February 18, 2025
Han
Alyssa
‣
Robbin
What is the impact of “open-ended and irregular” toys, as exemplified by Charles Eames's designs, on modern toy design and industry? Are there contemporary examples?
In last week's discussion, I argued that these types of toys have a limited impact on the contemporary toy market. Using the animated movie Toy Story as an example, I demonstrated how contemporary popular culture discourages children from playing with toys outside their intended rules. This observation aligns with the current toy market landscape, where Mattel—a producer of traditional, rule-bound toys—remains the world's leading toy manufacturer. “Conservative Toys” with strict play guidelines continue to dominate retail shelves.
However, I recently discovered an example that challenges my initial perspective. A chocolate chip cookie snack called “Muo Gu Li” or “Mushrooms,” which I remember from my childhood, has launched an innovative campaign: their boxes now feature detachable round cards that children can snap off and combine. I believe Charles Eames's House of Cards directly inspired this design. This trend of creative play appears to be growing among young children, who are now crafting toys from everyday items like folded cigarette packets. These observations suggest that traditional retail and online sales figures may not fully capture the current state of play and toys.
