Leslie Scott

Leslie Scott

Leslie Scott is a renowned British toy and game designer, best known for creating the internationally popular board game Jenga. Born in 1955 in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Scott spent her childhood in various parts of Africa due to her father's job as an international development worker. This exposure to diverse cultures and experiences would later influence her approach to game design. Scott's education included studying at the University of Oxford, where she earned a degree in English Literature. Her career in the toy and game industry began in the early 1980s when she started working for a London-based game publisher. It was during this time that Scott conceptualized and developed Jenga, a game that involves skillfully removing wooden blocks from a tower and placing them on top, creating an increasingly taller and less stable structure. The game's name, derived from the Swahili word kujenga meaning to build, reflects Scott's African heritage. Launched in 1983, Jenga quickly gained international popularity and has since sold over 80 million copies worldwide, cementing its status as a classic game that transcends age, language, and cultural barriers. Throughout her career, Scott has continued to design and develop various other games and puzzles, often drawing inspiration from her travels and experiences. Her contributions to the toy and game industry have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including being inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2020.

Leslie Scott, Jenga, board game designer, British toy designer, game developer, puzzle creator, international success

— Helen James

CITATION : "Helen James. 'Leslie Scott.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=434566 (Accessed on June 07, 2025)"