Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 459,692 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,208 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 459,692 cutting edge ideas.

Plywood Pancake Playthings

Yang:Ripol Flat Zoo Toys Feature Few Bells and Whistles

— August 29, 2012 — Life-Stages
The Yang:Ripol Flat Zoo toys are an impossibly cute collection of critters that are totally planar in nature.

The designers at Yang:Ripol obviously think plush toys are a thing of the past, but who knew they could make thin wooden sheets shaped animals so darn loveable? Kids need only a rubber band to pair these animals up to create new species. By stacking these one-dimensional silhouettes on top of each other, they can potentially create an owl with mouse ears, or a mouse with penguin flippers. The simplistic and design-savvy toys are in fact highly customizable and encourage kids to use their imaginations.

It turns out that the secret to having fun in today’s day and age is not an iPad. Rather, it takes an intuitive designer and a plank of plywood.
Trend Themes
1. Customizable Wooden Toys - Disruptive innovation opportunity lies in creating a range of customizable wooden toys that encourage kids to use their imaginations.
2. Minimalist Toy Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity exists in designing simple, planar toys that offer a minimalist alternative to traditional plush toys.
3. Imagination-driven Play - Disruptive innovation opportunity lies in promoting play that stimulates kids' imaginations and creativity, rather than relying on digital devices.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - The toy manufacturing industry should explore opportunities to create customizable wooden toys that offer a minimalist design alternative to traditional plush toys.
2. Woodworking - The woodworking industry can tap into the trend of customizable wooden toys by producing high-quality wooden sheets designed for creative play.
3. Education and Child Development - The education and child development sector could embrace the trend of imagination-driven play by incorporating such toys into curriculum and playtime activities.
2.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness