Welcome to Colorforms® Toy, Board Games, Playset, Game – your number one destination for creativity and imagination!
Our History
Colorforms have been sparking creativity in children since 1951 when we were first invented. Our founder, Harry Kislevitz, had been working as a toy designer when he came up with the idea of creating shapes that could cling to a shiny surface. Using his experience with silkscreen printing, Harry developed the first Colorforms which let kids stick different colored shapes onto a black background.
The original Colorforms were an immediate hit, providing endless hours of imaginative play. As demand grew, we expanded our product line from simple geometric shapes to full scenes like dolls, cars, cowboys and more. This allowed children to not only be creative in placing the shapes, but also make up stories and scenes with the different images.
Over the years, Colorforms have continually evolved with new licenses, characters and technologies to keep up with the times. We’ve created special edition sets featuring popular TV shows, movies and toys so kids can play with their favorite characters. Advances in manufacturing have allowed us to make Colorforms in brighter colors and intricate designs. And we’ve expanded beyond vinyl cling shapes to incorporate new formats like books, puzzles, arts and crafts kits and more.
Even as toys have become more digital, Colorforms have stayed true to our classic hands-on play. We believe imaginative play is vital for developing young minds, and unlike screens, Colorforms inspire open-ended creativity. Children can constantly reinvent scenes and stories with just a few simple shapes.
Today, Colorforms are still proudly made in the USA by a small team of designers and craftspeople. Our vintage sets remain hugely popular among adult collectors. And we continue Harry Kislevitz’s legacy by releasing new Colorforms that spark hours of creative fun for kids of all ages.
Our Mission
The mission of Colorforms® Toy, Board Games, Playset, Game is to inspire open-ended creativity and imagination in children through hands-on play.
We aim to:
- Provide toys that spark imaginative and inventive play
- Encourage kids to tell stories, build scenes and express themselves creatively
- Design quality products that withstand hours of use and inventive play
- Offer classic Colorforms alongside new innovations to appeal to all ages
- Maintain our commitment to USA manufacturing with small-scale production
- Uphold the proud legacy of our founder Harry Kislevitz
Our Products
Colorforms offers a wide range of toys, games and activities that engage kids in creative play.
Vinyl Cling Playsets
Our classic vinyl cling playsets remain one of the most engaging open-ended toys on the market. Each set comes with colorful, reusable vinyl shapes that cling to a formatted plastic playboard. Kids can stick and restick the shapes to invent countless scenes and stories. Playsets feature formats like:
- Characters – such as dolls, action figures, animals and people
- Vehicles – like cars, trucks, trains and emergency vehicles
- Places – including houses, cityscapes, farms and more
- Themes – encompassing generic shapes, letters/numbers or illustrations from popular entertainment properties.
Vinyl cling playsets spark endless storytelling fun and develop creativity, dexterity and problem solving skills.
Arts & Crafts
We offer a wide selection of Colorforms arts and crafts kits. Kids can embellish scenes, objects or artworks by sticking colorful shapes to pre-printed designs. Options include:
- Stationery – notebooks, journals, stickers
- Posters – walls decals, banners and murals
- Activity Books – with reusable cling shapes
- Arts & Crafts Kits – painting, jewelry making and more
These kits provide directed but still open-ended creativity as kids build unique creations.
Puzzles
We design imaginative Colorforms puzzles for all ages. Standard jigsaw puzzles let kids assemble their favorite characters, vehicles or scenes out of colorful pieces. Many feature special cling vinyl layers for extra play value. We also offer unique sliding puzzles, matching games and more.
Colorforms puzzles develop spatial reasoning, problem solving, fine motor skills and recognition of patterns, shapes and colors.
Digital Play
Bringing Colorforms play to digital platforms, our app allows kids to fill scenes with cling shapes, characters and props. All the creative fun of physical Colorforms is recreated on tablets and phones. The app features digital stickers, coloring pages, interactive stories and video face filters for Colorforms play anywhere.
We aim to provide digital experiences that still encourage open-ended creativity tied into offline play.
Collectibles
Vintage Colorforms sets from the 50s-80s are hugely popular with adult collectors. Our back catalog features iconic toys, tv shows, movies, characters, advertising and pop art from past eras. Classic designs highlight important stages in Colorforms evolution across decades.
We maintain an online Collectors Gallery showcasing these rare vintage sets. Collectors can also find vintage Colorforms on auction sites and specialty toy stores. By preserving iconic designs, we keep Colorforms history alive to share with new generations.
Our Approach
Everything we do at Colorforms® Toy, Board Games, Playset, Game stems from our commitment to inspiring open-ended creativity.
Imaginative Play
Freeform imaginative play is at the heart of all Colorforms products. Our toys have few rules, guidelines or instructions. Kids control the experience, telling their own unique stories every time they play. This inventive play fosters cognitive, social, emotional and motor skill development.
Hands-on Fun
We focus on tangible, hands-on toys that engage kids’ senses and develop physical skills. Our vinyl cling pieces encourage fine motor control, dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Real world play provides vital balance to digital entertainment.
Child-Led Play
Colorforms require no batteries, apps or adult assistance. Kids direct the experience based on their own interests and ideas. Grown-up input is welcome, but not required. This child-led play builds confidence, problem solving and independence.
Universal Play
Our open-ended products allow kids of all ages and abilities to play in their own way. Simple designs suit younger minds, while older kids incorporate more narrative complexity. Either way, Colorforms inspire creativity at every developmental stage.
Quality & Durability
We use high-quality materials designed to withstand rigorous play. Tough vinyl cling shapes stick again and again without losing adhesion. Made in the USA, every Colorforms toy meets stringent safety standards. Our commitment to durability, safety and fun will never change.
Our Artists
A small team of industrial designers create all new Colorforms toys in our USA studio. Our artists have a deep understanding of child development along with a passion for imaginative play. The design process begins by brainstorming play formats that will most engage kids’ creativity. Artists sketch out characters, vehicles, scenes and shapes, refining designs with play testing by real children. Maintaining Colorforms quality and play value guides each design decision.
We’re also privileged to work with amazingly talented outside artists who help envision new licensed Colorforms sets. Their unique artistry brings in-demand characters and stories to life in our vinyl cling format. Our designers then adapt these drawings into pieces that allow for open-ended storytelling. Finding artists who share our creative vision is key to producing exceptional licensed Colorforms.
Our Manufacturing
To ensure consistent quality and safety, we manufacture all Colorforms sets by hand in our USA studio. Our small team of skilled technicians imprint designs onto special cling vinyl using a silkscreen process – just as our founder Harry Kislevitz did back in 1951. Silkscreening allows for bright colors and crisp detail unmatched by digital printing. Vinyl cling pieces are then die cut into specific shapes and packaged into sets.
Producing Colorforms domestically enables strict oversight of the entire manufacturing process. We can continually fine-tune designs and production methods to improve quality and play value. Our studio is also designed for safe, environmentally-responsible manufacturing practices. While more costly than overseas production, domestic manufacturing allows us to uphold the Colorforms legacy of safety, creativity and play.
Our Community
Beyond our walls, the Colorforms community encompasses fans, collectors, retailers, educators, partners and more.
Fans
Nothing inspires us more than seeing kids engaged in creative play with Colorforms. We love staying connected with fans on social media and at trade shows. Hearing your stories, ideas and creations helps guide future innovations. Product feedback and reviews are also invaluable for perfecting new releases. We aim to provide exceptional customer service and value the relationship with each and every Colorforms fan.
Collectors
Vintage Colorforms hold special nostalgia for collectors. We are continuously amazed by collectors’ devotion and how Colorforms shaped their childhoods. Our Collectors Gallery helps fans showcase prized sets and connect with fellow enthusiasts. We also partner with collectors on archival initiatives to preserve iconic vintage designs. This community is vital for honoring our past and sharing Colorforms history.
Retailers
From independent toy shops to big retailers, our partners make Colorforms available to kids everywhere. We work closely with stores to provide the products, promotions and support needed to delight customers. Retailer relationships are key to our mission of inspiring creative play in as many children as possible.
Educators
Teachers recognize Colorforms’ ability to build key skills through open-ended play. We create free activity guides and provide classroom resources to help educators incorporate Colorforms across the curriculum. Seeing Colorforms make learning engaging and fun is tremendously rewarding. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the education community.
Licensing Partners
Iconic entertainment companies allow us to adapt cherished characters into themed Colorforms sets. Our licensing partners – like Disney, Sesame Street and Warner Brothers – trust us to capture the magic of their brands in Colorforms format. We’re committed to creating playsets that excite fans and provide the same creative play as our original sets.
The Future of Colorforms
We still have the same passion for sparking kids’ creativity that launched Colorforms over 70 years ago. As we look to the future, our mission remains unchanged – provide toys that inspire imagination through open-ended play.
We will continue innovating within our core vinyl cling and arts & crafts formats. Expect new characters, themes, interactive features and technologies to enhance creative play. Digital platforms offer exciting opportunities to reimagine physical Colorforms play. We also hope to expand our activity book line and classroom resources.
Staying true to our heritage remains paramount. All new products will maintain the Colorforms ideals of child-led play, quality manufacturing and developmental benefits. We believe keeping these values at the forefront is key to Colorforms continued impact on children’s lives for decades to come.
Thank you for being part of the Colorforms® community! Please share your own fond memories and creativity with us. Together, we look forward to bringing the playpower of Colorforms to kids everywhere.