University plays host to the Women in Toys working lunch

It wasn’t all child’s play at the Women in Toys working lunch, which was hosted by the University of Northampton’s 3D Design department so the 3D Design team could showcase its work with the local toy industry.

Women in Toys, Entertainment and Licencing is a US organisation that has just established a group in the UK and took the opportunity to visit the University, along with representatives from companies and organisations associated with the local toy industry.

Will Abigail from Toy Master attended and gave valuable advice to the final year Design students about costing and selling in the independent toy sector. Roger Brown, who has previously worked for Mettoy Playcraft Ltd, is in talks with Senior Lecturer Vicki Thomas about collaboration on a book and Anna Taylor from Fundamentally Children, a toy and play researcher, was interested in learning more about the University’s wide expertise in early year education and health and wellbeing projects. Kai Hawaleschka of DKL Toys also showed an interest working with the University more closely as a trading company, but also in his capacity as a governor for a special needs school in Northampton.

Vicki Thomas commented: “It was great to be able to introduce Kai Hawaleschka to our Subject Leader James Engel as both of them have an interest in designing excellent play facilities for special needs schools. So now our students are likely to be visiting and working with an innovative special school in Northampton.”

The visitors also had a tour of the University’s 3D gallery exhibition, studios and workshops.