The Art of LEGO Design

Creative Ways to Build Amazing Models

by Jordan Schwartz

June 2014, 288 pp.

ISBN-13:

978-1-59327-553-2

Full Color

Look Inside!

The most impressive LEGO models often take careful planning (and lots of pieces), but with some inspiration, a little imagination, and a number of tried-and-true techniques, you too can turn bricks into a masterpiece.

In The Art of LEGO® Design, author Jordan Schwartz explores LEGO as an artistic medium. This wide-ranging collection of creative techniques will help you craft your own amazing models as you learn to see the world through the eyes of some of the greatest LEGO builders. Each concept is presented with a collection of impressive models to spark your imagination—like fantastic dragons, futuristic spaceships, expressive characters, and elaborate dioramas. You’ll discover some of the inventive techniques that LEGO artists use to:

Create lifelike creatures from unusual elements like inside-out tires and minifigure capes
Design sleek cars without showing a single stud
Add ambience to dioramas with light bricks or LEDs
Craft eye-catching textures to create cobblestone roads and brick walls
Build sturdy, detailed, posable mechs and other figures
Add depth with forced perspective and interesting silhouettes

Interviews with the talented builders behind many of the book’s models reveal their thoughts on the design process and what inspires them most. Even if you’ve been building with LEGO since you could crawl, you’ll find new inspiration in The Art of LEGO® Design.

If you need a different ebook format, please email [email protected]
Note: This full-color ebook is not compatible with Kindle E Ink devices.

Author Bio

Award-winning LEGO builder Jordan Schwartz was one of the LEGO Group’s youngest designers. While working for the LEGO Group as part of the Creator/Creator Expert team, Schwartz developed models for a number of official sets. His original models have been featured in several books, including Beautiful LEGO (No Starch Press) and A Million Little Bricks (Skyhorse).

Table of contents

Preface
Introduction

Chapter 1: Inspiration and Preparation
Chapter 2: Minifigure and Company
Chapter 3: Bricks, Slopes, and Studs
Chapter 4: Patterns and Motifs
Chapter 5: Texture
Chapter 6: Dynamic Sculpting
Chapter 7: Composition
Chapter 8: Wildlife and Foliage
Chapter 9: Large-Scale Figures
Chapter 10: Cars, Wagons, and Watercraft
Chapter 11: Buildings
Chapter 12: Science Fiction
Chapter 13: Final Steps

View the detailed Table of Contents (PDF)
View the Index (PDF)

Reviews

"From where to buy those elements you just gotta have to where to go to find inspiration, Schwartz has included it all, and Lego fans will want this close to hand as both inspiration and guide for their next builds."
—Kirkus Reviews (Read More)

"A nice springboard into making your own creations."
—Brothers Brick (Read More)

"The whole point is to get you thinking creatively, to provide ideas and inspiration and to help answer the question 'how on earth was that built?' when you view other builders' models."
—BrickSet (Read More)

"An explanation of techniques on how to create textures, shapes, and other effects with LEGOs, with photos of many eye-popping creations thrown in."
—Gene Ambaum, Unshelved (Read More)

"A serious how-to from a LEGO master builder."
—American Profile Magazine

"The designs that are featured in this book are really amazing from dioramas with mountains and waterfalls to pop culture icons like Adventure Time characters or Freddie Mercury from Queen."
—SciFi Mafia (Read More)

"Definitely a great book for inspiration at all levels."
—Hispabrick Magazine (Read More)

"If you love LEGO® and want to see how the people at the top of their game work with the medium, check out The Art of LEGO Design."
—Bricks of the Dead (Read More)

"Filled with interviews and examples from many famed LEGO designers, the book is an extensive course in creativity and freedom."
—Examiner.com (Read More)