Join IDEO’s Play Lab research network to share your child’s perspective on Toys, Games, and everything Play!

Are you and your child(ren) interested in trying out the latest toys and games? Do you think it would be fun to share your opinions and feedback with toy inventors and game designers? Do you have ideas and inspiration for how to make play time better? If so, we would love for you and your child(ren) to join us and share their passion, creativity, and opinions with our toy invention team! 

• Who: Parents with one or more child between the ages of 1 month - 12 years old who are excited to test out new toys and games.

• When: Research opportunities are ongoing and we will reach out when new opportunities arise.
• What & Where: Our team works on a variety of different projects and our research sessions may include any of the following:
  • In-person (at your home, at one of IDEO’s studios, or at another research location)
  • Remote (typically 30 min - 1 hour sessions via Zoom)
  • Asynchronous (surveys or diary studies)
    
• Compensation: We will compensate you for your time and contributions. The specific amount depends on the type of research you are participating in and how long the commitment is. Specific compensation amounts will be shared if and when we follow up with specific opportunities!

If you have more than one child interested in participating in research with IDEO’s Play Lab, please submit one form for each child. At the end of this form, you’ll have an option to submit another response.

Applications will be considered on an as-needed basis.

More about IDEO’s Play Lab

IDEO is a global design company committed to creating positive impact. The IDEO Play Lab is a team of designers and toy inventors who bring an unconventional—and honestly, very fun—approach to design to unlock challenges across every industry. We have a foundation in toy invention and game design, having licensed over 250 products in the past 30+ years. We’re devoted to inventing new playful toys and games. And to ensure that we are making joyful and fun products, we have to ask the experts — children!

Our Approach to Research

It’s important to us to work with children to share, create, and brainstorm as we prototype and design our latest inventions. This can happen in a multitude of ways (depending on the invention): asynchronous diary studies and surveys, virtual research sessions over zoom, and/or in-person co-creation at your home or in one of our studios. We are looking for children, tweens, and teens at any age under 18 years old and based anywhere in the United States.

There’s no previous knowledge or expertise needed! If you and your children are interested in potential design research opportunities with IDEO’s Play Lab, share more information about you in this form. Fill out only what you choose to share and decide how you want to engage with IDEO. You may opt-out at any time. Get paid for your time and contributions.

Note: Application responses are confidential and used to determine eligibility for research participation. There is no compensation for filling out the application and no guarantee you will be selected to participate.