A LEGO® Designer Explains How the All the Pieces Come Together

What does a LEGO® Technic Design Manager do?

My main role is researching and developing the new lineup for each year. I also make sure we develop the most authentic representations of real vehicles from automotive brands like Volvo, Ferrari, Bugatti, Liebherr, and McLaren.

Did you play with LEGO® bricks a lot as a kid?

Yes, I must admit LEGO® sets were my favorite toy brand in my early years! I have a strong passion for learning how everything in our world works and operates and how to fix things. I think that comes from my childhood LEGO® Technic experience. Or was it already in my DNA, and LEGO® bricks served as the tool that revealed that to me?

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R&T CREW

What were your favorite subjects in school?

Science and art, and anything that could get my creativity going. I was always drawing and dreaming about new inventions to create.

What is the hardest part about turning real cars into LEGO® sets?

It will vary a lot depending on the size of the set. Size affects the number of functions you can include in the build. And sometimes the shapes we have to recreate from the real car are very different from the LEGO® elements we have available to use. But in the end, it is not a diecast but a LEGO® Technic representation.

Do you get to drive around in a Lamborghini to help you figure out how to turn it into a LEGO® version?

Unfortunately, not as often as we would love! We always try to see the real cars in person to understand the complexity of the shapes and what are the most important lines to capture.

What are some of your favorite LEGO® designs you've worked on?

I have worked on many different models that I really like, but if I had to pick one it is the Ducati Panigale V4 R that we launched last year in June. We included a gearbox for the first time in a motorcycle set. It took a lot of complexity to develop, but it was a lot of fun to overcome those challenges.

Any suggestions for when we just can't find a piece we're supposed to snap in next?

Turn on the light—you have been building all day long, and it is probably nighttime already! Best advice, I would recommend sorting all your elements from the beginning. Place the small snap connectors in cups or plates, beams in lines, gears in one corner, and so on with the remaining pieces.

Is having a job playing with toys as fun as it sounds?

Yes it is, but that does not sound like a job to me—more like living your passion daily!

What would you tell kids who dream of being a toy or real car designer one day?

Build as much as possible. Be creative and follow your dream—it will pay off. And have fun in what you do. A good mindset will help you accomplish your dreams!

Is there anything that hurts more than stepping on a LEGO® brick with bare feet?

Stepping on the next one right after that!