Register for Emagination STEM Camps this Summer to learn how to design & build these amazing LEGO® projects!
For the 2022 Summer Camp Season, Emagination Tech Camps are offering kids a great opportunity to build with LEGO® in the BrickLink Studio 2.0 course. Campers will learn how to construct original models in BrickLink Studio 2.0, a 3D building software supported by LEGO®. To give you a preview of the cool projects you can design in BrickLink, we’ve put together a list of 5 projects. It’s up to YOU to vote on which one is the coolest — and then try to outshine these examples this summer at STEM camp.
Did you know that the brand name “LEGO” is a combination of the Danish words leg and godt which mean, "play well?”
The company has been in business since 1932, and has spawned an empire to include LEGOLAND® amusement parks, motion pictures, video games, LEGO® Imagination Centers, and even an airport and tire manufacturing plant. Additionally the brand has inspired millions of designers and creators around the world to build awe-inspiring models, environments, and sculptures using LEGO bricks.
BrickLink was the brainchild of Dan Jezek, a native of Prague who moved to Hawaii as a pre-teen. Dan had a passion for both LEGO® and computers, so he pursued a degree in computer science and began working on the first iteration of the BrickLink website. His goal was to connect fans of LEGO®, so they could buy, sell, and trade bricks and sets, as well as share tips and projects in the popular forum. Dan died tragically in 2010; however, his family carried on the operation of BrickLink, joining the LEGO® Group in 2019. The company will celebrate 22 years in business this summer.
Ever wonder how a large LEGO® sculpture or building comes together?
Sure, you can spend years of trial-and-error with a pile of black bricks in an attempt to recreate a human-sized King Kong; however, the pros use 3D design tools like BrickLink Studio to mock up a replica and determine how many bricks and parts they need before getting down to business. BrickLink Studio 2.0 is a free, online program with a virtual, 3D environment that gives LEGO® enthusiasts the ability to “clutch, hinge, and clip” bricks together with “snap-to functionality.” Design a complete virtual model, and the software will then tally up the type and quantity of parts you’ll need, along with how-to documents to help you (or someone else) reproduce your design using actual LEGO® pieces. Studio 2.0 even offers a physical stability check tool, so you can be alerted when King Kong’s arm is too long or narrow to carry off a struggling damsel.
"After I die and go to heaven this is how I imagine it to be: a place where there is an infinite amount of bricks and infinite amount of time to build with them. There would be all kinds of bricks for all the themes, so that when I got bored with building a castle, I could move on to build a town or a pirate ship. There would also be lots and lots of other LEGO maniacs to share ideas and build with." — Dan Jezek, from a forum post dated March 24, 1997
1. Modern California Home by Brickfornia
This amazing house design, called “The New Concept House” by Brickfornia, is a delightful re-mix of modern architectural greats reminiscent of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright, or Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier. Playfully vibrant colors, unexpected details, and customized parts make this 3-dimensional design come to life, along with real-world architectural considerations like solar panels, air conditioning units, and a Japanese garden filled with moss, flowers, and frogs.
The exterior design of Brickfornia’s dream home seems secondary once you see what’s on the inside. BrickLink Studio allowed the designer to showcase a unique interior design featuring a living room, kitchen, garage, laundry room, bathroom, library, and 4 bedrooms. We love the luxury details like a LEGO® coffee machine, modern lighting, and books that open! This marvel would cost a bundle on the real-world California real estate market, but can be accomplished in only 148 steps using the BrickLink Studio instruction tool.
Love this design? Learn how to use BrickLink Studio at Emagination STEM Camps during the Summer 2022 season.
2. Godzilla by Chubbybots
Since we mentioned King Kong earlier in this blog post, it seems fitting that Godzilla would make the list. This intricate design of the overgrown iconic lizard resembles something from our Robotics classroom more than an organic, coldblooded creature; however, we love the personality that comes to the forefront of this poseable character. This inventive Godzilla figure features articulated claws and spine, with an optional blue laser ray that you can attach to his opened jaws.
Love this design? Register for our Summer 2022 STEM Camp and sign up for the BrickLink Studio course.
3. Seaside Summer House by Brick_Dog
“With a bucket of LEGO, you can tell any story. You can build an airplane or a dragon or a pirate ship — it's whatever you can imagine.” — Christopher Miller
Another dream home comes to life in this 3-story LEGO® home. This BrickLink design was inspired by the LEGO® Ideas “Old Fishing Store,” and features a wraparound porch, boat dock, captain’s wheel, and lookout. This design has a lot of East Coast shoreline character with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore — or redesign for your own spin.
Would you like to learn how to create this seaside house design? Register for our Summer 2022 STEM Camp and sign up for the BrickLink Studio course.
4. Queztal by arnedielis
“Quetzals are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family. They are found in forests, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus Pharomachrus being exclusively Neotropical, while a single species, the eared quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus, is found in Mexico and very locally in the southernmost United States.” — Wikipedia
A national mascot takes on an otherworldly aspect in this vibrant design by Netherlands native, Arnedielis. The resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala. The breed is known for their iridescent green plumage and bright bellies. We love this bird’s character design, and feel that this bird’s dramatic plumage would make a great protagonist in a 3D animation or action video game design.
Want to design your own mythical character in virtual LEGO®?
Register for our Summer 2022 STEM Camp and sign up for the BrickLink Studio course.
5. Chess Set Deluxe by Creator_S
We know that Emagination campers love to play games, so we had to include this awesome chess set by BrickLink contributor Creator_S. This game set includes completely original chess piece designs for rooks, knights, kings, and queens, along with a sweet avatar with a wrench to help you correct a move. The board features working drawers to hold pieces and a design that mimics wood, chrome, and tile.
The great thing about designing in BrickLink Studio, is that you can play, create, and remake without worrying about paying a lot for bricks and parts. The app even calculates how much parts would cost to bring your design to life. In reference to the designer's amazing chess set, Creator_S states, “Buyers beware! If you wish to buy this set, you'd better be ready to shell out: it'll easily cost you approx. $1100 … In case you're wondering: no, I did not care about affordability. Want to start designing your own LEGO® projects? Sign up for a free BrickLink Studio account.