- Ten Drawings Selected from 70,000 Submissions Around the World for IKEA’s third annual Soft Toy Drawing Competition
Children 12 and Under Were Invited to Co-Create New Toy Collection; Ten Drawings Have Been Selected from 70,000 Submissions Around the World – Including One from the U.S. – for New Collection Available November 2017
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, 2017-Feb-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA announces today (02/06/2017) the winners of its third annual Soft Toy Drawing Competition, which invites children aged 12 and under* to share drawings of their very own imaginary creatures for the chance of turning them into real soft toys. This year, IKEA received more than 70,000 entries from around the globe and the ten most fantastic drawings – including an entry from the U.S. – have been selected to make up the limited-edition SAGOSKATT soft toy collection which will be available worldwide in IKEA stores starting November 2017.
“Every year, we’re so inspired to see the uninhibited creativity and fantastic fun in the submissions from kids around the world,” said Diane Zoll, Loyalty Program Manager, IKEA U.S. “We love that kids are designing for other kids – after all, they are the creators of tomorrow!”
The chosen drawings were selected based on uniqueness, as children were encouraged to submit ideas from their own fantasy to showcase their own unique expressions. Bodil Fritjofsson, Product Developer for Children’s IKEA, comments on this year’s winning drawings:
•U.S. – Rainbow cloud: Clouds are not usually known to brighten your day but this cloud certainly does! Happy, lovely colours and a happy face – we need happy faces.”
•Australia – Foxy: “It’s so perky and awake! It’s like it is saying – I’m in, whatever you’re up to, I’m in! And we like that it is drawn completely flat – kind of like Picasso.”
•Austria – Blue bird: “This one looks like a bit of ninja! It has a remarkable attitude, looking like it is holding back a fun secret. Its upturned beak and nimble feet will help to protect you.”
•Bulgaria – Unicorn dog: “This dog is magical, he looks like he can both dance ballet and fly. The shape of the head and the expression is just so spot on.”
•Germany – Crocodile: “It is so friendly and huggable, with a suspicious look on its face. You want to know what it has done and what it plans on doing next!”
•Japan – Egg shaped owl: “Kind, soft and lovely to hug, it looks like a great friend. The expression is so funny and the small, odd shaped feet are so cute.”
•Korea – purple monster/dragon/hedgehog: “This is like a super hero – wanting to look a little scary, but is just so sweet, kind of doing the gangman style – a bit funky.”
•Poland – Happy spider: “What is that sound? It is the sound of an energetic, agile and bouncy spider! It has great teeth, but friendly, with only a bit of a bite.”
•Russia –Toucan: “Ready for take-off! Full of action with only one foot on the ground. The large scale of the contrast coloured beak is great.”
•United Arab Emirates – Fluffy lion: “A fluffy, happy cartoonlike lion, looking like he’s saying “I’m on fire :-)”, ready for any adventure, but he won’t eat you. Big soft nice feet.”
”The event creates opportunities for children to be creative – to draw their dream toy – and that opens up their fantasy, which really shows in the art,” says Bodil Fritjofsson. “The ten winning drawings are a lovely mixture of imaginary animals, simply wonderful personal combinations of colors, shapes and expressions that spark my own imagination. The world will not lack potential future artists and designers, as some of the drawings are real pieces of art.”
* The competition was open to IKEA FAMILY members with children aged 12 and under. IKEA FAMILY is a benefits program that offers membership perks. Consumers can sign up for the free program online or in-store.
ABOUT IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 392 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 43 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
Press Contact:
Mona Astra Liss
1-610-834-0180 x 5852
Source: IKEA
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