Five designer hacks for next-level building

Have you ever dreamt up a showstopping LEGO® build but found yourself running into a brick wall when it comes to construction? It happens to all of us. But it happens a lot less to the pros, which is why we’ve asked five of the best to share their favorite techniques for unlocking maximum creative freedom.

From foundations to furnishings, incorporating these ideas into your blueprints will sharpen your skills, inspire your imagination and elevate your builds!

Alex Storozhuk’s ship wheel secret

Square LEGO bricks, round models… doesn’t make sense, right? Well, with the ship wheel brick, circular structures become reality! “It’s round and it has plenty of points of connection,” Alex explains. “So by using clips and LEGO Technic™ elements, you can create candles and then a nice chandelier!

“Or by using two of these wheels and some double-sloped pieces with round 1x3 plates with holes, you can create what might be a pot for a plant or maybe even a jet engine.”

Who would’ve thought a simple steering wheel held so much potential? Take it for a spin and enjoy experimenting!

Sandro Quattrini escapes the grid

Creating jagged surfaces and uneven lines can be tricky when you’re dealing with cuboid footprints. But fear not! Sandro has a cunning solution.

“Right now, I have a plate with bar, and then I have some hands, which you can connect onto your bars and that’s going to give you a big range of motion. Then I also have some LEGO bricks with hollow studs,” he says.

By constructing a section that uses the hands as connectors, then another that uses bricks with hollow studs, you can slide the hands into the hollow bricks to join two larger modules together at fancy angles. It will take your build in a whole new direction!

Thomas Lajon thinks upside-down

There are plenty of ways to create an inversion (a build which points in unusual directions), but Thomas’ pick of the bunch is neat, tidy and a little bit ingenious!

“My favorite technique is to use this plate with a C-clip,” he says. Combined with a 1x2 plate and a round LEGO brick with two bars in the middle, you have a connector which is small, sturdy and easy to hide.

“You have two studs on the top, two studs underneath, and then you just have to put it in the middle,” Thomas says. Click!

Ivan Guerrero’s designer doors

Doors aren’t always the most interesting features of a build; after all, how do you customize large flat surfaces that use minimal color? Ivan says it’s all about the doorknob. “You can actually use different, fun elements to build your doorknob,” he says. “You can use a frog, a roller skate or even a sausage!”

With a suitably colored LEGO brick, even the wackiest piece can be totally convincing and give your creation a smart touch of storytelling charm. A witch’s den could feature a bone; a futuristic space base could feature a transparent neon bar… the options are endless.

“It’s just a fun, creative way to add some personality to your build,” Ivan says.

Josh Bretz’s sideways style

Which magical LEGO brick unlocks the ability to add details to the sides of your build? “You can use SNOT bricks,” Josh says. “SNOT stands for Studs Not On Top.” But while this brick’s outward-facing studs allow for different connections, there’s still the question of attaching pieces to the studless back… a question Josh has the answer to!

“You can actually make this piece out of more pieces!” he explains. “When you attach two different SNOT pieces, you can get the exact same front profile. However, the back has more building space!”

So there you have it. When you’re missing the key ingredient, combine with other ingredients to make it yourself!