How would you like to play with LEGO all day?
And then some people take their LEGO a little more seriously.
When scaled up, the bricks allow for exquisite and complex constructions, becoming exact pixels in large structures.
It’s a huge undertaking to construct those large-scale models that you see in places like LEGOLAND.
What’s it like to actually spend your days knee-deep in LEGO?
Pictured above: Adora constructingTheed Palacefrom Star Wars.
Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
I design new architectural and sculptural models for LEGOLAND and LEGOLAND Discovery Center attractions worldwide.
I also manage a team of nine model builders, taking care of any issues they may have.
I was a Model Builder before that.
What drove you to choose your career path?
I got the position after that.
What kind of education and experience did you need?
In our model shop, there are people from all different backgrounds.
There are people straight out of high school and people with graphic arts or public policy degrees.
I have a Masters of Architecture from UCLA, and a B.A.
It was also good that I love solving problems, and I can handle stress pretty well.
What kinds of things do you do beyond what people see?
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
What most people see are the finished models in one of the LEGOLAND parks.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
Also people tend to think I work forThe LEGO Group, which I do not.
What are your average work hours?
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
I schedule similar tasks to perform at the same time.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
What do they do instead?
There are two team leads at the shop, and we work in opposite but complementary ways.
My supervisor jokes that we’re yin and yang.
I’m better at computer-related issues, while he’s better with anything involving power tools.
An example of a fan-made model on LEGO’s freely availableDigital Designer.
What’s the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
The manager brought the pieces back to the shop and I repaired it in a week.
I was pretty annoyed the first day, but I got over it and just focused on repairs.
I had built it pretty solidly though, and most of it survived the fall intact.
Fortunately, it’s only happened once in the history of the model shop.
Too bad it was me!
What’s the most enjoyable part of the job?
I’m surrounded by LEGO all day!
They’re brilliant, fun, and easy to work with.
We have a really strong camaraderie and everyone really cares about each other.
For being such a large model shop (30+ people), we all get along pretty well.
Pictured: A scene from Star Wars: Episode II on the planet Kamino.
How do you move up in your field?
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
Have a portfolio, something that shows off your creative skills.
It doesn’t have to be LEGO; mine certainly wasn’t.
And definitely practice building things with LEGO and learn the system.
Knowing the difference between plate and brick, and that three plates equals a brick is very useful.
Also, if you don’t succeed at first, hit it one more time the next time around.
If you’d like to share your career, email us at[email protected].
