Ian Downes

Start Licensing’s Ian Downes reports back on a visit to the Design Museum’s Barbie exhibition, and why it’s an encouraging experience for brand owners, licensees and designers alike.

Start Licensing’s Ian Downes looks at LEGO’s innovative approach to working with brands, be it youngsters with DUPLO or AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) through advanced sets.

Start Licensing’s Ian Downes looks at what Topps’ Cricket Attax could do for the wider licensing potential of the sport, with contributions from Greg Lansdowne and Simon Gresswell.

Natalie Frow – European Senior Brand Manager at TOMY – discusses the centenary and how the firm is looking to grow the Britains fanbase.

A new category of BLE’s Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition is inviting designers to submit concepts based around Morph. Aardman’s Rob Goodchild tell us more.

The competition is now open – and winners will receive a free stand at BLE 2022, one-on-one consultation with members of the judging panel, and free memberships to Licensing International and Products of Change.

How do IP owners and licensing agents take ‘left field’ brands into the world of toys and games? This session delves into some of the challenges involved and looks at the key to successfully giving these kinds of brands the toy treatment.

What makes for great licensed toys and games? How can brands successfully engage with the inventor community? And what are licensors looking for in a perfect toy partner? All this and more is explored in the Playing with Brands Panel session.

Panellists include Pixar Animation Studios’ Jen Tan, Roald Dahl’s Stephanie Griggs and SRL Consulting’s Susie Lecker.

This week, we’re catching up with Ian Downes, Director at Start Licensing and co-founder of Brands Untapped, a brand new experiential licensing event launching in March 2021.