Printies for Techno Source

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Message Printies IDEO’s Toy Lab, which specializes in human-centered design for children, set out to invent a way to let kids create their own playthings - without making a mess or requiring lots of adult supervision. The design team began by studying the play habits and creative leanings of modern youngsters. The research garnered several important insights: Kids were spending more and more time on computers, and creating custom avatars, but they never got a tangible outcome to play with or show off. Also, kids loved drawing and making things, but became easily frustrated because their skills hadn’t caught up with what they saw in their minds. Although kids had access to a few products with customizable options, such as Build-a-Bear, they didn’t have any truly do-it-yourself toys. Armed with this information, IDEO’s Toy Lab invented Printies Design Studio, an activity kit which allows boys and girls ages 6 and up to make custom stuffed animals without using scissors, glue, or an iron. With it, budding toymakers need only a computer and a color inkjet printer to realize their visions. The IDEO Toy Lab then presented the concept to Techno Source, a rapidly growing company that takes pride in offering top-quality electronic toys, games, and edutainment products to consumers worldwide. Its award-winning portfolio of licensed brands includes Activision, Marvel, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. They immediately recognized the amazing potential of Printies, and began the process of manufacturing it. How Printies Design Studio works: Children go to the online studio, enter their kit’s access code, and use the kid-friendly computer program to design a pet. Then, using the special patent-pending Printies Sheet (which is the first ever printer friendly pre-sewn fabric sheet) they make their toy. They insert the sheet with the desired shape into their inkjet printer, just as they would a piece of paper. After printing out their design on both sides, kids just pop out the figure along the perforation and stuff it through an opening at the bottom. They seal everything up with a pair of plastic shoes with decorative stickers. “My son loved designing his pet. And yes, those are Groucho eyeglasses his puppy is wearing, with accompanying microphone. His dog is a rock star … in disguise!” writes arts-and-crafts enthusiast Marie on her blog, MakeAndTakes.com. “My kids have been talking in high-pitched animal voices for days. My daughter’s Pony Printie goes with her everywhere!” Printies Design Studio kits are available from in three animal themes: Pet, Ocean, and Jungle. Each kit contains everything a kid needs (including the stuffing) to make six toys. The product has garnered a lot of media attention. Among others, Forbes magazine named Printies Design Studio as one of the Top Ten Hottest Toys for 2009 holiday season, citing its affordability. The kits generally sell for $19.99 and the refills go for $9.99 at Amazon.com, Target, Toys R Us, and Walgreens. http://www.ideo.com/work/printies

IDEO’s Toy Lab, which specializes in human-centered design for children, set out to invent a way to let kids create their own playthings - without making a mess or requiring lots of adult supervision.

The design team began by studying the play habits and creative leanings of modern youngsters. The research garnered several important insights: Kids were spending more and more time on computers, and creating custom avatars, but they never got a tangible outcome to play with or show off. Also, kids loved drawing and making things, but became easily frustrated because their skills hadn’t caught up with what they saw in their minds. Although kids had access to a few products with customizable options, such as Build-a-Bear, they didn’t have any truly do-it-yourself toys.

Armed with this information, IDEO’s Toy Lab invented Printies Design Studio, an activity kit which allows boys and girls ages 6 and up to make custom stuffed animals without using scissors, glue, or an iron. With it, budding toymakers need only a computer and a color inkjet printer to realize their visions.

The IDEO Toy Lab then presented the concept to Techno Source, a rapidly growing company that takes pride in offering top-quality electronic toys, games, and edutainment products to consumers worldwide. Its award-winning portfolio of licensed brands includes Activision, Marvel, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. They immediately recognized the amazing potential of Printies, and began the process of manufacturing it.

How Printies Design Studio works: Children go to the online studio, enter their kit’s access code, and use the kid-friendly computer program to design a pet. Then, using the special patent-pending Printies Sheet (which is the first ever printer friendly pre-sewn fabric sheet) they make their toy. They insert the sheet with the desired shape into their inkjet printer, just as they would a piece of paper. After printing out their design on both sides, kids just pop out the figure along the perforation and stuff it through an opening at the bottom. They seal everything up with a pair of plastic shoes with decorative stickers.

“My son loved designing his pet. And yes, those are Groucho eyeglasses his puppy is wearing, with accompanying microphone. His dog is a rock star … in disguise!” writes arts-and-crafts enthusiast Marie on her blog, MakeAndTakes.com. “My kids have been talking in high-pitched animal voices for days. My daughter’s Pony Printie goes with her everywhere!”

Printies Design Studio kits are available from in three animal themes: Pet, Ocean, and Jungle. Each kit contains everything a kid needs (including the stuffing) to make six toys. The product has garnered a lot of media attention. Among others, Forbes magazine named Printies Design Studio as one of the Top Ten Hottest Toys for 2009 holiday season, citing its affordability. The kits generally sell for $19.99 and the refills go for $9.99 at Amazon.com, Target, Toys R Us, and Walgreens.