ilies and educators over the past few years. The focus is on tinkering, science, and technology, and there is a celebration of doers across all segments, embracing creativity and exploration. MakerBot, 3D Systems, and other major 3-D printer manufacturers have been working with toy and game manufacturers such as Mattel and Hasbro to bring their products to life, pairing 3-D expertise and toy expertise into incredible new licensed products for fans. Other manufacturers have chosen to create their own proprietary product lines to engage the hands-on maker. Jakks Pacific and Tech 4 Kids will each offer 3-D printing products for less than $100 this fall. ThinkFun, the classic brain games manufacturer, has a new line called Maker Studio. The Creativity Hub uses sketching and brainstorming to begin the creative thinking process with its new Extraordinaires Design Studio products.
oping technology. Mattel transformed the newest ViewMaster re-launch with stunning 3-D technology, in partnership with Google, offering a more animated and surround-viewing experience. Qualcomm has worked with many manufacturers to bring products to life with its Vuforia platform. One of the newest alliance partnerships is with Qualcomm, Activision, and Crayola, bringing Skylanders characters to life with Color Alive drawing products. Many other manufacturers are working with Qualcomm to bring their products to life this fall as well.
3-D & 4-D PRODUCTS • Mattel and Google View-Master • Quallcomm, Activision, and Crayola Skylanders Color Alive
Crafts & Creativity
MAKER MOVEMENT & 3-D PRINTING • Tech 4 Kids 3D Magic 3D Creation Maker • Jakks Pacific 3D Character Creator • ThinkFun Maker Studio • The Creativity Hub Extraordinaires Design Studio
3-D & 4-D Products With the adult tech world embracing the 3-D and 4-D trends through TVs, and GoPro cameras and drones available with on-the-go 3-D viewing capabilities, it is no surprise that kids’ products are now incorporating this continuously devel-
18 • THE TOY BOOK
Even the usually less-connected craft category has added components of technology to its portfolio of products, embracing the DIY kid, who wants to be engaged through personalization of crafts and creativity, and then share, store, or capture their crafts online. Fashion Angels has extended its She-E-O-focused It’s My Biz range with more career business choices, a video how-to network, and an app for tracking sales, taking orders, and showcasing products and services with a smartphone. Wooky Entertainment has enhanced the collectibility factor of its Charmazing line of charm bracelets by adding a mobile app for kids to track charm collections, trade with friends, and connect with other fans on their way to becoming Charm-Masters. RoseArt has added new products at a variety of price ranges to its Graphic Skinz line of customizable art products. The vacuum chamber provides hundreds of options for customizing and creating unique art projects, and then offers an online gallery for kids to visit and be inspired to create new ideas, taking the urban vinyl style
MAY/JUNE 2015