Junior Design Awards 2023 / Toy Awards 2023 / 19 September 2023

Best Creative Play | Junior Design Awards 2023

Put kids on a creative path with these award winning brands and ideas to help them use their imagination through play

Who:Planet Good Earth

What:Tiddlers Grow Kits & GrowZine

Why:

The first thing that grabbed our judges about this range of seeds, grow kits, markers and growing magazine was the spectacular design! Everyone loved the fun, upbeat graphics that really made this range stand out from the crowd. No boring garden centre seeds here. Our judges felt this was a great offering for encouraging kids to get outside and start planting or even trying some window box cultivation.

The limited-edition Organic Grow Kits & Seed Collections that are released seasonally really impressed the panel in terms of the exciting range of unusual plants and teaching kids about seasonal growing. Their Soil Association certification and commitment to using only compostable, biodegradable or recyclable materials, added to this green brand’s high score.

These kits make growing and exploring nature super fun for kids. A perfect example of design sparking curiosity and excitement before the magic begins. I also have a massive soft spot for the fruit and veg designs - so cool!

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

These growing kits would make fabulous gifts and I’m earmarking the seeds as eco-friendly gifts for party bags.

Eleonore Crompton, Deputy Editor, Junior

Such a lovely product!

Emma Tunbridge, Children’s fashion photographer, @emmatunbridge

Who:Kingdom Playroom

What:Carry-Play Foldable Kids Table

Why:

It’s always the products that are designed to fill a gap in the market that really resonate with our judges. This foldable, portable craft table was created during lock-down when space at home was at a premium. Easy-to-fold-away, it packs down to the size of a suitcase and means that a child-sized table complete with storage trays can be whipped up or down whenever required.

The panel could see this table being really helpful for parents with limited space or for anyone who wants to create a quick activity space away from home.

This clever fold-down table is just the right size for younger kids and gives them a real sense of ownership. Super cute with a sweet print on the table surface and handy trays for holding art equipment.

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

I can imagine this being a great idea for grandparents who want to find a way of creating a special corner in their home just for the kids.

Eleonore Crompton, Deputy Editor, Junior

Who:iOiO Studio

What:Rotta Rotto puzzle game

Why:

This bright and visually stimulating puzzle game based on geometrically patterned cards really appealed to our judges who could see that kids would benefit from playing with them on multiple levels.

Encouraging creativity and imagination by allowing players to freely combine shapes using all four sides of the cards while exploring concepts such as scale, balance, symmetry, and rhythm, these cards not only look great visually but help kids develop fine motor skills, pattern recognition and mental agility and creativity through play.

These cards just beg to be reached out and played with, creating endless opportunities for creating satisfying shapes and patterns. A great way to get kids engaged with a tactile game that isn’t screen focused.

Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

Ten out of ten from me!

Sergei Urban, Educational content creator, @thedadlab