Gallery: Lego Taps the Best Indie Bricklayers to Design Its Next Kit
01star-wars
Every day, hobbyists unbound by price or popularity proudly share mindblowing “[MOCs](http://www.mocpages.com/)” (“My Own Creations”) that at times outshine the officially produced sets. Since 2008, Lego has offered a way for these creators to have their designs turned into official Lego products and receive a royalty for their efforts, but thus far only [four projects](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Cuusoo#Sets), including a Minecraft Microworld and a *Back to the Future* time machine, have gathered the 10,000 fan votes and passed the stringent commercialization review which are required to make a kit official. Many projects fail because they break the [guidelines](http://legocuusoo.posterous.com/cheat-sheet-how-to-pass-the-lego-review-with) set forth by the committee overseeing the project, Cuusoo, such as designing kits around existing brands or creating overly large, complex, or expensive designs. Even more, however, never make it to market because of obscurity. Earlier this month, Lego unveiled over [250 of its own new kits](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/07/ny-lego-at-toy-fair-idUSnPnNY56310+160+PRN20130207), hitting shelves throughout 2013 and 2014. While these new products were carefully designed to fit snugly onto retail planograms, hit aggressive price targets, and incorporate coveted brand licenses like *Star Wars*, most lacked Lego's trademark innovation. The 10 following Cuusoo proposals may never hit toy store shelves (although we wish they would), but they show how the versatile Lego platform can be paired with passionate designers leveraging crowdsourcing technology, and outshine even the official sets. __Above:__ Micro Scale *Star Wars* Scenes ------------------------------ __Votes: 1,981__ __Designer: Rod Gillies__ Lego makes an armada of *Star Wars*-themed vehicles, but they're all scaled to fit the prized minifigures. This makes kits large, expensive, and space-consuming. Scottish creator Rod Gillies designed a solution by recreating [iconic scenes from the movies](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/14933) at "micro scale." For instance, in these models, the Millennium Falcon is made from 12 affordable and adorable bricks instead of [5,195](http://www.brickset.com/brickLists/?3246), as the $499.99 collectors edition requires. With not even a fifth of the votes required, we find the lack of faith in this idea very disturbing. *Photo: [Rod Gillies](http://www.flickr.com/photos/24681250@N07/)*
02bird
Lego Bird Series ---------------- __Votes: 4,950__ __Designer: Thomas Poulsom__ Lego bricks are obviously well suited to recreate mechanical or architectural subjects, but building birds in all of their aerodynamic glory is a bigger challenge. English brick enthusiast Thomas Poulsom has turned the rectilinear bricks into [lively ornithological sculptures](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/16897). The Lego curators are also thrilled with design as it highlights the power of the platform to elevate popular ideas that aren't on the official roadmap. They write, "We love this project because not only is your work so good, it's a new concept and an area we aren't focusing on right now." For those who prefer their animals furry instead of feathered, Poulsom has also figured out how to make the iconic bushy tail of the [red squirrel](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/7162) out of these plastic bricks. *Photo: [Thomas Poulsom](http://www.flickr.com/photos/detomaso/)*.
03land-rover
Land Rover Defender 110 ----------------------- __Votes: 8,937__ __Designer: Sheepo__ A builder from Spain with a big vision and bigger hobby budget has developed an amazingly [complex replica of a Land Rover](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/16894) that is on the verge of crossing the 10,000-vote threshold. However, despite the impeccable build quality, the team at Lego is approaching the model with trepidation. They write in the project's comments, "However you know how huge and intricate your model is, and while it is a feat of engineering, the piece count and complexity would make it rather challenging to produce." Not only is it big, which means expensive, it's also challenging because of its use of "illegal" building techniques. These contraband construction methods won't end up on a builder's permanent record, but they have been deemed to challenging for a normal creator and are forbidden. The curators warn: > Once the project reaches 10,000 and enters the review stage, our design team will need to address the piece count and complexity of this build, and see if it is feasible to maintain the essence of the model while ensuring it uses legal building techniques, is cost effective, buildable, and playable. On the second half of your journey, you are welcome to offer suggestions toward this end. This might frustrate hardcore builders, but is understandable given Lego's focus on children. *Photo: [Sheepo](http://www.sheepo.es/)*.
04transformer
Lego *Transformers* ------------------- __Votes: 111__ __Designer: Alan Yap__ Lego doesn't have the commercial rights to make *Transformers*-themed sets, but that doesn't stop fans from creating kits that combine shape-changing robots and interchangeable building systems. Designer Alan Yap has created a half-dozen robots from simple bots to one glorious project that transforms from [robot to space shuttle to a Tyrannosaurus Rex](http://alanyuppie.blogspot.com/2012/09/lego-fall-of-cybertron-snapdragon.html). *Photo: [Alan Yap](http://lego.cuusoo.com/profile/alanyap)*.
05mcd
Mini Shop Series ---------------- __Votes: 6,652__ __Designer: Pekko__ Many Lego purists bemoan the corporatization of their beloved bricks and curse the *Star Wars*- and *Harry Potter*-themed kits. There might be a riot if these name-brand store kits, which amount to [miniature advertisements for the biggest brands in the world](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/15229) (including McDonalds, 7-Eleven, and the Apple Store), make it to store shelves. Some will complain about rampant commercialism, but it's hard to argue with the design of these small-scale stores. Every set comes with two minifigures (one staff and one customer), are designed to fit within a legacy 8-by-16 plate, and have a part count equal to sets that cost $19.99. As a bonus, the shops can be connected to create a mini mini-mall. The Thailand-based designer thought through every detail of the build, like including special pad printed donut blocks for the Dunkin' Donuts set. The team behind Lego Cuusoo was impressed by the aesthetics, but also the commercial savvy of the set: > "It’s clear from the comments; shops that can be easily added to a town layout have been long desired by the LEGO fan community. Your project offers an opportunity to add easily identifiable brands which are also easy to build AND are even affordable! These shops add a 'real world' element to any layout. Although you showcase a number of shop options, none of them lack for quality and detail. Once again, should this reach the review stage, we'd have to focus on one model (although picking one could be challenging, they all look so good)." If designer Pekko really wanted to push his campaign over the top, he'd make a Blue Bottle Coffee kit and be done with it. *Photo: [ByMan Studio](http://www.bymanstudio.com/)*.
06catan
Lego *Settlers of Catan* ------------------------ __Votes: 2,277__ __Designer: Michael Thomas__ *Settlers of Catan* revived board games as an art form, but the hex-based game has two huge problems. First, the game board itself moves at inopportune times, to the point where [over $500,000](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/trammel/the-official-settlers-of-catan-gaming-board) has been [pledged on Kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1330163305/hexels-the-completely-modular-settlers-of-catan-ga) to solve the problem. Second, while the game mechanics are solid, the aesthetics are lacking compared to rich videogame environments. Canadian creator Michael Thomas is trying to solve both problems in one turn by [recreating the game out of Lego pieces](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/693). The design is solidly constructed, and drives the game's nerdy planner strategy to new heights. *Photo: [Michael Thomas](http://www.flickr.com/people/mtbin/)*
07strandbeest
Motorized Strandbeest --------------------- __Votes: 101__ __Designer: Brixie__ This Lego robot will appeal to ardent engineers and enthusiastic artists in equal amounts. What it lacks in votes it makes up for in locomotion and indie designer cred. *Photo: [Brixie](http://www.flickr.com/photos/35385165@N05/)*.
08medieval-market
Medieval Market Street ---------------------- __Votes:1,199__ __Designer: Alan P__ Sometimes the strength of a design is in its high concept, other times in its flawless execution. This [Medieval Street Market](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/18873) looks like it could pop right out of a Lego catalog. Its brilliance isn't in the idea, but the masterful way that small details are represented. Rough cobblestone streets are hinted at with judiciously placed pegs. Uneven plaster is represented by interspersing round bricks in an otherwise rectilinear surface. Dozens of tiny details add up to one very impressive tableau. *Photo: [Alan P](http://www.flickr.com/people/sirens-of-titan/)*.
09arboretum
Lego Arboretum -------------- __Votes: 2,243__ __Designer: Paul Toxopeus__ Some designers get pleasure from creating galaxy-class space vehicles or hugely imposing structures, but Dutch designer Paul Toxopeus chose to build trees. He was frustrated that the official Lego tree parts were closer to potted plants than mighty oaks. Seed of discontent planted, he designed a [woodland wonderland](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/9173) for his minifigs and is about a quarter of the way toward seeing them produced. *Photo: [Paul Toxopeus](http://www.flickr.com/photos/paultox/)*.
10neuschwanstein
Neuschwanstein Castle --------------------- __Votes: 263__ __Designer: T-Brick__ Lego has a long history of producing architecturally inspired models at large scale for the collector audience. This design recreates the famous [Bavarian castle](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/1128) with 4,303 bricks, which would make it the third largest Lego set in history. For those who can't wait for this design to get 10,000 votes, reverse-engineering the model from the CAD images the designer submitted shouldn't prove too difficult, especially coupled with photos that other builders [have posted about their own Lego Neuschwanstein Castles](http://geekartgallery.blogspot.com/2010/07/lego-creations-lego-neuschwanstein.html). Proposing architecturally inspired designs is always risky. One designer who created a [Le Corbusier](http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/7949)-inspired model had his project canceled when Lego announced the building was part of their official architecture series. *Photo: [MOC Pages](http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/343293)*.
