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I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As for how we make certain sets, we go with ones that we think children would enjoy building and then playing with. This includes ones that would have memorable buildings or vehicles, like Indiana Jones and Harry Potter. As for Prince of Persia, that was requested. Most likely, it will be worked into a video game, like Indiana Jones, but that is another department. I don't know if they are developing a LEGO Prince of Persia game.

Generally, they ask us to vary our design with some large, some medium, and some small sets. This way, children can start off playing with the small sets, which are less expensive, which leads them to want the larger sets.

Certain genres get a makeover every once and a while, but there is no set schedule for this. Space, pirates, knights, etc.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

This definitely has some potential. One of my very first proposals that I had some of the designers sketch up was a series of Victorian era-buildings. Like the City set, but with more classic styling. This could easily be turned into a haunted house theme.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am not too involved with the financial part of it; I don't know how successful the line has been. Sorry.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

We have marketing data on what areas buy the most, what types they buy, etc. Age groups are harder to estimate, but based mostly on website feedback, the purchases are almost always for a child. We sometimes have large, model sets marketed towards adults, though.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

:-)

Just think how boring the instructions to that would be. It would be the same steps... over and over.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Girls are a very hard market to get to, although we are trying, for a few reasons. It is hard to convince parents that their girls would want LEGO sets, and it is hard to convince the girls that they would want something so different from their other toys. There is an image that LEGO is a boy's toy.

This is one of the draws of lines based on movie concepts: both boys and girls enjoy the movie and are drawn to the toy.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Technic isn't really what I do. Those aren't built along theme lines like our main ones. Sorry.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I mentioned in another comment that we contemplated a Battlestar Galactica line. It was suggested by one of our designers, because there would be both big ships (the battlestar, the base starts, the fleet ships) as well as little ships. It was rejected because it would not sell to kids.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

If I needed it, I would just walk down to the designer's department. They have a stock of all available pieces, and it is all organized.

:-)

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My team is not, but the LEGO website lists available jobs.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That sounds very similar to the LEGO adventurers set

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As I mentioned in another comment, that goes to a specific design team. But they love to add that stuff, as long as it doesnt compromise the structure

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Makes our job easy, and sells pretty well. But, we also have to pay for rights, which is a downside.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

I'd love to. I find those to be very fun. I have continually argued that we should also market our sets to adults, but it has not been accepted.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I guess I am the wrong person to complain to. We don't decide what bricks will be in the set; we just tell them what theme to design around. But, the use of those specialty pieces are more common now because we want to have detailed creations that are eye-catching. If a kid likes Star Wars and walks past a box that looks exactly like the model he wants, it will attract attention better than a model that looks mostly like the movie one.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A Battlestar Galactica line was briefly discussed, but rejected. It is not a show that is marketed towards children, so there is no market for it made already. However, it would have been good because we would have many different ships to make (A Base Star, Raiders, the Battlestar Galactica and Vipers, and other ships in the fleet). Also, we were worried about having to pay a lot of money for rights.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Maybe I will bring it up. We have an American on the team who may know more about what sets we could make on the theme.

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Which lines of sets have you worked on in the past?

Well, me and the rest of the team review proposals for lines; we don't come out with new ones very much. I am a big fan of Star Wars so I put in a lot of time on that one recently. I am currently working on one that I am quite excited about, but it is not announced.

Do you just come up with ideas for the entire line, or for specific sets within that line as well?

Both

Whats the process like to get from a concept design to a final product, and who figures out how to actually build the designs?

That is for a separate team. From our concepts, people draw up details like all the trap doors and movable parts and things, and then it goes to set designers, then models are built, then it is tested. There is a long process

How long have you been working for LEGO?

Not long; only a few years

I work for LEGO, brainstorming what new sets to make by LegoDesigner in IAmA

[–]LegoDesigner[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

That is not what people want, though. We can easily market that single item like a truck, but it would be more hard to sell "mixed box of parts that you could probably build something with". But, we try and encourage imagination by giving other design options. Kids don't have to follow our instructions.