The following is basic primer of terms that you might commonly uncover while reading further regarding the Designer Toy movement.
A ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a form of rigid plastic from which toys can be produced out of at the factory level. Known for its hardness, toughness, and glossy sheen, ABS has a smooth surface that typically does not lend itself to showing intricate details. Due to the plastic being injected rather than poured into molds, pieces cast in ABS maintain more consistency in production than those made out of PVC. A recognizable example for this material being used are LEGO building blocks. An accessory is an additional piece that comes with a Designer Toy, either to be placed on or near the figure for display purposes. Called an omake, or extra, in Japanese, these elements aren’t usually essential to the figure’s design but rather serve to compliment and supplement the piece. An Artist Proof (or AP) is one of several copies for a mass-produced Designer Toy release that the designer receives from the manufacturer or producer. Typically limited to 10 to 25 copies, 14 | Clutter 28
the artist embellishes these pieces in some manner — from simply signing & numbering them to turning them into a micro edition of custom pieces — before selling them as artist proof copies.
B Blind box and blind bag are terms used to describe a series of Designer Toys, with multiple designs, that are sold packaged in either a box or bag, respectively. The packaging completely obscures the contents from view, causing the purchased design to be random and not decided by the buyer. (For more information on blind boxes, please see the article What Does Blind Boxed Mean? on page 34 of this magazine.)
Custom figures, also known as handpainted (or HP) Designer Toys, are those that have been treated like a blank canvas by an artist. Through a variety of methods, most commonly painting, the artist applies their own design scheme onto the figure. Usually unique pieces of art, a micro edition of a custom can be made using the same design scheme, though each one is still individually hand-crafted and/or painted. (For more information on customs, please see the article What Is A Custom? on page 64 of this magazine.)
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C Chibi is a Japanese slang term for a short person or small child, though it is used within Designer Toys to indicate either a smaller rendition of previously released figure or an original piece that conforms to the chibi style. Chibi releases tend to be cute and simplistic, though the latter in not a required element. (See also kawaii.)
A Deluxe (or DX) figure is version of a Designer Toy which either indicates that: it includes additional extras, like accessories, or it has been completely re-sculpted to be larger and/or more detailed.