TORONTO, April 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Ryerson University's Faculty of Communication and
Design (FCAD), The G. Raymond Chang
School of Continuing Education and Spin Master Corp. (TSX:
TOY) have partnered to create a new Course Series in Toy Invention
that focuses on entrepreneurship in the toy industry and provides
key perspectives on what it takes to bring great ideas and
inventions to market. This one-year program will begin in
September 2019, and will be offered
through The Chang School in collaboration with FCAD, Spin Master
and OCAD University.
"The combination of human creativity, new technologies and
entrepreneurial acumen is not just a winning combination for the
future of Canada's toy industry,
it's at the heart of FCAD," said Charles
Falzon, dean of FCAD. "We're delighted to lead this
program with world-class partners, and to offer learners highly
applied knowledge, mentorship and the cutting-edge tools of our
Creative Technology Lab -- the only robotic, prototyping
and interaction design facility of its kind on any campus in
Canada."
The program will be housed in FCAD, offered through The Chang
School, and supported by both Spin Master, a leading global
children's entertainment company with headquarters in Toronto, and OCAD University, the largest and
most comprehensive art, design and media university in Canada.
"The Chang School is thrilled to partner with FCAD, in
collaboration with Spin Master, to boost innovation in the field of
toy invention," said Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, dean of The Chang
School. "By cultivating Ryerson
University's strong entrepreneurial spirit, this course
series will help inspire the enjoyment of toys, games and
interactive experiences for generations to come."
"This collaboration brings elements of OCAD U's exceptional
design curriculum to a unique and exciting new program," said
Sara Diamond, president and
vice-chancellor, OCAD University. "It demonstrates how universities
can partner with industry to create new opportunities for students,
and the specialized talent that employers are looking for."
The program is the first continuing education program in
Canada to teach the creative and
business processes of toy invention, including inventive thinking,
concept creation, prototyping and marketing of toys, games and
interactive experiences, and it also provides knowledge and insight
into the toy industry. The Toy Invention Program started in
Israel, offered through
Shenkar College of Engineering,
Design and Art at the Department of Continuing Education. This new
program at Ryerson was developed in
collaboration with Shenkar College
and will connect learners to a global community of inventors,
designers and companies, including Spin Master.
Through Ryerson FCAD, students will have access to cutting-edge
fabrication and prototyping technologies, including robotics, 3D
printers, milling and cutting machines, and full plastics and
textiles labs. Students will also have access to expert mentors in
all aspects of invention, design and marketing from Spin Master,
OCAD and Ryerson.
"Partnering with toy inventors has been an essential component
of Spin Master's ability to innovate and capture the minds and
hearts of children globally," said Ronnen
Harary, Co-Founder, Chairman and Co-CEO of Spin Master. "So
many wonderful toy lines, like Air Hogs and Bakugan, have come to
fruition as a result of our collaboration with toy inventors. We're
thrilled to partner with two leading Canadian academic institutions
to further enable and grow the toy inventor community."
Spin Master (TSX: TOY;
www.spinmaster.com) is a leading global children's entertainment
company that creates, designs, manufactures, licenses and markets a
diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products and
entertainment properties. Spin Master is best known for
award-winning brands including Zoomer®, Bakugan®, Erector® by
Meccano®, Hatchimals®, Air Hogs® and PAW Patrol®. Since 2000, Spin
Master has received 103 Toy of the Year (TOTY) nominations with 30
wins across a variety of product categories, including 13 TOTY
nominations for Innovative Toy of the Year. To date, Spin Master
has produced eight television series, including the recently
re-launched Bakugan Battle Planet and current hit PAW Patrol, which
is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories globally. Spin
Master has 28 offices and employs over 1,700 people globally in
Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Italy, United
Kingdom, Russia,
Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the
Netherlands, China,
Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, and Australia.
Ryerson
University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented
education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, it is home to
more than 45,300 students, including 2,600 Master's and PhD
students, 3,800 faculty and staff, and nearly 198,000 alumni
worldwide.
Shenkar College of Engineering,
Design and Art is a top-ranked public academy in
Israel. It enjoys high acclaim
among international academic and professional circles for the
quality of its graduates and for the innovations that emerge from
its laboratories.
OCAD University is Canada's university of the imagination.
Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design, and
digital media education, practice, and research, and to knowledge
and invention across a wide range of disciplines.
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SOURCE Spin Master