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The Tantalizing Fascism of Legoland
Clipped to the Drawing Board by John Chadwick  

If Ayn Rand liked children's toys, which she most certainly did not, she would have loved Lego. And if the shovel-faced founder of Objectivism liked amusement parks, which she totally didn't, she would have adored Legoland . After all, the Atlas Shrugged-y motto of Danish Lego creator Ole Kirk Christiansen was "only the best is good enough," which some translate as "the best isn't good enough." The Best ISN'T Good Enough? Ayn would have jazzed on that so hard.


What he's actually trying to say is that Lego is awesome in it's simplicity,  consistency and quality.  Maybe engineers can all learn something from Lego.

....click the links to read more 

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Den () Newbie | 2007-12-07 17:49:01
sometimes it all just comes together - the right place- the right time - the right product - the right everything and it did with Lego. I love the product and they've taken the most basic and simple children's plaything and created a hugely successful company. As a mechanical engineer what else can you say - it's just brilliant
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Sal () Newbie | 2007-12-07 17:52:55
it kept me happily engaged for endless hours - a bit of imagination and you go to a completely different world - without alcohol or mind altering drugs - hey - have i just discovered the ultimate therapy for people with drug problems - lose yourself in LEGO
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Den () Newbie | 2007-12-07 18:03:45
http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/10/12/wii_lightsaber_confirmed_for_l.html

Christmas is just around the corner and I saw this - if this is your thing - go for it
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Hona () Newbie | 2007-12-07 18:10:39
http://www.pwc.com/extweb/newcoatwork.nsf/docid/088a9894c109fdf98525712f0055ed9d
it might have all come together by accident in the first instance - but it's big, big business now and interestingly enough - Lego - the business model is right up there as well - (check out the attached link)
what was that saying - "mighty oaks from little acorn grow" or something like that - are they a listed company ?
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Hona () Newbie | 2007-12-07 18:12:34
looks like the link didn't take - lets have another go
http://www.pwc.com/extweb/newcoatwork.nsf/docid/088a9894c109fdf98525712f0055ed9d
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Raz () Newbie | 2007-12-07 18:18:12
I went to Lego land some years ago and it was excellent then so I'm sure it's improved - yeah - they took the simple building block which was being done by everybody - hey it was so easy, any off cuts of lumber and bingo, kids will play for hours - throw in some old cardboard boxes and the game goes for days. But they created the simple linking bits and it had to be plastic and the rest is history - great product and a great company
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Ted () Newbie | 2007-12-08 19:32:26
What I think was a key part of the success of Lego was that it was so simple and the gave you a great freedom in what you could create with it. This was the great appeal of it.

The great things in life really are simple.
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Phil () Newbie | 2007-12-08 19:34:26
If anything their downfall will be that they are too successful. Lego just doesn't break. I know a lot of the lego I had as a child was passed on from other people. It's still in perfect condition and I'll probably pass it on soon enough too, as I'm sure they will and so on.

Nobody needs to buy Lego because it doesn't break and just gets passed on.
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Damo () Newbie | 2007-12-08 19:36:00
And wouldn't it be great if more products could be made this way nowadays

I really hate the planned obsolescence that is made into a lot of products nowadays.
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Wendy () Newbie | 2007-12-08 19:38:35
Have to agree there. Wouldn't it be great if mobile phones were still made the same way they made the old Nokia 5110.
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Moby () Newbie | 2007-12-08 19:41:58
Yes freedom is something that is lacking in the majority of toys nowadays I feel.

Such a shame but people always want the best and they equate the best with having more features, more complexity etc. What we really need is a change back towards simplicity and creativity and freedom of expression.
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Friday 7 December, 2007 09:47 PM
 
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