Category
Tech
Automated Upkeep
Trend cluster
Category
3D-Printed
Play
Catering individuality, printed toys offer children quick and customized play.
2.6
Trend score
Trend
What is the 3D-Printed Play trend?
3D-Printed Play: As children grow, so too do their interests, resulting in wants and desires that are continuously changing. Providing sources of play that are more accommodating to diversified tastes, 3D-printed toys combine tangible sources of entertainment with customized technology, speaking to a shift towards more instantaneous, yet individually tailored sources of engagement.
Trend themes
Themes within the 3D-Printed Play trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Customizable 3D Printing
3D printing technology has evolved so much that it is now able to produce customized toys on-demand.
02
Interactive 3D Printing
3D printing technology has advanced to a point where entire objects can now be turned into interactive speakers that are capable of emitting sound.
03
Soft 3D Printing
While the focus on 3D printing has been on plastic toys so far, a new technique in soft 3D printing has been discovered, which could have huge implications for the production of soft toys.
Industry implications
What the 3D-Printed Play trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy Industry
A growing number of companies are using 3D printing technology to produce toys, making it possible to print anything from separate building blocks to fully formed action figures and dolls.
For
Education Industry
3D printing technology is being used to teach children science, programming, design and other skills in more engaging and hands-on ways than traditional classroom learning.
For
Marketing and Advertising Industry
3D printing technology has made it possible for companies to create customized and unique promotional products that stand out more than traditional marketing merchandise.
Trend signals
Trend signals for 3D-Printed Play
Trend score 2.6 out of 10, from popularity 46%, activity 26%, freshness 8%.
Popularity46%
Activity26%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the 3D-Printed Play trend
6 featured examples from Apr 4, 2013 to May 15, 2014CategoryLife-Stages
Demonstrative 3D-Printing Storybooks
'LEO the Maker Prince' Explains & Shows 3D-Printing to Kids
Developing 3D-printing educational tools and materials for children can innovatively transform education and open a new market for manufacturers and education consultants.
CategoryLife-Stages
Playful 3D Printers
ThinkGeek's Play-Doh 3D Clay Printer is the Ultimate Children's Toy
The Play-Doh 3D clay printer is poised to disrupt the toy industry, providing opportunities for companies to develop more educational and interactive toys that incorporate 3D prin…
CategoryLife-Stages
Soft 3D-Printed Plushies
These Experiements with 3D Printed Toys Could Revolutionize Production
Soft 3D-printed toys using wool/wool blends could open up new possibilities for toy manufacturing, making production more efficient and unique.
CategoryLife-Stages
3D-Printed Puppet Toys
MakerBot Now Offers a Printable 3D Toy of Sesame Street's 'Snuffy'
The use of 3D printing in toy manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize the industry and create new business opportunities.
CategoryLife-Stages
Shapely 3D-Printed Speakers
Disney Research Turns Any Object into a 3D-Printed Speaker Design
The technology behind 3D-printed speakers brings disruptive innovation to the audio industry by offering new ways to design and produce speakers.
CategoryLife-Stages
3D-Printed Teddy Bears
Disney Research Uses Technology to Create Custom Stuffed Animals
The 3D-printed teddy bear represents a huge opportunity for disruption in the toy industry, particularly for companies like Build-a-Bear.
