Building our world from the inside out
& turning questions into lasting solutions
THE WTA MODEL
We are a creative think-design group dedicated to turning your questions into lasting solutions. Our creative approach to finding answers to our universal questions drives our efforts to create the change we wish to see in the world.
GOVERNANCE
When Toys Age was founded in 2017. We operate independent of shareholders and clients so we can focus our time and energy solely on crafting the most powerful and impactful projects. All our brands are crafted within our studio.
THE WTA SPIRIT
- That the quality of our lives are based on the questions we ask
- That lasting change begins with human perspective and behavior
- That the highest measurement of society is in the value of each life
COMMITMENT
When Toys Age is committed to creating lasting solutions through new perspectives and behaviors, transforming the way we approach ourselves and the world around us.
Our brands and employees are committed to exemplary integrity, ethics, and to our core values.
OVERVIEW
Founded in 2017, When Toys Age is research, design, and policy group dedicated to impact-driven projects. Our creative approach to finding answers to universal questions drives our efforts to create the change we wish to see in the world.
A kaleidoscopic team of inquirers made up of researchers, engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and teachers, we are on a lifelong mission to create lasting solutions that expand the way we approach ourselves and approach the world.
Philosophy
We believe that research, design, and policy activate new perspectives, behaviors, and movements that hold the key to shaping our collective future. As such, we invite individuals from all walks of life to share with us your big life questions and your vision for the world.
Our projects are inspired by (1) your big internal questions 🧠 and (2) the change you wish to see in the world 🌎. Your answers help shape our understanding of the deeper global challenges, and inspire us to design projects that target real change via shifts in human perspective and behavior.
Questions are one of our natural resources, and we believe in leveraging this resource to build a collective vision of the future.
OUR MANIFESTO
- The quality of our lives are based on the quality of the questions we ask — to build better solutions, we must ask better questions
- Lasting change happens from the inside out — to build a better world, we begin with small shifts in human perspective and behavior
- The highest measurement of man is measured by the strength of his, her, their character; and the highest advancement of society is measured by the value placed on each life
FUNDING
Our independence from shareholders and clients affords us the creative freedom to focus our energy solely on crafting the most impactful projects.
Unconstrained by traditional structures, When Toys Age brings together exceptional initiatives and brands, each carrying out an intricate piece of our mission. All our projects are crafted within our studio and self-funded; a portion of earnings from each brand is pooled in to support new research and design initiatives.
APPROACH
The co-founders of WTA are sisters — Hillary and Hildy Wen. They founded WTA on a shared vision of how our internal questions and external dreams can reenergize our collective home. Their shared values of deep curiosity, unconventional thinking, lifelong learning, and diligent responsibility remain the foundation of our culture. Merging their disciplines, Hillary and Hildy each hold a unique approach to WTA’s mission:
Research
Can we mobilize meaningful change by leveraging research & education to inspire shifts in human perception?
Design
Can we mobilize meaningful change by leveraging products & services to inspire shifts in human behavior?
Policy
Can we mobilize meaningful change by leveraging communication & action to inspire shifts in societal infrastructure?
KEY ISSUES
How do our projects fit among other institutions aiming to solve global issues?
The direction of our projects are guided by the answers we receive on (1) our big internal questions in life and (2) the one change we wish to see in the world. By identifying patterns within our internal and external goals, we aim to build organizations that intersect both worlds.
WTA houses a number of labs, each devoted to a key theme. These labs serve as incubators for research, design, and policy projects. Our approach to each project starts with one question: In an ideal institution (government or non-government), what project, if implemented throughout the institution, would contribute most to humanity?
Our people-centered approach to research, design, and policy affords us a unique ability to hone in on invisible barriers in the public and private sectors. We work together with organizations and governments to deliver creative solutions to our collective barriers. Each project targets a specific issue, and is designed optimally for institution-wide adoption and integration.