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How to become a LEGO Master Builder

Here is an interesting infographic about how to become a LEGO Master Model Builder, which has been created by the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Chicago. The infographic gives various tips on how to develop your LEGO building skills to become technically and creatively gifted, so you can one day become a professional LEGO Master Model Builder at one of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centers. The infographic primarily targets children so they understand what it takes to become a LEGO Master Builder, but the tips would apply to adults just as well. 🙂

How to Become a LEGO Master Builder Infographic

In case you have a smaller screen and have a hard time reading the infographic you can click on the image above for a full-size PDF view, and I also copied the qualifications needed below for your convenience: “Want to build with LEGO bricks all day? Find out what you have in common with the Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND Discovery Center and how to train for one of the best jobs you can imagine!”

  • ORGANIZED – Do you store your bricks by size or color? Master Model Builders find it easier to become inspired and create when they can stay organized.
  • CREATIVE – Artistic builders tend to see and do things differently, pay attention to details and daydream.
  • PERSONABLE – There will be times you will demonstrate techniques to complete strangers. Staying comfortable enough to convey your message or instructions is important!
  • LEGO PASSION – Do what you love and spread it to others! It’s easy to keep up with LEGO facts and trends as an enthusiast.
  • MECHANICALLY INCLINED – Do you like to take things apart and put them back together? Builders tend to be interested in and patient with how things work.
  • TECH SAVVY – Some of your time will be spent on the computer using basic software or advanced programs.
  • TEAM PLAYER – Cooperating with fellow members is critical to reach goals – for yourself and as a team!
  • TEAM LEADER – Do you know when it’s time to step up? Don’t be afraid to take the lead!

The second part of the infographic gives some tips on how to develop the skills needed for a LEGO Master Builder. These are actually very practical for even those who don’t want to become a LEGO Master Builder but would like to improve their LEGO building and even social and leadership skills.

  • Keep your room or workspace organized by sorting toys and bricks into buckets. This will help you find bricks and build models faster!
  • Use LEGO bricks to create unique school projects.
  • Besides LEGO sets, you can help assemble anything else with instructions: toys, furniture, appliances, etc.
  • Time yourself building and beat it next time!
  • Practice public speaking by demonstrating something to your family or friends.
  • Join a club or sport to work with a team and reach goals together.
  • Practice advanced LEGO building skills such as SNOT and SNIR techniques, diagonal striping, curve building, and creating letters or nameplates.
  • Use 2D or 3D applications to help you create designs and plans on your computer.
  • Once you are 18+, you can enter a LEGOLAND Discovery Center Master Model Builder contest near you to compete for the job!

So what do you think? Have you considered working for LEGO as a designer? Do you think you would qualify? Is there something you still need to improve? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

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{ 28 comments… add one }
  • LK901 June 3, 2014, 10:16 AM

    Very cool!
    I would love to be a LEGO designer at some point…… 😀

    Also, a while a go I made a LEGO® forum. After a while got bored and abandoned it, but recently I recreated it. This is the link: http://en.starbricks.t15.org

    • Lloydguy June 3, 2014, 10:26 AM

      I want to become a designer too, and I had an argument about whether or not I’m a master builder or not (I won) with one of my friends.

  • Lloydguy June 3, 2014, 10:33 AM

    What is SNIR?

    • Nicknak June 3, 2014, 10:44 AM

      Studs Not In A Row

    • Nicknak June 3, 2014, 10:56 AM

      It means Studs Not In a Row.

      • Nicknak June 3, 2014, 12:23 PM

        Oops, double comment!

  • ninja5 June 3, 2014, 11:09 AM

    I would love to be one of the master builders at Legoland! The most recent person to join won the entering contest by building a huge LEGO Optimus Prime from Transformers. Actually, maybe he wasn’t the most recent. He joined a couple years ago.

  • legostuff71 June 3, 2014, 12:06 PM

    I think we are all LEGO builders in one way or another. If a person is always thinking about the next LEGO set to build and is always thinking about how to improve a LEGO set . That to me is a LEGO builder. You can’t tell an artist on how to be an artist because he or she is an artist already. Same thing with builders . What I find interesting are the children and their imagination. Where there are no rules and their creativity is amazing. After all, why does LEGO look and see what children are creating these days . I guess they are builders too. I guess what I am saying is that you don’t need a title to say if your a builder or not. You just are.

    • admin June 3, 2014, 12:28 PM

      Sage advice. Very well said…

  • Karla Oliveira June 3, 2014, 12:14 PM

    Hi,
    I’ve been doing LEGO Master Building classes and parties since 1997. (LEGO Maniac Classes and Parties©1997 )
    In fact, I’m the first one to do ever do them. The people after me followed my work. We have classes and camps all year in Los Altos. We also buy and sell new and used LEGO. Come see us!

    • admin June 3, 2014, 12:29 PM

      Karla, nice! Wish you were located closer. I would love to visit your event! 😀

  • BLProductions June 3, 2014, 3:03 PM

    Hm… I thought i was a Master Builder. Turns out I’m missing multiple skills required to qualify. I don’t like public speaking. 😕 Nor do I really want to work at Legoland. But I’m very organized and creative. 🙂

    Also, Lego revealed the next Ideas set. It’s the Female Minifigure Set. I’m still not sure entirely what’s in it: http://brickset.com/article/11363/next-lego-ideas-set-revealed

    • BLProductions June 3, 2014, 3:51 PM

      OK, off-topic, but every series 2 Mixel is SOLD OUT! I don’t believe it! 😡 😮

      • admin June 3, 2014, 9:03 PM

        Really? I’m glad I ordered them yesterday! I’m sure they will be back though.

    • Kim June 3, 2014, 7:30 PM

      I’m happy to see something more “ordinary” get into the Lego ideas line. I get disheartened when most of all we ever get are more licensed sets. I know some of the Cuusoo ones weren’t but I guess I’m a Town / City fanatic and want to see more offerings in that department. Of the upcoming sets that are still in review, I think I’d like to see the Big Bang Theory set, not because I like the show but it’s just a cool looking set. Not in to Doctor Who at all or any of those other potentials.

      • admin June 3, 2014, 9:12 PM

        We are going to talk about this set in detail a bit later, because it is really interesting on so many levels. I will see what is the earliest I can sweeze it into the schedule. I’m looking forward to see the discussions and what you guys think. 😉

        • Fikko3107 June 4, 2014, 10:41 AM

          Hmm, are Mixels so booming? I’m bit scared I won’t be able to complete it as I envisioned…I’ve only owned 5/9 of Series 1!

          • BLProductions June 4, 2014, 11:16 AM

            Well, 2 of them are still available. And those happen to be the ONLY ones available. Everything else is sold out. 🙁

            • Håkan June 4, 2014, 11:37 AM

              I bought the orange bunch recently. Flexers, I think they were called. Pretty nice.

              Not sure if you’re talking about your local toy store, or online, but either way, it’s only the beginning of June, so they’ll probably have bew sets ordered soon.

              • Håkan June 4, 2014, 11:42 AM

                *new sets*

              • BLProductions June 4, 2014, 12:06 PM

                I’m talking about Lego.com/shop US. And I agree they will get new ones soon, though “sold out” sounds a little final. “Temporairily out of stock” would be better. 😕
                Although my local Walmart should have some series 2 still, I need to go there soon.

                • admin June 4, 2014, 1:29 PM

                  Yeah, they sold out really fast this time. I bought the entire second series on the first day of the month, and by day two they were all gone (besides those two). I agree that the “sold out” note looks troubling. Normally they will say something like “temporarily out of stock” or “call for availability”. However just to give you some hope, there was another item I was looking at a couple of months ago that showed “sold out”, and I got so worried I ended up buying it on Amazon for a higher price, but then it was back in stock at the Online LEGO Shop again a few weeks later.

          • admin June 4, 2014, 1:34 PM

            I think they will be restocked. Also, they are available at retailers, so you should be able to complete your collection. I was at TRU the other day and it was still fully stacked with series 1. They didn’t have series 2 yet. That’s why I ordered them online.

  • Kim June 3, 2014, 4:41 PM

    I think I have some of the qualities of a master builder but probably not all of them. I wouldn’t be comfortable showing people stuff and I don’t often take gadgets apart to see how they work. I think I’d probably be high on creativity and imagination. But I’ll probably recognize more aspects once I get past the building of current sets and starting my own creations. One thing I did notice, which probably helps the title of builder or master builder, is I can look at some Lego stuff in older idea books and even though they don’t show you exactly how to recreate what they made, I get a feel for thinking I can generally figure out how to they did or a way to closely replicate what they did.

    • admin June 3, 2014, 9:09 PM

      Kim, that is actually an excellent way to hone your LEGO building skills; first start with official sets, then gradually move on to looking at other peoples’ creations and figure out how to make them, then build your original designs. I’m pretty sure that all of us here are Master Builders at some level. LEGO fans are highly intelligent and creative people. 😉

      • Håkan June 4, 2014, 11:41 AM

        Many of the builders I’ve seen being interviewed seem to be rather shy, actually. Introverts.

        If you lack a social personality, it shouldn’t probably be such a major obstacle, as long as you’re trying to get along with staff and supervisors…

        • admin June 4, 2014, 1:23 PM

          Hakan, as far as the need for strong social skills, it really depends on the job. For general LEGO designers who work in Billund, it’s like you said; it is enough to just get along with staff and supervisors. Same for those who build and maintain the Miniland models. However if someone is applying for a Master Builder job at Discovery Centers, they are very strongly tested on their social skills, because the job requires interacting with people (mostly kids) all day. This infographic is specifically for applying for such a position.

  • bryson mason April 23, 2022, 11:05 PM

    hi i am know to this so tell me a bout u guys do u guys like legos

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