The American Girl 'Girl of the Year' for 2017 was recently announced, introducing youth to the creative Luciana Vega, an 11-year-old who aspires to be an astronaut and the first person on Mars.
Luciana is a doll that embodies creativity, the collaborative spirit and a love of STEM, inspiring young girls in particular to challenge themselves and dream big. She has a purple streak in her hair and comes with accessories such as a flight suit, a space suit and a storybook. On the creation of Luciana, American Girl worked with Megan McArthur, a NASA astronaut who serves on the advisory board for American Girl’s new character, to ensure the creation of life-like accessories.
As well as being able to look forward to the release of the new doll in the new year, young girls will have the chance to take part in a special Girl of the Year experience created in partnership with Space Camp, and potentially win one of 20 scholarships from American Girl to attend Space Camp.
Empowering Astronaut Dolls
The New American Girl 'Girl of the Year' is an Aspiring Astronaut
Trend Themes
1. Stem-inspired Dolls - Creating dolls that inspire young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
2. Collaboration with Experts - Partnering with experts in the related industry to ensure authenticity of the dolls and accessories and provide quality educational material.
3. Experiential Marketing - Creating unique experiences for customers in partnership with relevant industries, such as space camp, to drive engagement and build brand awareness.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers can use STEM themes to empower young girls, carving out a unique space in the market and driving innovation with the use of experts in relevant fields.
2. Education and Training - Organizations in education and training can partner with toy manufacturers to provide children with creative and engaging methods to learn about STEM subjects.
3. Tourism - Tourist organizations can partner with toy manufacturers and related industries to create immersive experiences for kids, promoting travel and science education in a fun and engaging way.