Building forts is a rite of passage for most kids and often the bane of organized parents. I can still picture my mom, coming home late from running her business, to find chairs flipped sideways, blankets draped across them, boxes forming doorways, and my brother and I, tucked away inside playing. It was 100% an eyesore to my parents and 1000% a safety hazard.

That universal problem is exactly what architect and TCA Accelerator student Carrie Shaked, founder of Design Laughter, set out to solve. Her buildable fort system transforms messy blanket chaos into stunning, structurally sound cardboard domes that are easy to assemble, customizable, and beautiful enough to live in your living room.

In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, you’ll listen in on a real 1:1 coaching call with Carrie. We cover:

• How her architecture background inspired a toy unlike anything else on the market.
• Why families cried (in a good way!) during playtesting.
• Smart email collection strategies and social media tips for camera-shy founders.
• How today’s manufacturing climate might give small startups an edge.

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s chaotic fort and thought, There’s gotta be a better way, this conversation will remind you that there’s room in the toy industry for your vision, too. Hit play on this episode to get inspired, and allow yourself to imagine bringing your unique idea to this industry.

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About My NEW Podcast Art:
The podcast art for Season 6 of Making It In The Toy Industry features product illustrations of toys and games I helped guide in Toy Creators Academy and TCA Accelerator. Tap the brand name below to check them out!

Playcor by Courtney Smithee
9 to 5 Warriors by Brandon Braswell
Catoms by Kieche O'Connell
The Lunch Room by EAP Toys and Games founder, Chrissy Fagerholt