London-based indie toy developer MakieLab has responded to the #ToyLikeMe social media campaign, which calls for a change in the current market of toys to reflect kids in more inclusive ways. The company has created a selection of Makie doll-size impairment aids and accessories, including hearing aids and walking sticks.
Kids and parents can currently build their own fully-customized 10-inch Makie doll at mymakie.com, with a choice of gender, skin color, eye color, hair style, and clothing. The company brought its dolls to the U.S. in November of last year, making their debut at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. Makies are the world’s first safety-certified, 3-D printed dolls with retail placement.
And now, that same 3-D printing technology has helped Makie create the new dolls just days after the social media campaign launched. According to a press release, Makie credits the technology to its quick response for this call for action.
“It’s fantastic that our supercharged design and manufacturing process means we can respond to a need that’s not met by traditional toy companies. We’re hoping to make some kids – and their parents! – really happy with these inclusive accessories,” MakieLab CTO Matthew Wiggins says.
MakieLab designers are currently working on a new 3-D printed toy wheelchair in addition to the toy hearing and walking aids.
#ToyLikeMe is a social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook created by deaf moms who are challenging toy companies to have a greater positive representation of disability in toys. The movement has reached an audience of more than 50,000 people since it launched last week.
The group has created toy “makeovers,” taking existing products of big-name companies such as Playmobil and Lego and giving them additional features, like small guide dogs, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and stomach tubes. They are calling out and challenging these companies to make their products more inclusive to all kids.
Now, MakieLab is urging others major toy companies, such as Mattel, Hasbro, and MGA Entertainment, to follow suit to their lead:
Thank you all so much for all the delight & RTs for #toylikeme! Now the world needs Mattel, Hasbro & MGA to follow… pic.twitter.com/2cDUeWQG5p
— Makies! (@OfficialMakies) May 18, 2015
Although this is a major step in their ultimate goal, Toy Like Me posted on their Facebook page:
“Toy Like Me won’t rest. If small companies like Makies can respond, what are the big girls and boys doing? Come on Lego, Playmobil, Mattel, Barbie – 770,000 UK children with disabilities (and millions more beyond) need positive toy box representation now!”
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