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About the Award
About the International
About the International
Toy Awards
An independent global competition recognizing excellence in the design of toys, games and play experiences — celebrating the imagination, innovation and thoughtful design behind exceptional play.
The awards provide an international platform for established brands, independent designers, inventors, startups, manufacturers, studios and students to present their work to an expert jury and a worldwide audience. Produced toys, working prototypes and conceptual designs are all welcome.
The awards provide an international platform for established brands, independent designers, inventors, startups, manufacturers, studios and students to present their work to an expert jury and a worldwide audience. Produced toys, working prototypes and conceptual designs are all welcome.
Origin
Why the awards were created
Toys are more than products. They introduce us to creativity, storytelling, cooperation, discovery and imagination — supporting learning, building relationships and creating memories that remain with us throughout our lives.
Behind every remarkable toy is an idea, and behind that idea is a designer, inventor or creative team whose contribution is not always recognized. The International Toy Awards were created to honor those ideas and the people who bring them to life.
Behind every remarkable toy is an idea, and behind that idea is a designer, inventor or creative team whose contribution is not always recognized. The International Toy Awards were created to honor those ideas and the people who bring them to life.
Focus
A specialist award for toy design
Unlike multidisciplinary design competitions, the International Toy Awards provide a specialist platform where every category, jury appointment and award distinction relates directly to play.
Unlike awards operated by national toy associations, retailers or individual trade fairs, participation is not restricted by geography, association membership, retail distribution or exhibition attendance. The awards are open internationally and evaluate every eligible entry on the merits of the work.
Unlike awards operated by national toy associations, retailers or individual trade fairs, participation is not restricted by geography, association membership, retail distribution or exhibition attendance. The awards are open internationally and evaluate every eligible entry on the merits of the work.
Who's Behind It
Presented by Farmani Group
The International Toy Awards are presented by Farmani Group, an international organization dedicated to discovering, recognizing and promoting outstanding creative talent.
Founded in 1985 by Hossein Farmani, Farmani Group began in publishing and creative communications before developing a global family of awards, exhibitions, publications and cultural initiatives. For more than four decades, the organization has created platforms through which designers, photographers, architects, artists, inventors and emerging talents can present their work to international juries and audiences.
Founded in 1985 by Hossein Farmani, Farmani Group began in publishing and creative communications before developing a global family of awards, exhibitions, publications and cultural initiatives. For more than four decades, the organization has created platforms through which designers, photographers, architects, artists, inventors and emerging talents can present their work to international juries and audiences.
Four decades of creative recognition
Farmani Group's history began in 1985 with VUE Magazine and continued with FotoFolio, Fontographics, Farmani Yamanouchi, Inc., and other publishing and creative ventures. Over the following decades, the group expanded its mission through internationally recognized awards in photography, design, architecture, lighting and the creative industries.
- 1985
- Founded
- 1M+
- Submissions Received
- 20,000+
- Creatives Recognized
- 13
- Global Award Programs
Sister Programs
Our awards experience
International Design Awards
European Product Design Award
International Photography Awards
Prix de la Photographie Paris
Tokyo International Foto Awards
Budapest International Foto Awards
Moscow International Foto Awards
Architectural MasterPrize
London International Creative Competition
LIT Lighting Design Awards
LIV Hospitality Design Awards
SIT Furniture Design Award
DNA Paris Design Awards
International Design Awards
European Product Design Award
International Photography Awards
Prix de la Photographie Paris
Tokyo International Foto Awards
Budapest International Foto Awards
Moscow International Foto Awards
Architectural MasterPrize
London International Creative Competition
LIT Lighting Design Awards
LIV Hospitality Design Awards
SIT Furniture Design Award
DNA Paris Design Awards
The International Design Awards and European Product Design Award have long included toy and game design within their broader product-design disciplines. The International Toy Awards build upon that foundation with a dedicated program focused entirely on toys, games and play.
Philosophy
Why toys?
Toy design brings together imagination, storytelling, industrial design, psychology, education, engineering, culture and emotion.
A successful toy must do more than look appealing. It must invite interaction, communicate intuitively and create a reason to return to play. It may teach, comfort, challenge, connect or simply create joy.
A successful toy must do more than look appealing. It must invite interaction, communicate intuitively and create a reason to return to play. It may teach, comfort, challenge, connect or simply create joy.
Our Mission
A platform devoted to play
We created the International Toy Awards because the people behind these ideas deserve a global platform devoted specifically to their work — recognizing imagination, craftsmanship and the design intelligence that shapes how the world plays.
Our principles
Principle
Independence
Principle
International Access
Principle
Recognition of Creators
Principle
Opportunity for Emerging Talent
Principle
Respect for Every Stage
Principle
Responsible Recognition
The Panel
The international jury
Entries are reviewed by an international jury drawn from relevant creative and professional disciplines.
Toy-industry leaders
Toy and product designers
Manufacturers
Design educators
Retail and market specialists
Magazine editors
Toy writers and journalists
Play and learning specialists
Sustainability and accessibility experts
Toy-industry leaders
Toy and product designers
Manufacturers
Design educators
Retail and market specialists
Magazine editors
Toy writers and journalists
Play and learning specialists
Sustainability and accessibility experts
The jury provides independent professional evaluation. Entry does not guarantee an award, editorial coverage, investment, distribution or a commercial relationship. However, every eligible entry receives the opportunity to be viewed and considered by professionals who influence how toys are designed, discussed, promoted and brought to market.
The Process
Independent, considered review
Every entry is reviewed against a consistent set of criteria by a jury drawn from across the toy, design and play industries — not scored by algorithm, and not influenced by marketing budget or company size.
Reviewed Individually
Multiple Perspectives
Advantage
The value of winning
Winning an International Toy Award provides an independent endorsement of the quality, originality and potential of the work. Recognition can help a product or concept:
- Stand apart in a competitive marketplace
- Build confidence among buyers and distributors
- Strengthen presentations to retailers and partners
- Create new marketing and publicity opportunities
- Support product launches and exhibitions
- Increase visibility for the designer, inventor or company
- Communicate quality and independent recognition to consumers
While no award can guarantee commercial success, the right recognition can significantly strengthen a product's position and make its story easier to communicate.
Insignia
The winner's seal
Selected recipients may use the official International Toy Awards winner's seal in accordance with the competition's usage guidelines.
The seal may be displayed on eligible product packaging, websites, online shops, advertising, catalogs, retail displays, social media, press materials, exhibitions, presentations and sales materials — an immediate visual indication that the work has been independently evaluated and internationally recognized.
The seal may be displayed on eligible product packaging, websites, online shops, advertising, catalogs, retail displays, social media, press materials, exhibitions, presentations and sales materials — an immediate visual indication that the work has been independently evaluated and internationally recognized.
For Every Entrant
Benefits for all entrants
Winning is the highest form of recognition, but entering also places the work before a carefully selected international jury. A jury member may discover a new product, recognize an emerging designer, remember an entry for future editorial consideration or identify an idea with relevance to the wider toy industry.
The awards cannot promise media coverage, investment, licensing, retail placement or other commercial outcomes. However, they create an opportunity for work to be seen by professionals who may otherwise never encounter it.
The awards cannot promise media coverage, investment, licensing, retail placement or other commercial outcomes. However, they create an opportunity for work to be seen by professionals who may otherwise never encounter it.
Our Commitment
We believe recognition should create visibility, visibility should build trust, and trust should help good ideas find their place in the world.
Celebrating the Power of Play.