Posted on 13th May 2025
By Deej Johnson

Popular industry veteran Dharmander Patel, popularly known as Minda, has sadly died aged 51. Minda had a long career in toys and games, cutting his teeth as a product engineer at Hasbro Europe.
Initially invited to spend a year at Hasbro straight from university, Minda was then invited back as a product engineer. He stayed eight years before moving to The Marketing Store.
Later, Minda served as Product Development Manager at Drummond Park for over a decade before founding his own invention studio – DNR Games. He also headed up product development at Fuel for Fun.
Minda is survived by his wife Nishma and two daughters, Rani and Raeya. Our heartfelt condolences to the family. You can read more about Minda’s career here.
A tribute page has also been set up for Minda and you can find that here.The Watford Peace Hospice looked after and cared for Minda in the final weeks of his life. Donations to the hospice would be welcome by the family, and you can donate via the tribute link.
–
To stay in the loop with the latest news, interviews and features from the world of toy and game design, sign up to our weekly newsletter here
More Recent News
“NFL Ballers is built for the way fans collect today – instantly recognisable stars, real chase mechanics, and a price point that keeps the thrill of the pull within reach,” said Chloe McKenzie, Global Marketing Director Zuru.
“It opens entirely new surfaces for play and storytelling, from making a store greeting feel magical to transforming a call waiting experience into a moment with a fan’s favourite character,” said Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks.
“BLE 2026 is set to be the biggest edition yet,” said Ella Haynes, BLE event director.
“LEGO Pokémon creatures respond to children’s actions: meaning fans can build, train and interact with their LEGO Pokémon creatures through hands-on, imaginative play that encourages creativity, confidence and storytelling,” said Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at the LEGO Group.
“We can’t wait for fans, both old and new, to get their hands on the set and show the community what they’re made of,” said Roger Martin, Marketing Director at Asmodee.
“The safety of children is always our top priority, and we’re concerned that these knock-offs not only fail to deliver the same quality experience, but may also expose customers to unregulated, harmful chemicals,” said Sam Ireland, Operations Director of Bigjigs Toys.