Born and educated in Rome, architect Irene Guerrieri has built a career around a simple but powerful question: How can design nurture children's development, autonomy, and creativity? Her answer has taken the form of toys distributed worldwide, teaching positions at universities and specialized schools, and most recently, writing two books recommended by the World Design Organization.

"The first step in the creative process of a playful product is to reconnect with one's inner child and to look at the world around us with playful, spontaneous eyes," Irene explains. "Eyes capable of projecting ideas and imagination beyond conventional boundaries. Thinking outside the box is my motto, the guiding principle that accompanies me in every creative process."

Irene's preferred languages of expression are painting and illustration, which inform both her toy design practice and her work as author and illustrator of children's books. Her recent titles for adults have enhanced her standing as a leading voice in educational design theory.

Designing Educational Toys & Spaces (FrancoAngeli, 2024) examines the work of three international designers—America's Cas Holman, Europe's Rosan Bosch, and Japan's Rasu Watanabe—who share a common philosophy: play-based education that encourages children to create new scenarios, discover concepts, and express themselves freely. The book delves into how construction games develop cognitive skills, creativity, and autonomy while fostering social interaction and cooperation.

"When children play with their peers, they unleash memorable spatial experiences that eschew the ideas of 'right' and 'wrong,' as every decision is the result of a child's autonomy, self-expression and desire to share," Irene writes. The book traces pioneering educators, philosophers, and designers who paved the way for modern learning, offering colorful photographs and sketches that appeal to designers, educators, and anyone working with children.

Toy Design (Springer, 2025) takes a more hands-on approach, providing fundamental knowledge for anyone wanting to enter the field. The book includes practical exercises readers complete directly on the page, guiding them through the creative process. Irene draws on her experiences with design legends including Bruno Munari, with whom she studied in Milan, to offer a liberating path toward creativity.

"Playful ideas often emerge from the ability to project concepts and connect them in unexpected ways," she explains, describing how a child transforms a broom into a horse through imaginative play. "In my book, I discuss a toolbox essential to the craft of toy design, identifying simple yet powerful conceptual tools that help unlock creative ideas—ideas that support both play and learning through play."

Limitless Imagination

As jury captain for the Toys & Play category in the 2026 Core77 Design Awards, Irene brings both practical experience and theoretical grounding. Her greatest concern for the field? "The Limit. During the creative process, imagination should never be limited—not even the wildest ideas."

Her advice to entrants is characteristically focused on empathy and experience: "Try to put yourself in the user's shoes and imagine whether you would truly enjoy that idea—whether you'd want to play with it again."

2025 Winner

The 2025 Professional winner in the Toys & Play Category was The Handheld Patternmaking Loom from Lauren Puchowski at Boomloom.

If you have a forward-thinking idea that could spark a fire with our jurors, share it with us through the 2026 Core77 Design Awards.

Enter the C77DA before the final deadline of March 27th!