CLUTTER DESIGNER TOY OF THE YEAR

Clutter Designer Toy Award

Announced at Comic Con

 

CLUTTER MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF INAUGURAL 2011 DESIGNER TOY AWARDS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC CON EVENT

 

(San Diego, CA, July 22, 2011) -    Clutter Magazine last night announced the winners of the Designer Toy Awards (DTA) at a packed gala awards ceremony hosted by The Cotton Candy Machine‘s Sean Leonard at The Black Ball, Munky King’s infamous party during 2011 San Diego Comic Con.

“The awards are so timely,” said Jim Crawford, of Clutter Magazine and DTA Lifetime Achievement Award Nominee.  “With artists who have created hundreds of designs and businesses that have been around for over 10 years, the movement has reached a maturity level that warrants worldwide recognition.  We wanted to connect these longstanding leaders, and their tremendous level of knowledge, with the new generation.”

“We developed the DTA to recognize the leaders and innovators of the art toy movement for the first time ever,” said Miranda O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief of Clutter Magazine.  “We wanted to raise awareness of this vibrant subculture among those who wouldn’t necessarily know about it.  The overwhelming level of fans’ enthusiasm and quality of the nominees and winners is a clear reflection of the influence and growth of the Designer Toy Movement.”

Pete Fowler’s “The Toy King” was revealed for the first time at the ceremony when winners in all 22 categories were awarded the highly coveted and exclusively designed trophy.  Lovingly manufactured by Pretty in Plastic, the figure is made of chromed resin and stands 13 inches high.

“Pete’s design is pretty perfect and it was an honor to bring him from design to royal glory”, said Julie B. of Pretty in Plastic.  “We were so excited to finally show everyone this guy, all shnazzy and shiny…everyone wants a piece of the king!”

Winners spanned the spectrum of the Designer Toy Movement from highly visible creators such as Kaws and Kidrobot to behind the scenes innovators such as manufacturer threeA.

The inspirational winners in the 22 categories are:

Artist of the Year: Ashley Wood

Best Blog: TOYSREVIL

Fan Favorite: “Android” by Andrew Bell

Best Online Toy Store:  www.rotofugi.com

Best Toy Store:  Rotofugi

Best Collection:  Carl “MutonIsMyFriend” Kent-Smith

Best Toy From a Comic:  “Kill Audio” by Vinyl Cut

Best DIY Platform:  “Mini Munny” by Kidrobot

Most Influential Event:  San Diego Comic Con

Toy of the Year:  “4ft Companion” by Kaws

Manufacturer of the Year:  threeA

Lifetime Achievement:  Michael Lau

Break Through Artist:  Jason Freeny

Outstanding Production:  “False Friends (In Pain Edition)” by Coarse Toys

Best Customizer:  Doktor A

Best Mini Series:  “Tic Toc Apocalypse” by Amanda Visell

Best Self Produced:  “Hermes” by Gary Ham

Best Collaboration:  “Trouble Boys” by Ferg x Brandt Peters

Best Licensed Product:  “Super Shogun Stormtrooper” by Super7

Best Plush Design:  “Plunk and Pop Lion” by Anna Chambers

Best Functional Toy:  “Mimobot” by Mimoco

Best 1/6th Scale:  “Playge Rat” by Ferg

A distinguished panel of 49 judges—including Paul Bunditz, Ron English, Frank Kozik and Tara McPherson, to name a few— chose the 22 winners from nominees from 106 countries.  3,000 designer toy aficionados participated in the online nomination process.

“The deliberation was really intense,” said Luc Hudson, DTA Board Member and Designer, Triclops Studios. “It was the furthest thing from just checking the boxes.  We reviewed every nomination in the most meaningful way.”

DTA Award for Toy of the Year: “4ft Companion” by Kaws, released in December 2009, is in black and stands about 4 feet tall. The figure is split down the middle with one side exposing his multi-colored insides.

“Kaws’ 4ft Companion is the must have toy,” said Josh Kimberg, Managing Partner of Clutter Magazine.  “It’s every collector’s dream to own one and good luck saving up enough money!”

DTA Fan Favorite, which was selected from nominees chosen by the fans, went to “Android” by Andrew Bell.   “Android,” produced in association with Google Inc., is a 3-inch vinyl figure in traditional Android Green and features articulation at the head and arms.

“It means a lot to know the fans voted for my work,” said Bell at the ceremony.  “I think that makes this the best award and I’m just really happy.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors the individual who has contributed long-term dedication, inspiration and effort to the designer toy industry, went to Michael Lau, an artist from Hong Kong who has been designing toys since the late ‘90s and is widely credited as the founder of the urban vinyl style within the designer toy movement. His work has had a significant effect on toy manufacturers, as well as street culture, including artists and musicians, throughout the world and his graffiti-influenced style is particularly influential to Asian and American hip-hop and skateboarding culture.

“Michael Lau recieveing the Lifetime Achievemenet Award really legitimizes the Designer Toy Movement,” said Jim Crawford, of Clutter Magazine and DTA Lifetime Achievement Award Nominee.