LEGO IDEAS Program - What It Is and How To Submit an Idea

Most of you have probably heard of the LEGO Ideas program and seen the sets in-store and the category on the LEGO website. The most recent set releases were LEGO 21350 Jaws and LEGO 21349 Tuxedo Cat.

So, what is the LEGO Ideas program? We hear you cry. How can you be part of it? Keep reading, dear readers.

MIGHTY OAKS GROW FROM LITTLE ACORNS

The LEGO IDEAS program began in 2014. It was preceded in 2008 by a crowdsourcing program that was a collaboration with The LEGO Group and a Japanese company named CUUSOO (taken from the Japanese word kuso, meaning daydream/fantasy). The site was named a beta site and remained so until the LEGO Ideas program was finished.

The IDEAS program works by letting designers (or anyone with a great LEGO build) submit a sample LEGO model and a written description of the idea. This is then made into a project page, which can be viewed by other users when it has been published. The objective is for the submitted designs to achieve 10,000 supporters, after which they can be reviewed and potentially become a real-life LEGO set.

There is a time frame within which the 10,000 supporters must be achieved:

• 100 votes in the first 60 days after submission
• Then a year to achieve 1,000 votes
• A further six months to reach 5,000 supporters
• An additional six months to meet the required 10,000 supporters

As well as the time frame, there are also stipulations as to what the LEGO Ideas can be based on and the piece count:

• No more than 3,000 pieces
• No new part moulds
• No adult content
• No life-size weapons
• Nothing relating to IPs that the LEGO competitors own
• No submissions based upon third-party licences already being produced by LEGO, i.e. Star Wars and Harry Potter
• Entries must be in line with the LEGO values

Once the idea has been accepted for production, the LEGO designers work their magic on any areas that may require tweaking, and then the set will be released under the LEGO Ideas category. The set designer will receive ten copies of their submission and a 1% royalty on the set's net sales.

2024 Approved LEGO Ideas Sets

Currently, 48 designs qualified for the first 2024 LEGO Ideas review on the 6^th of May 2024, with the next review fast approaching, beginning on the 2^nd of September 2024. Some of our favourites from these 48 are:

The Art of Japan – HisBrickMaterials

My Neighbour Totoro – danielbradleyy

LEGO Gundam – legotruman

Metallica M72 World Tour – MetalliBrick

Medieval Tournament – hello_zol

LEGO Ideas Sets That Need Votes

Check out these awesome projects that are currently hoping to achieve 10,000 votes. These are just some of the ones we love; there were a lot more we could have listed!

Sony PlayStation 2 – RippleDrive (currently has 4,988 supporters)

Bob Ross: The Joy of Building – Econombricks (currently has 2,626 supporters)

Motorized Steampunk Airship – LEGOParadise (currently has 2,160 supporters)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – teljesnegyzet (currently has 5,018 supporters)

Gremlins 40th Anniversary – Bulldoozer (currently has 3,916 supporters)

How to submit a LEGO Idea

Do you have what it takes to create the next iconic movie set or a fabulous flower? It’s pretty simple: follow these easy steps; you must be at least 13 years old to enter a submission:

• Create an outstanding idea and ensure it can elevate itself from the crowd.
• Adhere to the guidelines, making sure to read the rules carefully.
• Check the Intellectual Property.
• Build it - which can be done with actual tangible LEGO bricks or a virtual tool.
• Submit, take amazing photos, write a colourful description of your creation, and then sit back and wait for the approval.
• Get your idea out there, share it on social media, be proud of your creation, build some hype, and get it to 10,000 supporters.
• Once you’re in the 10K club, you're on your way. The LEGO review board will now review your design.
• The next step is to work with experienced LEGO designers to finalize the set and make any necessary alterations to prepare it for sale.
• Reap the adulation from your fans as you sign autographs at official LEGO Ideas signing events.

Have you ever submitted a design to the LEGO Ideas program? We would love to see your designs. Let us know about your project in the comments below.

Happy Building!