“We want to feed the imagination of the next generation of creatives, providing a new canvas for kids to creatively express themselves,” said Julia Goldin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group.

In the first of his new monthly column, Adam Borton looks at how he got his start in the industry and what his new Toy and Game School will look to bring those wanting to kick-start their own careers in play.

Snap Ships inventors Scott Pease and Jeff Swenty on building modular toys, pitching to PlayMonster… And how the brand may look in 2030.

“The growth we’ve seen in the toy industry speaks to the fact that parents are willing to put their children’s happiness above all else,” said The NPD Group’s Juli Lennett.

“By introducing children to Dr. Maya Angelou’s courageous story and written works through doll play, our goal is to spark conversation and awareness with children and their families,” said Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel.

Frances Cain on A Girl for All Time, Dragons’ Den and dolls with purpose.

Off the back of a successful Kickstarter campaign for their latest game, Crash Octopus, we caught up with itten President Naotaka ‘Shima’ Shimamoto to find out more about his approach to design.

The new Laugh & Learn line includes a boombox, a mixtape and a hand-held gaming device.

“Unifying the two companies with the PlayMonster brand gives us unique scope to align famous brands and further extend our business relationships internationally,” said PlayMonster UK MD Adrian Whyles.

We caught up with Mat to find out more about his history in the world of toy design and what Phase Two is looking to bring to the industry.