Tag Archives: Feature

Ace Parts Usage: TBB’s favorite LEGO build techniques of the second half of 2023 [Feature]

It’s been nearly six months since our first “Ace Parts Usage” article. In it, we sifted through hundreds of LEGO creations to determine our top 10 favorite build techniques from January through June of this year. If you’re unfamiliar, builds that feature particularly cool techniques are said to have NPU (Nice Parts Usage). We’ve seen everything, but occasionally we’re extra impressed by something new and unique – an “ace” parts usage. Although we’re about to announce our overall favorite builds (using several criteria) in the running for the TBB Creation of the Year , we want to honor some ace parts usage right here, right now. There were too many awesome considerations over the past 6 months, so we decided to give you our favorite 15 instead of our favorite 10. Join us as we count down the best of the second half of 2023!

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TBB readers speak! Your favorite LEGO moments of 2023 [Feature]

When we asked what LEGO moments meant the most to our readers, you all answered with a plethora of LEGO moments covering the last 12 months. There were tales of set construction, attendance at conventions and shows, awards won, and one big collab that people can’t stop talking about! Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the form. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to cover every submission we received in this write-up. But don’t let that stop you from talking about your favorite LEGO moments of the past year in the comments. Now, let’s unpack all these great responses!

Check out your LEGO highlights of 2023 below!

What’s your favorite LEGO moment of 2023? [Feature]

The current year of 2023 is quickly coming to a close, and it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on all the wonderful moments with LEGO we’ve had over the last 12 months. Maybe it was the release of a new set or LEGO theme that tops your list. Maybe it was spending Insiders points on a new reward, or a particularly fruitful trip to the LEGO store’s pick-a-brick wall. It could’ve been time spent with friends at a convention, or winning an award for a collaborative build. Or even finally tracking down that long-sought-after “Holy Grail” set from your childhood. Whatever marked the pinnacle of the LEGO hobby for you in 2023, we want to hear about it! Fill out the form below with your best LEGO moment of 2023, and be sure to say why you picked it and what it means to you. We’ll come back later this month to recount some of our favorite submissions.

Fill out the form with your best LEGO moment of 2023 below!

When and why did LEGO include progress bars in instructions guides? [Feature]

LEGO fans are extremely passionate and look into details of any slight changes that the LEGO Group introduces in all aspects. The latest visual change on the instruction booklets has led a few fans delighted and curious, especially on identifying when these first started to show up.

While we don’t know exactly when the first mass produced set it was introduced in, most fans agree that it started to appear in instruction booklets for most sets produced in 2022. The simpler design of the progress bar is LEGO round stud on a thick line that extends from edge to edge at the bottom of the printed page. The more fun looking ones are represented by Minifigures sliding across the timeline from one page turn to another.

Click to learn more about the progress bar in instruction booklets

The Brothers Brick favorites: Best LEGO products of 2022 [Feature]

Taking a look through all the LEGO sets released this year, it clearly has been a mammoth year of LEGO releases! At over 950 new products, this year’s lineup beats last year’s impressive back catalogue, with LEGO City taking the crown for the theme with most sets hitting store shelves this past year. In an attempt to figure out the best (and least impressive) LEGO products of the year, I asked the Brothers Brick team for their opinions. And here they are: all the LEGO sets that have piqued our interest in the Class of ’22…

Click here to learn our favorite (and not so favorite) sets of the year!

Top 5 LEGO excavator sets that could save the world economy right now [Feature]

With the global travel restrictions imposed worldwide right now, many of us are missing airplanes and trains more than ever. But instead of cherishing the day we can all enjoy international flights again, the whole world found itself discussing a completely different means of transportation — container ships. The poor giant, 1,300-foot-long ‘Ever Given’ with about 20,000 containers aboard, is stuck in the middle of the Suez Canal in Egypt.

It seems that there’s no force in this world capable of freeing the vessel, but here enters the tiny hero — the brave little excavator. Looking at the heartbreaking pictures, we can’t help thinking of sending help to the place of the accident. Thankfully, throughout the years, LEGO has released many awesome excavator models, which, we are sure, could solve the problem in no time. Let’s dig into archives and assemble the rescue team of LEGO construction machines to save the world.

Click here to see our top picks…

LEGO Designers reveals secrets and inspiration behind the 31111 Cyber Drone 3-in-1 Creator set [Feature & Interview]

One of many the things that that shapes the culture and cult-like following in LEGO is its unique bits of passion that’s imbued in every design made regardless of how small or large they may be. LEGO Designer George Gilliatt shared and Graphic Designer Matthew James Parsons recently shared insights (via Twitter) on their work and inspiration behind the LEGO 3-in-1 Cyber Drone Creator set ( US $9.99 | CAN $13.99 | UK £8.99)

Click to discover the inspiration and secrets

The Brothers Brick’s top 10 most popular LEGO Features of 2020 [News]

The Brothers Brock features section is where our contributors dive a little deeper into a particular area or people of interest via interviews. If you’re ready to sink into details and a longer read about the community and topics of interest, we’re sure you’ll find an article or two that would capture your specific interest. Let’s take a look at the ten most popular feature articles that we produced in 2020.

Click to see the top 10 feature articles

Behind the scenes: How the instructions for your everyday life in LEGO were made [Feature]

A while ago, we featured a set of comic panels that went viral across the social media platforms during the COVID lockdown period in some countries. A lot of us were able to relate to the situations and found great humour in them. It was our pleasure to have communicated with Primus Nair, Head of Creative, Asia Pacific from LEGO and based in Singapore to share a bit on the collaboration process, especially during the period where a lot of the industries were working online leverage remote tools instead of face to face meetings.

Click to read the full interview

A History of LEGO Education, Part 3: Mindstorms over matter [Feature]

LEGO Education is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and we are exploring the history of this unique division of the LEGO Group. Part 1 presented an early history of LEGO Education, while Part 2 outlined the development of the first LEGO robotics platforms. In our 3rd and final installment, we dive into the story behind the game-changing release of LEGO Mindstorms.

Click to learn more about the historic launch of LEGO Mindstorms

A History of LEGO Education, Part 2: Path to Mindstorms [Feature]

LEGO Education is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary! As a birthday gift, we are commemorating the occasion with a three-part history feature on this special division of the LEGO Group. Part 1 provided an overview of the history of LEGO education from the 1980s through 1990s, but we left out an important component of the story. Part 2 picks up where we left off, covering the beginnings of LEGO’s programmable robots in the classroom and at home. These were the precursors of LEGO Mindstorms!

Learn more about the prestigious lineage of LEGO robotics platforms released before LEGO Mindstorms

A History of LEGO Education, Part 1: Strong Foundations [Feature]

LEGO bricks have long been considered an educational toy, but it wasn’t until 1980 when The LEGO Group formally established an educational division. Known today as LEGO Education, the division is celebrating 40 years of collaborating with and developing educational tools for teachers around the world, with products ranging from Duplo to Mindstorms. Here at The Brothers Brick, we are taking a closer look at LEGO Education with a series of articles, and what better way to observe a 40th anniversary than with a history of the subject?

To get everyone pumped up, LEGO created a special video highlighting some of the key points behind the history of LEGO Education. Think of the video as a preview of the history we are about to cover here. Get ready, because it’s time to dive deep into LEGO Education 101!

Click to see the earliest history of LEGO Education