Toyfoo was founded by designer and researcher Thomas Laureyssens, PhD.  Thomas specialises in the intersection of product and participatory design and has a diverse portfolio that includes urban participation games, interactive playgrounds, augmented reality experiences, and user-centered learning environments. He has a strong ability to combine physical and digital elements, creating immersive and tangible experiences. Thomas is driven by the desire to create impactful design experiences that inspire, connect, and empower communities. Past and current clients of toyfoo include Proximus, BNP Paribas Fortis and Openluchtmuseum Bokrijk.

Apart from his work at toyfoo, Thomas Laureyssens is a researcher at LUCA School of Arts in the Intermedia research group.  He is part of the action research collective Urban Species (LUCA School of Arts & ULB), which conducted research on the Smart City, collaborating closely with local stakeholders to enhance digital inclusivity and broaden participatory processes through interactive Internet of Things technologies. In his PhD, titled “The Appropriation of Interactive Interventions in Urban Social Contexts”, Thomas designed and developed a series of playful and gameful urban interventions aimed at fostering participation and social engagement in neighbourhoods. Through their deployment and evaluation, a model was developed to stimulate community appropriation of urban interventions.