Interview
Zuru’s Adam Woods on disruption, creativity and booty-shaking llamas
We caught up with Zuru’s creative director, Adam Woods, to discuss the origins of Boppi the Booty Shaking Llama, as well as delve into the firm’s ‘bold and disruptive’ creative culture.
TinkerTini’s Trina McFarland on a career in the frontline of the toy industry: Inventor Relations
We caught up with McFarland to find out more about her approach to Inventor Relations and how she assesses the state of creativity in the industry at present.
Brett Klisch on why this year’s Creative Factor at US Toy Fair is set to be the best yet
We caught up with Klisch to find out more about his history in design and where the idea for Creative Factor first came from.
Spin Master’s Nick Metzler on game development, working with licences and the advice he’d give budding designers
We caught up with Metzler to learn more about his approach to game design, and how he looks to build his games around the emotional experience he wants players to have.
Hub Games’ Michael Fox on bringing an emotional experience to the tabletop with Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr
We caught up Holding On’s co-designer, Michael Fox, to learn more about the origins of the game and how the idea for a more ‘emotional’ style of gameplay presented itself in the design process.
Reach Robotics’ Silas Adekunle on why MekaMon V2 is “so much more than an RC robot”
Reach Robotics CEO Silas Adekunle sheds light on the development process behind MekaMon V2, and what the future holds for Reach’s platform for play, experimentation and learning.
Timothy S. Stuart on creating open-ended play experiences with Unit Bricks
We caught up with Stuart to learn more about the origins of Unit Bricks, and how to survive in the super-competitive world of construction toys.
Ben Callicott on the launch of the Toy Pioneers Club, a new online community for the world’s most forward-thinking start-ups
We caught up with Callicott to learn more about the Toy Pioneers Club, and how he sees it helping to fuel innovation in the industry.
Hasbro’s Randy Klimpert on giving Fortnite the Monopoly treatment
Over the last 12 months, Randy Klimpert – senior director of design and development for Hasbro Gaming – has welcomed the year’s biggest video game to the Monopoly family with Monopoly: Fortnite Edition, while also risking upsetting the “purists” with Monopoly: Cheaters Edition; both of which play very differently to the classic game.
Animoodles creator Marissa Louie on the development process behind her latest wave of mix-and-match plush animals
We caught up with Louie to find out more about the development process behind this new range, and plans to take Animoodles beyond the toy aisle.