The winners of the Toy and Game Innovation (TAGIE) Awards were announced at a gala on Navy Pier in Chicago last week. Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Judy Blau of J. Hope Designs and Adi Golad, founder of Goliath Games.
The complete list of winners of the 2017 Toy & Game Innovation Awards (TAGIE) include Game Inventor Of The Year: Don Ullman and Steve Calhoun for Soggy Doggy; Toy Inventor Of The Year (Sponsored by LEGO): David Small and Paul Rago of Shoot the Moon for BB8; Rising Star of the Year: Joyce Sprau for Flower Fairies Secret Garden; Innovative Arts and Visuals of the Year: Rory O’Connor and Anita Murphy for The Extraordinaires Design Studio; Innovative Marketing Team of the Year: Spin Master for Hatchimals; and Young Inventor of the Year (Sponsored by Mattel): Olivia Wasilewski and Brynna Siewers for Ship of Treasures.
In addition to the winners determined through nominations and public voting, honors were given to individuals in categories including Lurie Children’s Hospital for the Hassenfeld Humanitarian Award; Lisa Guili, general manager of Educational Insights for Inventor Advocate; Judy Blau of J. Hope Designs for Lifetime Achievement (Hasbro); and Adi Golad, founder and managing director of Goliath, for Lifetime Achievement (Sponsored by The Michael Kohner Corporation)
The 2017 TAGIE Awards and Gala were presented by Mattel, Hasbro, LEGO, Spin Master, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Longshore Limited, and Hassenfeld Family Initiatives, with additional sponsors, including Peggy Brown Creative, Cartamundi, and McGill and Associates.