Brick Miner

Hello starpuke, this is an old post. We were, however, looking for graphic designers on my team this year. You can find that post here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=70586 Since we have already invited participants for the recruitment workshop this fall, I believe the submission window is now passed. Though, I happen to be on summer break now, so I'm not certain. In any case, if you have a portfolio I would like to see it :)

The department Liscensing/Extended line does contract external illustrators. They manage non-core line products: Club Magazine comics, books, keychains, clothing, foam weapons, etc. Though, I have no idea how to approach them regarding this :)

Most portfolios are not LEGO-centric. Though mine was. Maybe you should look through mine: http://www.justinbleep.com/dropbox/LEGO_app/justin_carmien_PORTFOLIO_01.pdf http://www.justinbleep.com/dropbox/LEGO_app/justin_carmien_PORTFOLIO_02.pdf One thing. I know a few here who would enjoy seeing the process of a design - from concepts (sketches, whatever) to finished artwork (vector / print ready). Maybe a team logo design would be nice to see (think along the lines of the Dinos "D" in barbed wire or the new forest firefighters logo.) Another. Those same few would really enjoy seeing drawings of minifigures. We really love the LEGO minifigure in the graphic design team. They are our babies

Hi EBer's - I need some colleagues to join me in Billund :) http://jobsatlego.com/dk/billund/product-design_-development/jobid2480438-graphic-designer-product-graphics-jobs

I have been told that LEGO is currently scouting for model buildings also. However, I have no further information on this. This position is for location in Billund Denmark.

2012

Hi guys :) I'd like to see some Eurobricks members apply. Who wants to design minifigures, decorations, and labels in Billund with me? http://jobsatlego.com/dk/billund/product-design_-development/graphic-designer-%E2%80%94-product-graphics-jobs

Yes, seeing the custom animals in the Wild West display really 'dates' this layout, doesn't it?As for the stagecoach, I never felt like it was finished after I started revisions on it. So, I never edited photos for a boxart-style presentation. -------------------------------- To all: I have now been at LEGO for nearly five months now. I hope that you can understand my apprehension of participating in the community. The fear of becoming the cause for speculation looms over me! I will say that I am still MOCing, though much less, and have not abandoned the projects I had begun before I was hired. I’m still pursuing MOCs based on tales from the 1001 Arabian Nights. If I can manage to get my LEGOpolis over here to Denmark, I would love to recreate my layout given the space. In fact, like some of you, I would love to take those Alien Conquest sets and create a full scale invasion! Though, I will say that most of my desire to create within the LEGO platform is being satisfied in my work, so most of my free time, outside of the office, has been spent pursuing non-LEGO projects. As well, I would add that I am not the only designer who reads Eurobricks. And I have found that many of us do. So remember, when being critical of LEGO products, know that we are listening! And further, remember that it is of benefit to you, as a buyer of LEGO products, to approach criticism constructively. I’m sure you can imagine that we are able to digest and work-with this type of feedback more successfully. I am, of course, really proud of the work we are doing here, and I will be sure to participate in discussion once some of the products which I have worked on are released. I hope that you will be happy with my work too! Talk to you later - BrickMiner

Well, it seems I missed everyone. I was so tired from building with the kids on Saturday, its probably a good thing. I was exhausted! So exhausted, in fact, that now I'm sick and had to miss work today - BM

I will be at the Danish Design Center on Saturday setting up tables and helping kids build their "Dream City" - then taking photos and awarding a few prizes for the best build. I guess it should be pretty entertaining I know that there will be a few LEGO designers there with me, however I have to admit I'm a little uneasy. Since I don't speak Danish I'm not sure how things will go in interacting with the kids. Maybe we will just be there to speak to the parents. I know a few of the designers going aren't fluent in Danish. Unless I am completely mistaken and Danish children learn English very early in school. I guess I'm not sure about these type of things (I come from a country where only one language is ever spoken ) - Justin

I will be in Copenhagen Saturday and Sunday. Though, LEGO needs me at the DDC event on Saturady, so the only day which I will actually be on site at the Bella Center will be on Sunday. I will not be working the event that day, so if anyone would like to meet up please let me know :) I'll stay posted to this thread until the event! - BrickMiner

Thanks Christopher, though, I wish I could have done more. I'm glad a few readers kept up with me. Again, I appologize for the inconvenient presentation method - for example, page 3 of this thread has just too many images to load for a single page. However, in hopes to remedy this, the Brickshelf folder is now public, and all of the photos are collected there:http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=454795 ---------------------------------------------------------------- It is now very close to my departure date (January 1st), and I am of course anxious! (Nearly 2 weeks away ) - BrickMiner

Yes Exon, those symbols might have been more appropriate for realism, only, they are less iconic. I think now that Minifigure Series 4 images are out, I should begin thinking about replacing most of my figures at the Grimwald Chemicals Plant with the new HazMat Guy. He is even in the right colors: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48475 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Ok EBers, I hope you have enjoyed each segment of my LEGO City thread. I realize now, in hindsight, that perhaps there are far too many images for one single thread, and that I might have done better to make a separate post for each building. However what's done is done. Though, I will try to upload all of these images to BrickShelf, so that each can be viewed more easily in one gallery (with folders for each building.) Finally, I leave you with one final image from my LEGOPOLIS. This MOC does not get a full write up and presentation, because neither am I completely sure it is finished, nor is it integrated into the table top layout. However, I leave you with Vernon's Junkyard 16027, presently with around 800-900 pieces: - BrickMiner

Hello, Cinderbike. My background is in hand illustration first, and Adobe software (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) second. For the past few years I had been promoting myself as a comic book illustrator. The importance of free hand drawing was stressed at the recruitment workshop in Billund. Because of my experience, I believe I was chosen for the position. You can see some of my comic book work in the first portion of my portfolio: http://justinbleep.com/dropbox/LEGO_app/justin_carmien_PORTFOLIO_01.pdf My advice comes in the form of a recommendation only, which would be a highly developed illustration ability and style - as well as persistence. I applied 3 or 4 times (over a 2 year period) before being asked to attend a recruitment workshop. ---------------------------------------------------------------- As well, I promised all of EB that I would share the homework which I produced for the recruitment workshop. However, since I interpreted the assignments as a conceptual presentation, first I feel a little explanation is required. For each of the three homework assignments, I choose to interpret one of my comic books projects into the LEGO medium. The comic book series Brick City Bunch was my first realized comic book publication with national distribution within the United States. This series was a personal project in which I hired and managed the entire creative team, while I produced the illustrations and branding imagery. My creative name is Justin Bleep (a signature name acquired first from the "bleepy" sounds of techno music which I had played as a DJ, until 2003.) Since the aim of the comic book Brick City Bunch was to combined my two interests at the time (comic books and electronic music) I saw it fit that I appeared in the series. So, I had the writers work into the story a personal avatar for me, and his name was "Eddy Boom." I say all of this because when I received information that the very first homework assignment for the recruitment workshop was to create yourself as a minifigure, I thought it an obvious choice to interpret the archetypal Eddy Boom (an electronic music DJ) as my minifigure. From there on, during my presentation for LEGO I had to explain that the "Brick" in Brick City Bunch was not inspired from LEGO Bricks, but was instead inspired by the actual "brick and mortar" building material. The Brick City Bunch was a tribute to the inner cities of the American Midwest, where creative individuals have turned a negative dilapidation into a positive identification (as seen in Hip Hope and US Rave culture). Finally, here is my work on the three assignments which won me the job at LEGO: Here is the original page from the Brick City Bunch comic book which was used in the second assignment (I reinterpreted the characters and story into the LEGO medium.) - BrickMiner

Hi Alex, its great to be in contact with you again! And yes, those mock-up box designs take a long time to create. I was lucky to even get photos taken of my LEGO City, as well as, the piece counts done, and the Ldraw images rendered. With planing a move overseas and my job with LEGO, creating fully rendered box art for my MOCs was not possible. I hope I have not ruined my reputation for great graphical presentations. And I hope I did not let you down! It's great to have your blessings Brickster! I am enjoying your reviews of the Pharaoh's Quest sets very much! - BrickMiner

Wow, KielDaMan! I actually have no idea about processing chemicals. The design just came to me after looking at chemical plant pictures on Google images.So, I actually have some questions for you! If you have the time, for one, I like would like to know what function or utility is achieved by building such tall vats? In many of the images that I found chemical plants look like miniature skylines. Exon, I have now post all photos I took of the canal. All of those images can be found throughout this thread. I thought that a tanker truck was a necessary accessory to the plant. However, I do not know about chemicals or the transportation of them. So I am not sure if my depiction of them (or if my use of the the hazardous material decals) are accurate. I would like to know more - BrickMiner

Brickminer's LEGOPOLIS Featured Model: Grimwald Chemicals 16039 ---------------------------------------------------------------- The second build within my industrial City sub-theme, Grimwald Chemicals 16039, with 1055 pieces: This machine is built inside of the brown structure, and is connected to the horizontal cylinders in Section 1 by varying lengths of 7mm metallic sliver tubes http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=78c02 And, as expected, photos of the model within my home layout. By this time, my photo shoot had been going on all day, and I was losing day light, so I was forced to bring in some secondary lighting. I was able to position the lamps next to the models I was shooting, thanks to a goose-neck lamp I own. This provided me with the opportunity for some drastic lighting - the end result was perhaps better then I was getting with the day light. In retrospect, I wish I had used this dramatic lighting throughout the entire shoot. Using the trans-yellow elements to represent the chemical color came to from set 7733 http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7733-1 I remember The Brickster once posed a question as to the contents of those yellow containers! You can see that topic here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14567 -Brick Miner

Thank you Teddy! I knew my comment would provoke a response and surely I would be proven wrong Of course, I had become worried, then, when my comment was lost by all of my new additions in this thread and the topic still had not been addressed. In any case, you provided a fine example of the cornering technique. And, to be honest, I might have expected this technique to feel very different when used in a larger scale, as you did. That is to say, I expected to see a difference between a decorative use (facade approach seen in the Modular Series buildings) and a structural use (my application of the technique). However, now that I have seen the technique implemented in both instances, the visual difference is not so large. - Brick Miner

Brickminer's LEGOPOLIS Featured Model: Armstrong Metals 16053 ---------------------------------------------------------------- A few years ago I had started a thread here on EB regarding the possibility of an industrial sub-theme within the LEGO City line. Here is a link to that thread: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11228 The next buildings which I will present are a realization of some of my own ideas. First is the metal processing plant, Armstrong Metals, with 1584 pieces: Unlike my residential and commercial buildings, I have designed an interior for each of my industrial buildings. Here you see the removable assembly line within Armstrong Metals. This modular component was designed with a mechanism. The yellow handle (pin joiner) can be turned in either direction, this movement then turns a pulley (attached by a rubber band, not pictured), which then rotates the tread in the center of the machine. By placing the "sheet metal" (a 4x6 light bluish gray tile with studs on three edges) on the tread you can have it move forward and backward. The truck's bed can carry a pallet (4x6 tan plate with two 1x4 tan plates attached to on bottom). The pallet, in turn, can carry a piece of sheet metal or a spare component from the assembly line. This feature adds to playability. Finally, photos of the model within my table top city: I hope you enjoyed this segment. - Brick Miner

Brickminer's LEGOPOLIS Featured Model: Mack's Snack and Soda 16031 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the convenient store (also known as a C-Store) in my LEGOPOLIS, Mack's Snack and Soda, with 966 pieces: Here I have not included a reference image, since this building was not built from a reference; however, was inspired by the many brick structures in the "Bottle District" of Saint Louis, Missouri. The Bottle District is exemplary of what I call "Middle America Mid-Town" (An area just outside of downtown, but before the sub-urban areas begin, which have become run-down and condensed residential "ghettos.") Currently, the Bottle District in Saint Louis is under redevelopment, and consequently will be loosing much of its present character. Digital renderings of components. Photo of the building in my home layout. In this shot you can see just a few of my custom decals produced for my LEGOPOLIS (which won me the position with LEGO!): the billboard, the news paper, ice cooler decal, and the street sign. ---------------------------------------------------------------- This presentation rounds out the three buildings in the downtown area of my LEGOPOLIS. I have tackled the models as though each were to be produced as a marketable set. In doing so, I have attempted to create each with a different character, which has been accomplished 1) by selecting a different utility for each building, 2) by choosing a different architectural style iconic to that particular utility, and 3) by selecting a different wealth level for each building. Unfortunately, in the current presentation the figures which I had planned to be included with each set are not necessarily shown, and when they are, their exclusivity to that set is not made obvious. Of course, their presence adds a great deal to the visual atmosphere of each setting, and without them, much is lost. However, one can imagine that office workers are present in the Metropolitan Park Tower (along with a hot dog stand attendant, security worker, city park cleaner and delivery man). These figures were chosen to give us the feel of a commercial office tower (bankers and investors, etc.) In the Dan Burgess Building most figures are residents. I imagine the first floor of the building to be commercial office (or commercial service) with three levels of apartments above. So, there is a dog walker and girl waiting for the bus, girl on a bike, a mail carrier and a professional (professor or lawyer). In the current building, Mack's Snack and Soda, the utility is encoded into the name. In this set I included a blind man and his dog, security worker, a basketball player (street ball), girl and a boy with a candy bar snack. I know that these descriptions do not convey (with the same completeness) what the images would, but they will have to substitute, since now I have already begun to break down the city for its trip to Denmark. As well, I have differentiated each model by choosing different accessories: Metropolitan Park Tower with park, Dan Burgess Building with street scene, and Mack's Snack and Soda with an alley. Also, my original conception was to include different animals with each model. So, dog for the residential, rat for the alley, and a bird for the park. However, when I couldn't find good placement for the bird, this idea was dropped altogether. ---------------------------------------------------------------- In closing, I will leave you with one final image of the downtown area, before moving on to the buildings within the industrial district. Besides being a nice shot of the transportation systems of LEGOPOLIS (bridges and elevated rail), here you see the potential for a few more buildings. Given time in Billund, when I'm not designing for LEGO, I would love to fill these two spots with a department store and a historic hotel. - BrickMiner

Yes. Obviously this technique became my city's trademark But, as with my LEGOREDO layout, I want my LEGO City to be a cohesive unit, and this technique happened to become the visual "glue." I have experimented with other cornering techniques in this scale (particularly on buildings in which I have attempted a more modern architectural style) however, I have not found another method which I am satisfied with. And, as of now, I don't feel that I have exhausted the possibilities of this technique, so I will continue to use it. I do have to admit, I have never seen this cornering technique used by any other AFOL. I am surprised by this since it is so effective! Hello Lightningtiger! Actually, the street light design is not my own. It is taken from the packaging artwork for the City Roadplates sets: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7280-1 http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=7281-1 I am shooting for a visual identity circa 1960s, midwestern United States (Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, etc.). So, most of my buildings will feature architectural styles from the 1880s (decade of the birth of the steel frame high-rise) through 1930s. During and following World War II major urban development didn't resume in the United States until the 1960s. So, while I would like to do some "Mid-Century Modern" architecture, I have no plans to design any building with an architectural style which came into popular use beyond that. Thanks everyone - BrickMiner

Brickminer's LEGOPOLIS Featured Model: Dan Burgess Building 16064 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone! Finally, I present the Dan Burgess Building 16064, with 1809 pieces: This project was inspired (and very loosely based on) the Barnes and Thornburg building in Indianapolis. However, I could not find a good image featuring this building online, so instead I have provided an image of Monument Circle at the center of downtown Indianapolis - The Barnes and Thornburg building is in the center behind the Soldier and Sailors monument (the building with a tiny flag on top). The B&T building was the tallest building in Indianapolis (aside from the S&S Monument and the Indiana State Capitol building) from 1902 until 1962. Now, as with my Metropolitan Park Tower, I will present the digital renderings of the components of this model. The Dan Burgess building is composed of 3 unique levels. And here are the photos of the building in my home layout. In this image you are seeing a sneak peek at some the the industrial facilities in my LEGOPOLIS! - BrickMiner

I should have seen that coming, since I used the word zoo"morphic."

Thank you KD for really putting yourself "in my shoes," and really grasping the "big picture" in this situation. However, I think Snefroe was simply under the impression that I had an inside scoop, and that in my post I could possibly be implying (suggestively revealing) information to top secret products, and in turn doing the company harm. When in fact there is nothing to spoil, or even get worked up over, since I saw no information during the Recruitment Workshop. I will, however, be sure to keep LEGO product information VERY top secret once I start my assignment, since I do not wish to harm the company by revealing unpublicized product information. I hope this finally clears things up, and puts an end to this line of discussion on Eurobricks ---------------------------------------------------------------- On a different note: To redeem myself following my interview in Billund I did take a look at LEGO Racers. And I can say that working on that product line would not be so bad, whatsoever. While I do not appreciate automobiles design, or the sport of racing them, I understand elemental or zoomorphic iconography (and the characterization that comes along with that) very well. So, to give "life" to these vehicles in this way will not be difficult, and actually quite fun, I can imagine. - BrickMiner

I hope to not be misunderstood in my above post. To clarify, I have not been informed of any future projects and will not hear about my assignments until January. At this point in the process, you can consider me as much "in-the-dark" about LEGO news as the next AFOL. Unfortunately, I was not exposed to any new material during the Recruitment Workshop in Billund My above experience should NOT be considered as fuel for conversational speculation - please! Surely, I don't want to hear talk like, BrickMiner said this and that I had been taking for granted that a minifig based theme targeted for girls was inevitable, so my reaction was specifically concerned in that it was even a possibility that no designer wanted to work on a theme of this market, and that this was a point to tease someone on. My reaction woudl have been like, Yes! Yes! Yes! More to the point, this is what I wished to share. - BrickMiner