Week 4 - Technology & Trendy Toys

Our assignment for tonight was to follow the push of technology into the retail space and out to toy kids. Some in the industry believe that all toys will have some technological component to them. Is this really possible? Or realistic?

Week 3 - Deconstruction and Toy Thinking!

Well for us to properly understand the semantics of toy creating we must get our hands into the toys themselves. Take them apart, crunch them into pieces and see what makes them cool. Tonight we deconstructed a lot of stuff and managed to put some of it back into new ideas. We take this with us into project one for Banzai!

Week 2 - Basics of Toy Dynamics and Play!

Our second class was full of great insight into the idea of play and actually how complicated it is. As toy designers we have to be aware of the market and trends, along with the actual category and target demographic. The great thing which makes it fun is that there is an enormous scope to design within.

Next class we will start to de-construct real toys to see just how they are put together! We need to begin to think like toy inventors and look for imaginative ways to make fantastic ideas come to life.

Welcome to Toy Design for 2009

Hello! Another semester has arrived and another great group of talented Columbia students have entertained the idea of learning how to design toys, games and more! The Art & Design department is a wonderful place to grow and refine our skills.

A cheery welcome to all, creating toys is not for the faint. See you tonight in class. This blog is for you so make it worthy.

John

Week 11 - Sustainable Toy Design?

We began tonight on module one of the LEGO sustainable toy project as teams. Everyone is in a new group and has started on their pinball machine inventions. Looking beyond the aesthetic at just play, or more importantly the sustainability of play, in a very pure form is on our minds. Play should exist for kids in a way they can discover and adapt along with. Creating a magical experience is priority.