Taking Small Inventors’ Big Ideas Very Seriously

Kids are great at inventing stuff, but grown-ups have a habit of ignoring their genius.Notinventor-artistDominic Wilcox. Popularly known for test-driving hiscereal-serving device on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Wilcox is nowtaking some small inventors’ big ideas very seriously. For his latest venture, Wilcox is helping turn kids’ inventions into real-world prototypes.

Wilcox returned to his hometown of Sunderland, UK, to launch the Inventors! project. He asked over 450 kids to draw their invention ideas, and recruited local manufacturers to turn some of theblueprints into actual products. According to the project’s statement, Wilcox aims “to inspire and encourage children to believe in the power of their imagination, find some great ideas, and create some wonderful objects.”

After getting input from the young designers, the manufacturershad a month to createtheir models. A vacant shop was transformed into an Inventors! exhibition, where the kids needed no excuse to show off their cool ideas.

Check out how their sketches transformed into some nifty inventions:

PRINGLES HOOK

Georgia Dinsley, age 11, recreated in 3D graphics by Andy Mattocks

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

Having trouble reaching those last few Pringles? Georgia Dinsley’s Pringles Hook is a handysolution.

FAMILY SCOOTER

Wendy Ridley, age 9, made by Roger O’Brian and AMAP

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

A clever take on the tandem bicycle is fun for the whole family.

SHADY LAMP

Layla Amir, age 11, made real by Carl Gregg at Fab Lab Sunderland

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

Light dimmer glitchy? This handy lamp lets you dim the light like a pair of blinds.

HANDY HI 5

Oliver, age 6, made real by Tony Canning of Fab Lab Sunderland

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

For when you succeed without witnesses and you just need to know you’re awesome.

FOOD COOLER FORK

Ameliya Liddle, age 6, recreated in 3D graphics by Andy Mattocks

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

Now you don’t have to wait to dig into that fresh-out-of-the-oven lasagna.

‘THE LICKER’ SPIDER ALARM CLOCK

Krystal James, age 9, recreated in 3D graphics by Andy Mattocks

(Courtesy of Dominic Wilcox and inventorsproject.co.uk)

With this colorful and creepy gadget, you will most definitely never sleep through your alarm again. The mechanical spider descends on cue and licks your sleeping face.

Check outthe full collection atinventorsproject.co.uk.