Daniel Konstanski: The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks: The Story of a Design Icon

​Author and Lego Expert Daniel Konstanski will discuss his new book The Secret Life of LEGO Bricks: The Inside Story of a Design Icon with NYPL Librarian Allison Nellis.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor.

From the first hollow bricks to the complex shapes and building techniques of today, this visually stunning book is a LEGO® history like no other―and the first official book for Adult Fans of LEGO bricks.

LEGO® bricks are design icons and marvels of engineering. Having remained virtually unchanged for over fifty years, the brick is still the center of the LEGO System in Play, in which each brick connects to every other brick, allowing the construction of almost anything you can imagine. LEGO minifigures may be the friendly smiling faces of the LEGO world, but bricks in all their different shapes and forms are its very foundation.

This book sets out to explore the brick's rich history in unparalleled detail and full color. Granted unprecedented access by the LEGO Group, author Daniel Konstanski reveals for the first time how and why new LEGO bricks are made, speaking to the people involved with each crucial step, from the so-called "rock stars," the set designers, through to the element designers, design masters, graphic designers, elements testers and approvers, plastics technicians, and many more.

This book is the one fans have always wanted: a truly behind the scenes look at the story of the beloved LEGO brick and the company which makes it, with a wealth of new visual material from the LEGO Archive in Billund.

At this event, author Daniel Konstanski will discuss his new book and more with librarian Allison Nellis. 

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Daniel Konstanski is the US Editor for Blocks Magazine, author of The Secret Life of LEGO Bricks, and a passionate, lifelong LEGO fan. He is an ardent student of the LEGO Group, its portfolio of beloved products, and the Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOL) community having researched and written hundreds of articles covering every aspect of the hobby. Thanks to a collaborative working relationship with the team of in-house historians employed by the LEGO Group, Daniel has been privileged to tell many stories from within LEGO Group itself and is considered one of the most knowledgeable and authoritative voices in the fan community on the company and its products. His most expansive work to date, The Secret Life of LEGO Bricks, is the culmination of over 60 official interviews with employees past and present along with hundreds of hours of research in the official LEGO archive. In addition to writing about all things LEGO, Daniel is also a builder who regularly displays on the AFOL convention circuit. He lives in Delaware with his wife and three children. 

GET THE BOOK

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android

Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Lizzie Tribone at least 48 hours before the event: email lizzietribone@nypl.org.
 

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All programs are subject to change or cancellation. All events at The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library are subject to recording and photography. 

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).