Toy & Game Industry Luminaries Celebrate Inventors at Annual Industry Gala

As part of the Chicago Toy & Game Week, industry leaders from 18 countries gathered at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History for the 5th Annual Toy and Game Inventors Awards, known as “The TAGIEs,” to honor the creators of some of the world’s best known playthings.

Nearly 400 industry movers-and-shakers gathered for the event, at which famed inventor Bruce Lund gave a keynote address after being introduced by a full-sized marching band. Kevin Harrington, chairman of As Seen On TV, Inc., and “Shark Investor” on the show Shark Tank was also in attendance to present the Young Inventor of the Year Award. 

Based on public voting, awards were presented to:

  • Tony Morley for Excellence in Toy Design
  • Leslie Scott for Excellence in Game Design
  • Martin Nedergaard Andersen as a Rising Star Inventor
  • Seth and Alexia Kempe as Young Inventors of the Year for their creation of HoodiePet
  • The Apptivity Hot Wheels team from Mattel for Excellence in Electronic Toy or Game Design

A closed jury of industry-based judges also voted for additional awards:

  • Excellence in Character Design was awarded to Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer.
  • The Hassenfeld Family Humanitarian Award was awarded to Peter and Andrew Brown.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to the Theo Coster Family.
  • Inventor Advocacy was awarded to Mel Taft.
  • In Memoriam was awarded to Stan Clutton.

About the author

Sierra McCleary-Harris

Sierra McCleary-Harris

Sierra McCleary-Harris is a senior editor at Adventure Publishing Group, editing and producing content for the Toy Insider, the Toy Book, and the Pop Insider. If she's not at her desk, you can find her somewhere doing a puzzle, losing it over the latest arts and crafts, or hanging out with her kitties Hazelnutz & Pepper Ann.

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