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My metaphorical LEGO moment
How childhood creativity shapes our design instincts and why you should care
As designers, when do we first notice that we’re not just throwing ideas onto a canvas, but we’re actually “designing”?
Do you remember that defining moment in your career development where your intuitive grasp of what “looks right” and what “doesn’t look right” started crystallizing?
I refer to this transformative milestone as the “LEGO Moment.” It’s a sort of turning point where we shift from seeing the world as a hodgepodge of possibilities to a well-defined spectrum of vibrant technicolor.
Imagine a kid totally engrossed in a bucket of LEGO bricks. Color? Who cares! At this stage, it’s all about the pure joy of letting your imagination go wild.
But what happened around the ages of 8 to 10 to change this? Suddenly, you start caring about which piece goes where. You start to sort your LEGO pieces by color, size, and shape.
Why does this happen, and what does it say about how our brains are wired? What once was a playground of unrestricted creativity subtly shifts towards a more structured form of imagination.
My early LEGO years
Growing up, I was the fortunate inheritor of a large bucket of LEGO bricks from my older brother. Each time I stuck my hands into this treasure trove felt like an expedition into a universe of infinite possibilities. My fingers would sift through assorted shapes and colors, each piece holding the promise of a unique creation.
I was so infatuated with my LEGO adventures that I decided to share them with the world through a YouTube channel. Initially, the channel showcased LEGO candy machines and drink machines that were a kaleidoscope of colors. Early videos clearly exhibited my penchant for mixing and matching without any care for color coordination.
In those early years, I was an unapologetic maximalist as every color had its place, not confined to some preconceived aesthetic harmony. A red block could coexist with a…
