Employee Spotlight: Eric Bretzman

March 03, 2025
Posted by Emily Goodspeed
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At Marky Sparky, our team is just as fun and creative as the toys we make! In this edition of our Employee Spotlight, we’re excited to introduce Eric, a key member of our team who brings passion, energy, and a love for play into everything he does.

If you've ever strolled through our office and heard someone passionately debating whether My Chemical Romance or Senses Fail defined 2009, you’ve probably met Eric. He’s our resident designer aficionado, metal music blaster, and guy most likely to break a bone and still show up to work the next day.

Eric, who sports more ink than a library’s worth of first editions, has been with us for six whole years, bringing his expertise, charisma, and an oddly encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Monopoly and the occult (along with other scandalous Jeopardy facts). When he’s not here making our design division cooler than it has any right to be, he’s out snowboarding—usually upside down and getting hurt.

Some fun facts about Eric:

✔ He tore a ligament taking off a sock

✔ His Spotify Wrapped is 97% emo bands from the late 2000s.

✔ He has an Instagram for his cat, Miss Jessie (@MissJessieInABox), who may or may not be more famous than him.

From his favorite childhood toys to what it’s really like working at a toy company, Eric shares a behind-the-scenes look at his role, his hobbies, and what makes Marky Sparky such a special place to work. Let’s dive in!

What’s your name, and what is your role at Marky Sparky	Eric Bretzman here, Senior Product Designer at Marky Sparky!
How did you end up in the toy industry?	In the before times, I was living in Oregon working on sporting goods and insulated drinkware. I've always been passionate about the outdoors and designing products that enhance people's experience with outdoor adventures. Life changes brought me down to San Diego where I discovered Marky Sparky, and became excited about the idea of continuing my path of designing for adventure, but with a new spin - toys!
What’s your favorite part of your job?	By far the most rewarding part of my job is seeing the products that I've worked on bring joy to people; it is a reminder that what I do can make a positive impact on someone's life.
What’s your favorite Marky Sparky Product?	Obviously the Doinkit® Ball because I am not a baby.
Tell me about your design process.	My design process can vary depending on the project. Generally, the team or myself will tinker around and find an activity that could have some real potential for fun. I will then sketch and prototype, making several improvements until reaching a desired result. I pay attention to ergonomics and little details to create satisfying micromoments when experiencing the product. We will then explore colorway designs, textures and material breaks to round out the product to be the complete package of an experience. The slightly less fun, but just as important stuff, is then prepping a product for manufacturability for a seamless collaboration with our manufacturers.
Outside of Marky Sparky, what are your hobbies/how do you spend your free time?	I am constantly working on my own design projects - mostly accessories for my vehicle and furniture/parts for my home. Beyond that, snowboarding and being in the mountains is a big part of my life. I also love to do yoga, spend time at the beach, and play games.
What would you tell anyone seeking a job in the toy industry?	You will not regret it. This is by far the coolest industry out there with some of the best people that you will meet.