Toy Design Studio

Toy Design is where imagination becomes physical — where students explore storytelling, materiality, function, and the joy of making objects that spark play or comfort.

Toy Design I – Soft Toys

Grades 2-5

Toy Design I introduces students to the world of soft toy design through hands-on making with fabric. In this studio, budding toy designers learn how to bring an original idea to life—transforming a sketch into a playful plush creation that may be furry, funny, or fantastical.

Working with soft materials, students explore how toys are designed, constructed, and experienced, gaining foundational skills in both creative expression and making.

- Purpose & types of toys
  Explore why toys are designed, the different types of toys that exist, and how play shapes design decisions.
- Soft toy construction skills
  Learn foundational techniques including adapting simple patterns, cutting, pinning, and hand and machine sewing.
- Toy history & evolution
  Understand how toys have evolved over time alongside changes in materials, technology, and society.
- Culture & tradition in toy design
  Examine how cultural traditions and values influence toy forms, characters, and play experiences.

A young boy with glasses and short brown hair, smiling and holding a blue stuffed toy with black eyes and legs, against a plain white background.

A young girl with brown hair holding a plush bowl resembling a sushi roll, with pretend sushi and vegetables, in front of a plain white background.

Toy Design II – Wood Toys

Grades 4-8

Toy Design II introduces students to toy making through wood, expanding their understanding of materials, structure, and play. In this hands-on studio, students design and build an original wooden toy or game, learning how ideas about play, interaction, and function shape design decisions.

As students work with new tools and materials, they develop spatial reasoning and confidence in making, while gaining insight into how toys are experienced and enjoyed. The session concludes with a Toy Expo, where students proudly present their finished creations.

- Purpose of play
  Explore why toys matter and how play supports creativity, learning, and human development.
- 3D thinking & planning
  Develop skills in geometry, planning, and visualizing ideas in three-dimensional form.
- Tool use & craftsmanship
  Learn to safely and confidently use basic tools such as hammers, nails, and saws.
- Culture & tradition in toys
  Understand how cultural traditions and values influence toy forms, games, and play experiences.
- Materials & design decisions
  Compare how different materials—such as fabric versus wood—impact form, construction, and user experience.

Person wearing a brown sweatshirt holding a checkered chessboard in one hand and a small knight chess piece in the other hand.

Pink wooden bracelet with a smiling face, butterfly wings, and a stick at the bottom, resembling a cute insect or fairy.