Obituary: Patrick Rylands, Innovator in Toy Design
Patrick Rylands, the influential toy designer known for his minimalist and highly playable creations, was born on 12 September 1942 in Hull, East Yorkshire. He passed away on 11 December 2025 at the age of 83, having suffered from vascular dementia.
Rylands studied at Hull College of Art before earning an MA in ceramics from the Royal College of Art. In 1966, he married Ljiljana Momcilovic and spent many years living in Belsize Park, London. That same year, he designed PlayPlax—a set of interlocking squares—which sold over one million units by 1970.
In 1970, Rylands became the youngest recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Prize for Elegant Design for the Trendon range, which included PlayPlax and LittleMen. His pioneering approach involved bypassing prototyping and moving directly from complex drawings to toolmaking, evident in his design of the Bird and Fish bath toys made from ABS plastic. From 1976 to 2006, he served as chief designer at Ambi Toys, where he created notable lines such as Duck Family and Tommy Toot, distinguished by their primary-color palette and simple yet engaging forms.
His contributions to design were recognized in 1999 when he was elected Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts. Rylands' work has been preserved and featured by esteemed institutions including the Young V&A and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). His legacy was also highlighted during the 2012 London Olympics.
Rylands maintained an archive that included Victorian glass marbles and other collections. Later in life, he relocated to Royal Leamington Spa to live near his sister Josephine. He was predeceased by his wife Ljiljana in 2024 as well as his brothers Michael, Tony, and Paul. Josephine survives him.
