Editing Lego (section)

== Design ==
Lego pieces of all varieties constitute a universal system. Despite variations in the design and the purposes of individual pieces over the years, each remains compatible in some way with existing pieces. Lego bricks from 1958 still interlock with those made presently, and Lego sets for young children are compatible with those made for teenagers. Six bricks of 2 × 4 studs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thebrickblogger.com/2010/11/lego-disctionary-basic-term/ |title=Learn to speak LEGO!&nbsp;– BASIC TERMS |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143621/http://thebrickblogger.com/2010/11/lego-disctionary-basic-term/ |url-status=live}}, ''[http://thebrickblogger.com/ The Brick Blogger]''.</ref> can be combined in 915,103,765 ways.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roshanzamir |first=Ali |url=http://www.science.ku.dk/presse/nyhedsarkiv/2013/leger-med-lego-klodser/ |title=Matematik-professoren leger med lego-klodser |publisher=[[University of Copenhagen Faculty of Science]] |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402194839/http://www.science.ku.dk/presse/nyhedsarkiv/2013/leger-med-lego-klodser/ |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

Each piece must be manufactured to an exacting degree of precision. When two pieces are engaged, they must fit firmly, yet be easily disassembled. The machines that manufacture Lego bricks have tolerances as small as 10 [[micrometre]]s.<ref name="Companyprofile">{{cite web |url=http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/AboutUsFactsAndFiguresContent/otherfiles/download98E142631E71927FDD52304C1C0F1685.pdf |title=Company Profile, page 20 |date=2010 |publisher=The Lego Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209100137/http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/AboutUsFactsAndFiguresContent/otherfiles/download98E142631E71927FDD52304C1C0F1685.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Lego dimensions.svg|thumb|Dimensions of some standard Lego bricks and plates<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orionrobots.co.uk/Lego+Specifications |title=Lego Specifications |publisher=Orionrobots.co.uk |date=26 February 2011 |access-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823204619/http://orionrobots.co.uk/Lego+Specifications |archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Dimensions Guide |url=http://www.dimensionsguide.com/dimensions-of-a-standard-lego-brick |title=Dimensions of a Standard Lego Brick |publisher=Dimensionsguide.com |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905102846/http://www.dimensionsguide.com/dimensions-of-a-standard-lego-brick/ |archive-date=5 September 2011}}</ref>]]

Primary concept and development work for the toy takes place at the Billund headquarters, where the company employs approximately 120 designers. The company also has smaller design offices in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Spain]], [[Germany]], and [[Japan]] which are tasked with developing products aimed specifically at their respective national markets. The average development period for a new product is around twelve months, split into three stages. The first is to identify market trends and developments, including contact by the designers directly with the market; some are stationed in toy shops close to holidays, while others interview children. The second stage is the design and development of the product based on the results of the first stage. {{As of|2008|September}} the design teams use [[3D modeling|3D modelling]] software to generate [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] drawings from initial design sketches. The designs are then [[prototype]]d using an in-house [[stereolithography]] machine. These prototypes are presented to the entire project team for comment and testing by parents and children during the "validation" process. Designs may then be altered in accordance with the results from the [[Focus group|focus groups]]. [[Virtual model]]s of completed Lego products are built concurrently with the writing of the user instructions. Completed CAD models are also used in the wider organisation for marketing and packaging.<ref name="3d">{{Cite journal |title=Child's Play |first=Frances |last=Corbet |journal=Develop 3D |publisher=X3DMedia |pages=25–27 |date=September 2008}}</ref>

[[Lego Digital Designer]] was an official piece of Lego software for [[MacOS|Mac OS X]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] which allowed users to create their own digital Lego designs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ldd.lego.com/ |title=LEGO Digital Designer |publisher=LEGO |date=n.d. |access-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403211318/http://ldd.lego.com/ |archive-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> The program once allowed customers to order custom designs<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buildwithchrome.com/ |title=Build with Chrome |date=n.d. |access-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329025051/https://www.buildwithchrome.com/ |archive-date=29 March 2014}}</ref> with a [[Lego Design byME|service to ship physical models]] from Digital Designer to consumers; the service ended in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ldd.lego.com/da-dk/subpages/designbyme |title=What happened to DESIGN byME? |publisher=LEGO |date=n.d. |access-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124160022/http://ldd.lego.com/subpages/designbyme/ |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lego's website now recommends [[BrickLink Studio]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lego.com/en-us/service/help/apps_video_games_device_guides/apps_video_games_device_guides/about-lego-digital-designer-kA009000001dcdmCAA |title=About LEGO® Digital Designer |website=Lego |access-date=2025-02-28}}</ref>