Friday, 11th September 2020
The Virtual Play Creators Awards, announced on Friday 11th September 2020, celebrates those in the toy and game design community that have excelled over the last 12 months. Whether it’s an R&D team responsible for a smash-hit line, a design agency that’s taken a brief and soared or a freelance designer responsible for the next Pie Face, the PCAs are all about shining a spotlight on the industry’s top architects of play.
The winners of the Virtual Play Creators Awards will be announced with video interviews with all winners shared on the day.
* Please note as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Play Creators Awards will now be an expanded virtual event.
Awards Categories
Nominations are now open
Whether bringing innovation to an iconic toy brand, or responsible for the industry’s latest big hit, this award celebrates a figure that has done outstanding work in toy design over the last 12 months.
This award is for designers behind the best and brightest in the world of kids’ games. Fun, silly, educational, or all of the above, we’re looking to celebrate the brains behind the games.
Be a twist on trivia that brings families together, or a hidden role game that turns friends into enemies, the party game sector is booming, and this category celebrates the designers helping to make a night in the new night out.
In-house creative team at a toy titan, or leading design at a thriving SME, this award celebrates teams working in Research & Development that have achieved extraordinary things over the last year.
The secret weapon for many toy firms, design agencies and invention studios are the unsung heroes of our industry. This category celebrates a firm that deserves recognition for exceptional work over the last 12 months.
The first of two awards recognising excellence in licensed product, Toy Designer of the Year (Licensed Product) celebrates creators that have brought much loved characters and IP to life through great toys.
This award is for a designer that has brought an IP to the tabletop in impressive style via an impressive licensed game this year.
Whether it’s via AI, Robotics, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality or voice tech, the Play Innovation of the Year award celebrates designers driving innovation in the toy and game space through the integration of the latest and greatest tech.
Who are the design legends of the future? Perhaps someone leading design at one of the industry’s many exciting start-ups, or a young star within your R&D team? If so, nominate them in the Rising Star category.
This award celebrates iconic figures that have helped shape the industry, truly leaving their footprint in the world of toy and game design.
2019 Awards Winners
Check out the 2019 Play Creators Awards Winners
TOY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Si Digital
WINNER: Moose Toys UK – Scruff-a-Luvs (Moose Toys UK)
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GAME DESIGNER OF THE YEAR (KIDS GAMES) Sponsored by Cartamundi
WINNER: Don Ullman, Bob Driscoll & Rob Daviau, Bank Attack (Megableu)
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GAME DESIGNER OF THE YEAR (TABLETOP)
WINNER: Elizabeth Hargrave – Wingspan (Stonemaier Games)
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R&D TEAM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Wynne-Jones IP
WINNER: Spin Master
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DESIGN AGENCY/INVENTION STUDIO OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Hasbro
WINNER: So Sound
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TOY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR (LICENSED) Sponsored by The Toy Association
WINNER: Mike Wyatt & Matthew Wright – RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Play Set (Playpress Toys/RNLI)
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GAME DESIGNER OF THE YEAR (LICENSED PRODUCT) Sponsored by Sambro
WINNER: Open 2 Design – Rubik’s Cage (University Games/Rubik’s)
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PLAY INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR Sponsored by The Toy Association
WINNER: Fuse London Ltd & Briology – Cool Maker KumiKreator (Spin Master)
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RISING STAR AWARD Sponsored by Alpha Group
WINNER: Ben Williams – Open 2 Design
DESIGN ICON AWARD Sponsored by Batman
WINNER: Alpesh Patel – VP of Global Toy Design, TOMY
2020 Event Partners
Check out who makes this event possible!
Festival Partner
Headline Partner
Tickets
*Please note, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Play Creators Festival will now be a virtual event.
The winners of the Virtual Play Creators Awards will be announced on Friday, September 11th, with video interviews with all winners shared on the day.
Get in touch
If you would like to find out more information on the Play Creators Awards, please fill out the form below…