BrickLink Designer Program Ongoing Discussion Thread

[kasmca]

My Series 5 order is also still "Backordered", however I did receive the following email from Lego on Oct 13:

"Get ready to build! Your BrickLink® Designer Program (BDP) order is about to head your way.

We’ll soon charge the card you used when placing your order, so make sure it’s still valid and that you have sufficient funds available in your account. If your shipping address or any other details have changed since you placed your order, and you need to make an update, you can use our self-service account page to do so. You can also reach out to us and our friendly LEGO® experts will be able to help you.

Once we’ve packed and shipped your order, we’ll send another email to let you know it’s on the way."

[icm]

My BDP 5 Antique Shop status changed to "Shipped" today. I'm in the western United States. Unfortunately, it's shipping using LaserShip/OnTrac instead of UPS or FedEx.

[mark1991t]

My order in the Netherlands is also shipped now.

[RichardGoring]

Cries in 'order still labelled as backordered.'

Looks up guiltily in 'huge backlog of sets that need to be built anyway, so what are you whining about?'

I am excited about the mushroom village though, and plan to build it as soon as it arrives.

[BrickDis]

Received Thieves of Tortuga in Belgium yesterday  It was shipped in the Lego outer box, so everyone could read the label and know what was being shipped (both box and set were dented, unfortunately, and the black line on tape of the outer box was interrupted, which seemed weird, though the tape on the set itself seems fine).

Transylvania will likely arrive on Monday.

[icm]

OnTrac has attempted delivery of my Antique Shop twice, but the idiots didn't get to the neighborhood postal center until after business hours either time. I hope they don't make the same mistake two more times and then give up trying to deliver this unique and virtually irreplaceable set. OnTrac's web site claims its shipping costs thirty percent less than shipping through other "legacy" services. Just one more example of "only the best is good enough" for Lego! 

[RichardGoring]

45 minutes ago, icm said:

OnTrac has attempted delivery of my Antique Shop twice, but the idiots didn't get to the neighborhood postal center until after business hours either time. I hope they don't make the same mistake two more times and then give up trying to deliver this unique and virtually irreplaceable set. OnTrac's web site claims its shipping costs thirty percent less than shipping through other "legacy" services. Just one more example of "only the best is good enough" for Lego! 

I know it's only LEGO and that it really isn't important, but at the same time, it's nerve wracking!

I had a shipping notification on Saturday for some of the sets I ordered and they are due to arrive on Thursday. But The Thieves of Tortuga is still down as 'in process' and it's also making me nervous about whether they've got the stock levels right and there is one available for me.

Good luck!

[DonQuixote]

Lego really mess up with deliveries sometimes. I recieved two Rivendells when I ordered one 

[JohnTPT17]

Just had my two Mushroom Villages dropped off for me. I haven't ordered any BDP since... Kinda weird to think I don't have anything else coming in the pipeline for a bit!

[icm]

Well, the idiots at OnTrac tried to deliver after business hours again. I finally went on their website and entered delivery instructions in the chatbot. I hope they pay attention to the delivery instructions for their fourth and last delivery attempt tomorrow! If they don't it'll be a big headache to get this straightened out.

[icm]

My Antique Shop was delivered two days ago. The courier didn't pay any attention to the delivery instructions and left it on the street outside the neighborhood postal center, but the people at the npc were able to pick it up, so all's well that ends well.

[RichardGoring]

5 hours ago, icm said:

My Antique Shop was delivered two days ago. The courier didn't pay any attention to the delivery instructions and left it on the street outside the neighborhood postal center, but the people at the npc were able to pick it up, so all's well that ends well.

Happy building!

I've been doing the mushroom village the last few nights and really enjoying it so far.

[Lion King]

I apoglozie if i sound stupid. Bot do you know when modular  building set “sushi restaurant” will be available?

[Yoggington]

1 hour ago, Lion King said:

I apoglozie if i sound stupid. Bot do you know when modular  building set “sushi restaurant” will be available?

It's written at the top of the Series 7 Page ( https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-7/main.page )

"These designs are chosen for Crowdfunding on February 1st, 2026 at 8 AM Pacific time."

 

Unless you mean when will the set actually be delivered? That's "approx July 2026"

[Lion King]

11 hours ago, Yoggington said:

It's written at the top of the Series 7 Page ( https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-7/main.page )

"These designs are chosen for Crowdfunding on February 1st, 2026 at 8 AM Pacific time."

 

Unless you mean when will the set actually be delivered? That's "approx July 2026"

Thanks! I didn’t see that date somewhere that area. Due to my severe low vision, I have difficult  time to find information. I appreciate your kindness. 

[Yoggington]

10 hours ago, Lion King said:

Thanks! I didn’t see that date somewhere that area. Due to my severe low vision, I have difficult  time to find information. I appreciate your kindness. 

Not a bother.

It doesn't look like the most web-reader friendly layout. If any other info is hard to find, just holler.

[Lion King]

Please forgive me if i sound dumb… But i never bought BDP set in my life  and I’m very interested in Sushi Restaurant. My question - have BDP only produced stickers for the past / current sets? If so, I do wish that BDP would introduce some printed pieces becuase Sushi Resturant will have 26 stickers, which is kinda letdown.  On other hand, I can understand why BDP sets are sold in a short period of time. 

[RichardGoring]

1 hour ago, Lion King said:

Please forgive me if i sound dumb… But i never bought BDP set in my life  and I’m very interested in Sushi Restaurant. My question - have BDP only produced stickers for the past / current sets? If so, I do wish that BDP would introduce some printed pieces becuase Sushi Resturant will have 26 stickers, which is kinda letdown.  On other hand, I can understand why BDP sets are sold in a short period of time. 

Bricklink Designer Program sets only have elements from a specific parts catalogue from LEGO. They may have printed pieces, but no new prints. So the designers may choose prints from the standard parts selection (which you can also get on Pick a Brick), but have to resort to stickers for any new decorations. There's always a chance this could change in the future, but given the relatively low volume production, I doubt it.

You could go third party. Steindrucker has alternative printed elements to replace stickers, and has done a few of the BDP sets - Lego Steindrucker / Marketing Bausteine. LEGO® Custom Packs – Printed Bricks Instead of Stickers | Steindrucker.com

But they're expensive and shipping from Germany is quite a lot too. So it depends how much the stickers bother you.

[Lion King]

2 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

Bricklink Designer Program sets only have elements from a specific parts catalogue from LEGO. They may have printed pieces, but no new prints. So the designers may choose prints from the standard parts selection (which you can also get on Pick a Brick), but have to resort to stickers for any new decorations. There's always a chance this could change in the future, but given the relatively low volume production, I doubt it.

You could go third party. Steindrucker has alternative printed elements to replace stickers, and has done a few of the BDP sets - Lego Steindrucker / Marketing Bausteine. LEGO® Custom Packs – Printed Bricks Instead of Stickers | Steindrucker.com

But they're expensive and shipping from Germany is quite a lot too. So it depends how much the stickers bother you.

Thank you for explanation.  I never like stickers when it comes to modular buildings. I guess I will give this one with the third party. 

[Yperio_Bricks]

The 5 winners of BDP series 9 have been announced.

Edited November 21 by Yperio_Bricks

[Artanis I]

None of the castles selected. Leaving so much money on the table. 

I was keen for some viking longships too.

Don't know why I bother voting on these things.

[Phil-B259]

43 minutes ago, Artanis I said:

None of the castles selected. Leaving so much money on the table. 

I was keen for some viking longships too.

Don't know why I bother voting on these things.

 

The BDP is NOT simply a vehicle to pander to castle fans!

Lego will have the numbers,  but they presumably are happy (in terms of sales) with not having a castle in the final BDP selection every single time.

You should also note that there is one medieval submission which has been selected - yes its not a castle but it is clearly set in that timeframe and will go well alongside other sets such as set 21325 medieval Blacksmith 

[Vlado_sk]

Im surprised by submission which they choosed. In both ways.

 

Freight depot and Fisherman´s village are must have for me. Im glad they choosed something what can be displayed but also used as regular set to build around.

 

The Pumpkin patch is for me suprise. I do not see anything special on that set. Im not saying it isnt cute and without clever techniques but I think a lot of city builders can do fields or gardes with same level of detailing.

 

Western and medieval sets are something what I expect in all series due to hype around these themes and lack of official sets. If these two were best pick-ups I dont know, maybe  fans of these themes tell. :)

 

 

 

 

[Yoggington]

My wallet gives thanks to the selectors.

[RichardGoring]

This is probably the most disappointing series for me so far. I've bought at least three from each of the past series, but with this none of them really call out as being great. With the huge caveat that I personally couldn't do any better, but my feelings compared to past series and some of the other submissions in series 9:

Blacksmith feels like it's behind the other wild west entries so far, but it fits and is OK.

Fisherman's village competes with the Italian Riviera and doesn't come out that well. And neither of them are as good as the original Italian Riviera idea/submission.

Sleepy Dragon has some nice ideas, but at the same time it feels a bit sparse and also overly large, so scaling with Medieval Blacksmith perhaps, but not other castle stuff. And it will likely be about $300.

Pumpkin patch doesn't appear to have anything of interest, being brutal. And yet will probably be about $50. It's a shame, as it's a lovely little thing, but it feels like one of those modular expansions from PAB last year.

The freight depot is perhaps most tempting as it's to scale with other train elements, has some nice play features, and may only be $200, which may be reasonable.

Definitely want to see the final versions and reviews of them, but it did feel like there were more impressive options.