In 2021, LEGO released the bold and vibrant 40516 Everyone is Awesome set—a buildable display with rainbow minifigures in the colors of the gay pride and transgender flags to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The minifigures were not only a boon to the AFOL community who wanted solid-color figs, but the set was an expression of hope and joy for a group of people who needed to hear it. The set unapologetically sent the message, “Whoever you are and however you identify, you are awesome and welcome in the LEGO community.” It marked a shift. Long seen as a champion of creativity and play, LEGO rarely took public stances on social issues. But with this set, the company visibly aligned itself with values of visibility, diversity, and acceptance. Fans responded with a flood of gratitude, emotion, and pride. I remember tearing up after purchasing the set on opening day, having to drive...

As a former NASA engineer who worked on ground processing for the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Center, I’ve had the rare privilege of seeing the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) in action—and even supported missions that rode atop it. This article is both a close look at the new 10360 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from the AFOL perspective and a deep dive on the real vehicles it honors from an aerospace perspective. Bricks and Boosters Space is big. The machines that make space travel possible also tend to be on the large side. Sure, the Mercury, Gemini, and Vostok capsules that first carried humans away from Earth were fairly small—but the rockets that launched them were not. And those rockets required equally massive infrastructure to move them around. Large barges, ships, and railcars quickly played a role (and still do), but aircraft also became key players. NASA’s first aerial rocket mover...

A new month is upon us which means more competitive building! Are you ready? Here’s the latest bunch of LEGO contests and challenges from all around the AFOL community for May 2025 to help you find some inspiration and motivation to build! There’s nothing quite like a theme or a prompt to take you out of your comfort zone and give you something new to try. Besides, contests are the perfect place to interact with other contestants and judges and get to know your fellow builders. And if you’re like me, a deadline helps make sure you actually finish! We’ve listed them in order of deadline so you can plan your building time to the best advantage. Make sure to check the LEGO activity calendar for local challenges and events near you. Here at BrickNerd, some of our fondest memories, greatest building achievements, coolest trophies, and best friendships came from LEGO...

“The Conversation Piece” is a monthly BrickNerd series about creativity and building with LEGO authored by our friends over at the Builder Improvement Initiative (BII), a Discord-based community that helps LEGO builders of all levels get better at their craft through knowledge-sharing and constructive feedback. Have a question you'd like us to consider for a future article? You can submit it here. Enjoy! Using Color in LEGO Builds Anonymous asks: “How much of an impact does choosing the right colors make when building MOCs? How can we decide upon good color palettes when building?” When it comes to designing MOCs (My Own Creations), color is one factor which builders have substantial control over. LEGO’s repertoire of color options has expanded over the years to include hundreds of different shades and tones to provide endless combinations that builders can explore. We Love What You Build’s Periodic Table of the LEGO Colors provides...

Last month, we challenged you to bring to life your most iconic Star Wars creations for Imperial March. Today in honor of May the Fourth, we are excited to reveal those builders who went to a galaxy far, far away and returned with some epic prizes! We received 75 entries in total and were impressed by everyone’s imperial fortitude. To recap, Imperial March had three categories: Characters and Creatures, Ships and Vehicles and Rebuild the Galaxy. It took a while and a lot of deliberation, but we’ve finally selected who is the chosen one! One builder who entered all three categories and earned the greatest number of votes will be crowned our Grand MOC Builder. There were so many awesome builds. This contest was so hard to judge that we brought in an expert—Boone Langston, who helped start Imperial March in 2021 and who is a current LEGO designer. Boone and...