Contacting the Lego group

[Freddy Bricker]

I've been wondering for a while now and couldn't find anything on it after a few page scans and search through the embassy. So I was wondering, how can one contact the Lego group? And I'm not talking costumer service here, but I mean actually talking to concept developers and set makers. And more importantly, how can you talk to them about license themes, those are the tricky ones, as what comes in or out of those are usually direct from the company giving Lego the license first. Hope I didn't post somewhere I didn't have to, and thanks in advance to anyone who can respond.

[Faefrost]

Chances are you can't. Outside of maybe some gathering such as a Forum at a Brickfair. If Lego acts like pretty much every other manufacturer then they will neither accept nor discuss unsolicited product or theme ideas outside of very specific channels such as CuuSoo. They also probably will not discuss anything regarding terms of existing or past licenses, beyond the occasional admission that a license has ended or expired. And they will never discuss anything regarding future under negotiation or potential licenses with a Non affiliated third party. As a general rule most businesses do not permit that sort of direct contact regarding internal business processes.

If your questions were regarding designs or design process of past sets, then you may find some answers with the Lego Designers personal online presence. Tom Stafford and Jamie Berrard have been known to show how they make this stuff, and how they get to the final product online and show pics of sketch models etc. and both have some social media and fan media presence. but I would not expect a lot of discussion regarding license specific processes.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Faefrost

[Freddy Bricker]

Thanks Faefrost, but I just want to make a couple of suggestions for themes and maybe ask a few questions.

[Faefrost]

Thanks Faefrost, but I just want to make a couple of suggestions for themes and maybe ask a few questions.

They will not accept any such unsolicited suggestions. At least not to anyone that would be involved in the development process. No company will these days. They have to maintain a virtual wall around development to avoid legal issues. Any such suggestions that you were to send in would be at best read and answered politely by CS staff.

[Freddy Bricker]

They will not accept any such unsolicited suggestions. At least not to anyone that would be involved in the development process. No company will these days. They have to maintain a virtual wall around development to avoid legal issues. Any such suggestions that you were to send in would be at best read and answered politely by CS staff.

Ugh, not exactly what I wanted to hear, but definitely useful.

[tomdobs55]

Thanks Faefrost, but I just want to make a couple of suggestions for themes and maybe ask a few questions.

What are you curious about? They maybe be somewhat easy answers if you posted them on here or maybe an ambassador would be able to answer them. I'm curious also about your theme ideas mainly just because I like hearing new theme ideas.

[Cwetqo]

Faefrost answered it very well. Sadly, but its not very likely that you will get to communicate with designer or design department directly. And even if you would be able to get to them, expect mostly one-sided communication. Problem is that, even if you had very good idea, they would most likely not be able to use it, mainly because then they would have to pay you for that idea. I myself know several people at TLG and I even personally know LEGO designer, but subjects about future designs, new themes and product are off-limits. Best way would be to post your questions here and I (or other Ambassador) will post it on ambassador forum. You could also send me PM if you want it to be private.

This might seem a little bit harsh, but you must understand that they are getting tons of different suggestions, ideas and propositiosn and they needed to make it more systematic. as a result of that Cuusoo was made and for other things there are Community coordinators (including EB-s own KimT) and Ambassadors.

[Freddy Bricker]

Thanks for all your responses, I thought it'd be hard to contact them, but not so hard!

What are you curious about? They maybe be somewhat easy answers if you posted them on here or maybe an ambassador would be able to answer them. I'm curious also about your theme ideas mainly just because I like hearing new theme ideas.

I want to ask them if they have any influence on their license themes, I know that companies like DC, Marvel, and Lucasfilm/Disney that they are making sets for, tell them what to make. But I don't think their really using one of their properties to strongly, I just want to see if they have intentions on you know, not putting Batman everywhere, or if that's completely up to DC, I'm sure they have some say in it.

[Faefrost]

Thanks for all your responses, I thought it'd be hard to contact them, but not so hard!

I want to ask them if they have any influence on their license themes, I know that companies like DC, Marvel, and Lucasfilm/Disney that they are making sets for, tell them what to make. But I don't think their really using one of their properties to strongly, I just want to see if they have intentions on you know, not putting Batman everywhere, or if that's completely up to DC, I'm sure they have some say in it.

If it helps, I seem to recall some article or interview that talked a bit about the set selection of the SW line, and what Lucasfilms input was vs how much free rein they had. As I recall it went something like this. Lucas might specify 1 or 2 sets to tie in with a specific marketing push. Stuff like the Rogue Shadow or the TOR ships. They would the generally request a certain pattern for about half the remaining wave (ie they want x number of Clone Wars sets, y number RotS etc to once again correspond to overall marketing pushes) And the remainder they were generally left to their own discretion. I think Lucas normally only gave specifications for about half of a given wave.

Does anyone else remember reading this somewhere? Or can remind me where I might have read it?

[TheLegoDr]

Add much done of us fans may or may not like it, lego is going to put figures in that will sell sets. As in, Batman sells. Simple as that. I love Batman, but I don't need multiple of the same outfit, but lego knows oror will need that figure if they didn't buy other sets and/or they know we will end up buying the other sets too to make sure we get what we want. They know what they are doing, whether or not DC has all or some of the say.