Transformers: Rise of the intern

When “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” opened in multiplexes June 9, one person was looking up at the screen with a knowing smile.

While the rest of the audience marveled at the new robots for the first time, Andrew Baxter already knew every nut, bolt and detail. That’s because he had spent the previous five months helping create the action figures that accompanied the movie’s release.

Baxter, an Industrial Design student at Metropolitan State University of Denver, worked as a project engineer co-op at Hasbro’s headquarters in Rhode Island as part of a sixmonth full-time internship.

“It’s such an honor to work on these iconic toys that are sold to thousands of children,” Baxter said. “I’ve learned so much, just through being here and soaking it all in.”

Hasbro is among the world’s largest toy and game companies, and its headquarters is a destination for toy aficionados such as Baxter. In his role, he focused on product feasibility and manufacturing debugging. “We make lots of changes throughout the development process to ensure that the final toys will be the highest possible quality,” he said.

Thankfully, he is no stranger to multitasking. Three years ago, despite holding down a full-time job and pursuing a college degree, he launched a successful online business. Low Budget Hobbies repaired and sold radio-controlled toys. He was able to apply a lot of the knowledge he gained from running the online store to his work at Hasbro, he said.

Studying Industrial Design has also proved an ideal choice for Baxter as it provides opportunities to put his strengths — a keen imagination, attention to detail and an analytical mind — into action.

“As a Design student, I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to see kids out in public playing with toys that you actually helped develop,” he said. “Really, that’s just the best.”