Build customized LEGO packs with LEGO Digital Designer

Have you completed your holiday shopping yet? Neither have I. Well, if your friends or loved ones have a particular affinity for LEGO's construction toys, consider using LEGO Digital Designer to order a customized building block set for them. Via LEGO's DESIGNbyME, Mindstorms, and Creator-based themes, users can choose a starter model as the foundation of their design, or use the free build option to design something from scratch (for the more imaginative ones out there). Using a DESIGNbyME template, I customized (pictured above) a Penske Racing-looking LEGO IndyCar. As an IndyCar needs a driver, I figured I'd throw in one that looks like the Joker from The Dark Knight (in the scene when he was dressed as a nurse). This building block set came out to about USD $22.

LEGO Digital Designer is available as a free download [download link] at LEGO's website.

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Source: http://lego.com/

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Have you completed your holiday shopping yet? Neither have I. Well, if your friends or loved ones have a particular affinity for LEGO's...

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John Hall

I just saw this yesterday on MacUpdate so I thought I'd pass it along. There's another free virtual Lego builder here:
http://bricksmith.sourceforge.net/

Enjoy!

December 13 2009 at 9:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Eric

I had Digital Designer a few years ago for Windows - I actually became a LEGO club (paid version, not the free version) member just to get it, believing that was the only way.

The CD turned out to be no good - some file was missing making it impossible to install - and I downloaded it for free. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

I actually downloaded it for Mac a few days ago on a whim. I had LDraw, but didn't like it.

December 13 2009 at 6:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kelly

Perhaps I've overlooked some things but it seems you're stuck with a proprietary format that cannot be opened in any graphics program besides this one. Additionally you can only export in proprietary formats.

The app (though it's Java) is kinda cool but what's the point if you cannot graphically interact with your creation?

December 13 2009 at 3:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to kelly's comment

Matt Fryy

Lego is Lego! It's retro, it's old school. We all played with it as kids and that's why we love it. Nice clean fun.

Strong opinion from someone amused so easily! Haha :)
(and by the way, no bold patches underneath that fringe!)

December 13 2009 at 3:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Alfresco

THE PLURAL OF LEGO IS NOT LEGOS!!!!!!

Sorry, but of rage there.

The brand is Lego. Period.

December 13 2009 at 2:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Alfresco's comment

superpixel

Yeah, sorta:
http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/faq.html

so it should read "build customized lego packs"

December 13 2009 at 3:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

matttkendrick.com

I've used the designer many time. Very fun for playing around with blocks i may not contain in my collection. However I do believe it is now part of the "DesignByMe" campaign. Makes it very easy to buy your own Lego creations and or share them with other people! Best of all its free! - mattkendrick.com

December 13 2009 at 2:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Matt Fryy

As practical apps go, this is utterly awesome!
The future of Lego for sure!

December 13 2009 at 2:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Matt Fryy's comment

kelly

Sweet comb-over!

December 13 2009 at 3:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

S. Kurtz

It kind of is like a grown up version of Lego Creator. I am so downloading it!

December 13 2009 at 2:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BoltClock