Anoffice toy (also known as anexecutive toy or adesk toy) is anovelty item typically placed on the desk of acorporate executive or otheroffice worker. They have no work-related function, but are often intended to provide decoration or pleasure,relieve stress or inspirecreativity.[1][2] TheNewton's cradle is a classic example of an office toy.[2][3]
Different types of office toys fulfill different needs for their users. Although providing pleasure and being decorative could be the two major functions in office toys, there are still some differences between each types of office toys. For example,puzzle-type toys can also help inspire creativity. Afidget spinner is an office toy that is used to reduce stress or boredom.[4] Design curator Donald Albrecht described executive toys as "aspirational" objects, "less tools for provoking creativity than foghorns of identity and status in a sea of corporate homogeneity."[2] Toys with corporate logos act as advertisements, such those distributed bypharmaceutical sales representatives in doctors' offices.[5]