The MET Art-Inspired Toys

Celebrate works of art through high-quality toys

project developed for Hape and The MET

The playful
side of art

Child-friendly
artworks

Learning art
through play

Colorful toy stacking blocks from Hape representing the halls of the MET with wooden animals, stacked in a tower on a white background.

When art becomes play

The project began with the reinterpretation of famous paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, keeping their essence and artistic style while making them suitable for children.

We then proceeded to design some toys of the new collection inspired by these reinterpreted masterpieces.

Toys inspired by iconic artworks

Our contribution

Magnifying glass icon on a beige circle background.

Research

Strategy

Simple line drawing of a light bulb with a yellow background and lines indicating light rays.

Concept

Outline illustration of a pencil on a circular background with a curved line around it.

Identity

A minimalist line drawing of an artist's palette with a brush in front of a large circular shape.

Design

Illustration of two gears on a peach-colored circular background.

Development

Simple illustration of a 3D cube with lines highlighting its edges, resting inside a light green circle, with lines emanating from the top right indicating it is ringing or an alert.

Communication

Speech bubble icon with a teal circle background.

A first introduction to Art History

We’ve reinterpreted selected iconic artworks for children, simplifying shapes and playing with colours to keep them recognisable, yet playful and engaging.

Perfectly suited for toys that inspire creativity and encourage cultural awareness!

Bridge over a Pond of Water Lillies.

The Great Wave.

Mada Primavesi.

Piet Mondrian Composition.

The Tree of Life.

The Unicorn rests in a Garden.

Wheat Field with Cypresses.

Bouquet of Chrysanthemums.

An illustration of the MET Museum mascot William the Hippopotamus, made by Studio Balzo for Hape.

Kid-friendly reinterpretation

Alongside the artworks, we’ve also reinterpreted a selection of animals found in statues, figurines and iconic paintings.

Among them is William, the little blue hippo, The Met’s beloved (and unofficial) mascot.

Illustration by Studio Balzo of various animals representing artworks of the MET: an armored horse, a boar, a baby owl, a lion, William the hippo, a decorated Indian elephant, and a unicorn.

Hape wooden puzzle featuring four different MET Museum animals, including a horse, a lion, an elephant, and a unicorn, all with small pegs for easy placement.

Hape wooden peg puzzle with four pieces depicting an owl, a white rabbit, a boar, William the Hippo.

Colorful Hape wooden puzzles of various illustrated MET artworks.

Hape wooden puzzle blocks, featuring six different MET artworks.

The Tree of Life magnetic maze toy from Hape.

Hape Stacking Cubes depicting the different halls of the MET with five wooden animal mascots.

Three Hape kaleidoscopes standing upright on a white background. The kaleidoscopes have colorful patterns and illustrations inspired by Monet, Hokusai and Mondrian, with the text 'Hape' and 'THE MET' on the top portion.

High Contrast Gallery Mat by Hape. A small photo frame with a picture of a smiling toddler, a teething ring, and two small fabric books with black and white designs, one featuring a cloud and a bird, the other with flowers, all arranged on a white su