By Kids For Kids, the company dedicated to turning kids’ invention ideas into real commercial products, has partnered with design firm IDEO to further hone kid creations with input from professional designers. The move augments a deal made last year with Mattel that granted the toyco first right of refusal on all BKFK’s young inventors’ toy and game concepts.

IDEO, an international design company based in Palo Alto, California, will support kids’ efforts by reviewing their concepts submitted in BKFK contests and provide ‘Ask the Experts’ advice on BKFK.com. IDEO will also facilitate a design aspect into the educational curriculum for BKFK’s national inventive thinking program that reaches schools across the U.S.

Though BKFK’s mission focuses heavily on inspiring, guiding and educating kids, COO Daniel Gwartz says the company is a for-profit operation. It contributes the upfront financial investment in development, and in return shares in the royalties when the product finally makes it to market. Technically, minors can’t own their own properties, so BKFK crafts contracts that involve parents or guardians and won’t take on a young inventor, unless he/she has support from a parent or guardian.

The popularity of BKFK has been growing. Gwartz says one of its recent inventing competitions brought in 8,000 submissions from kids in the U.S., and he’s aiming to open up competitions to children outside of the country. KC