Aniwat is an award-winning industrial designer whose work has been featured internationally over the past 10 years. Currently he is the Chief Designer of Moen Incorporated, in Shanghai. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Simone Legno (born June 16, 1977) is an Italian Artist best known for the creation of the tokidoki brand. Legno’s designs are influenced by his deep love and affection for Japan and its culture. Legno’s portfolio website was listed as one of the top ten websites of the week by The Independent in 2003. This caught the attention of Hard Candy co-founder Pooneh Mohajer and her husband Ivan Arnold. The two contacted him and after meeting, they formed the tokidoki business venture. In June 2009 it was announced that Legno would release a line of young punk rock inspired characters that would sell at the US-based retailer Target. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
It was perhaps the fifth or sixth time I found myself, flat on the floor, arm extended, sweeping a broom under the couch to try to retrieve the quarter-size wheels of my son’s Automoblox Minis that I thought, “This is not a good design.”
Everything about them looked great. Automoblox share the traits of many toys sold at Giggle, the MoMA Design Store, and the overpriced kids boutique in your neighborhood: They are made of wood, the colors are bright and unisex, they use no batteries, they evoke the past, and they cost significantly more than the plastic, pink-or-blue, light-blinking, noise-making blobs sold at Toys R Us. These qualities explain why three different people decided Automoblox were the ideal gift for the offspring of an architect and a design critic.
And yet, my son seemed perplexed by how to play with them, beyond rolling them back and forth, something any die-cast drugstore school bus can do. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
The age old adage of ‘keeping things simple’ is a core philosophy of many designers. Upon reviewing the catalog of upcoming projects from Ben Blanc’s studio, it’s clear that his toys and handiwork boast simplicity coupled with classic elements of timeless style and appeal. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Classic and contemporary. Fanciful and functional. Simple and sophisticated. At first glance, these characteristics may seem slightly contradictory. But Playsam firmly believe that opposites attract. As the leading Scandinavian design company in its class, Playsam creates innovative and timeless wooden toys for the young and young at heart. With each and every toy, we not only strive for physical functionality, but also for an art form that challenges pre-existing artistic concepts and conventions. Take your pick of our exclusive products — from the miniature Saab Keychain Car to the Streamliner series to Playsam’s wonderful Rocking Rabbit — and give the best of Swedish design as a baby, birthday or business gift. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Tom Smale says: This cuddlesome toy airplane is an ideal little playmate for small children. The relatively simple shapes give ‘Mo’ a certain level of abstraction, which can make you believe he’s got his own personality. Mo’s sphere shaped base, in combination with his small wings, gives him a lovable appearance. Also, the wooden material gives it a sense of quality and a durable and environmentally friendly character. Read More.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans.
Yoshii’s toy gallery is a must-see for anyone interested in toy design. This prolific designer produces a new design daily. Take a look at today’s gallery of toys. See 332 designs. You must visit the Yoshii Blog.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans.
Created out of an obsession for designer/art toys and collectables, Hong Kong based company Toy2r continues to break down the boundaries between product design, art and graphics. Mastermind Raymond Choy founded the company in 1995 where he took his dream of a once owned toy store known as ‘Toy R’ which held countless quantitiesof limited edition toy collectables and turned it into a internationally recognized company amongst the first to explore the potential of the designer toy movement. He has instilled contemporary art into the vinyl toy market we all know and love today.
Toy2r has received numerous internationally renowned awards for their outstanding achievements starting with the 2007 Vinyl Toy of the Year from Plastic and Plush, since 2002 winning AFT’s (Action Figure Times) Best Block Toy Award for six consecutive years running, AFT’s Best Vinyl Toy Award in 2006, AFT’s Most Innovative Company Award in 2004, AFT’s Toygodd’s Crystal Award from 2003 – 2005 and many more. http://www.toy2r.com/
