do you love about package design? 
It's a lot of fun. It’s complicated to create graphics that fold into a 3D form. I designed packaging for action figures for most of my career. There are a lot of requirements from a legal or quality perspective that have to be on certain panels. There are so many things to consider and communicate in a way that describes what the toy is and captures the consumer's attention — whether they are walking down the aisle or shopping online. Getting all the required information into the design is like a puzzle. I found all those kinds of challenges invigorating and exciting.

What was your most memorable project that you worked on?
At Hasbro, there was a Spider-Man and Friends packaging project that had to be expedited. I was scheduled to be away during the photo shoot, so I art-directed the shoot through Skype. The toy had a daytime and nighttime mode. The photo shoot for the daytime features went really well. The little boy involved was very excited about the toys. During the nighttime portion, the child was supposed to be tucked in bed, pretending to sleep. I commented that the boy was doing a great job and looked asleep. The crew at the photo shoot informed me that the model had actually fallen asleep after an exciting day on set.  It's a special memory because it was just a fun, collaborative, and challenging experience that we accomplished on a shortened timeline. Everyone worked well together. Having the boy enjoy the photo shoot so much and be so worn out by the excitement and experience that he actually fell asleep was icing on the cake.

What do you love about working at a toy company and in the toy industry?
I love working at a toy company. When we relocated to the West Coast, I did not want to change industries, and I was lucky to have Mattel offer me a position. The industry is full of outstanding and fun people. We're all adults, but a part of us never grew up. We can have fun and play, and it's acceptable because it’s our job.

Now, you manage a team of package designers. What do you like about this role?
Humans are emotional by nature. Managing creative people is a unique challenge. I love growing talent and helping people accomplish things that they might not have imagined for themselves. It is rewarding to see someone overcome a roadblock. I also enjoy assisting people in developing a skill set, such as learning how to present, and helping them feel confident and comfortable, ultimately enabling them to excel in their roles.

When did you first develop your leadership skills?
While at Pomfret, I was a leader on the JV ice hockey team, playing all four years. I enjoyed helping younger teammates, some of who were learning to skate. In my role, I helped create a safe place for them to learn how to play and have fun.

What lessons did you learn at Pomfret that you still apply to your life today?
In ice hockey, we had to practice falling and getting back up. Although we were all a little sore from the experience, we learned that if you fall — physically or metaphorically — you must get yourself back up and back in the game. As part of the ensemble in theater productions, I learned how to play a supporting role. I helped lift up the stars of the show and realized that it takes a lot of people to help something succeed. As a people manager, I am inspired by all the teachers who cared deeply and wanted to see me and my classmates succeed. I aspire to be like them in my career.

Why is being an active member of the alumni community important to you?
I love staying connected with people and continuing to foster the relationships I built while on the Hilltop. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my Pomfret experience, and I feel it’s important to give back to the community that gave me so much. I enjoy being on the DEI calls, connecting with multiple generations of Pomfret students, and learning from their experiences. I thrive on hearing about something from another person’s perspective. It helps me open up another dimension of thinking.

You have been a champion of women in the workplace at Mattel. Tell us about that.
As a female in leadership, it is not only important to me, but it is also my responsibility to uplift other women in the organization. I am very grateful that our company has ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), Women at Mattel being one of them, and that I’m able to be a part of that community. I feel compelled to champion the next generation of ladies in the organization and the world.

Do you still have the opportunity to be creative outside of work?
I am busy being a mom to two teenage girls, one of whom is now at Pomfret. My oldest daughter said I could turn her room into an art studio when she goes to college. I haven’t painted in forever, so I’m looking forward to that in a few years. To fuel my creativity and love for solving complex problems, I have a New York Times games subscription and love to play The Mini Crossword, Connections, Strands, and Wordle. They are easy problems I can solve quickly and help me recharge.
 

 

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