Forest Stronghold

How do you find inspiration for your designs? What inspired this BDP set in particular?

I will usually look to history for inspiration in my designs. As a home builder, I find that there is a lot of beauty in the architecture of the past and try to incorporate it in my LEGO builds. Other times I find inspiration for a design by imagining a set that I would have loved to have had as a kid.

For the Forest Stronghold, I did not really have anything planned out in advance. I just knew that I wanted to build something Medieval. Then while playing around with ideas in studio, I thought it might be unique to incorporate some kind of stone bridge. I pretty quickly came up with a rough design and I then built the rest of the model around it using the bridge as kind of a focal point. 

What was the first set you ever built? Which one is your favorite? What is one set you would love to see being made?

My first set was either 4166 Mickey’s Car Garage or 6755 Sheriff’s Lock Up. I still have most parts for both.

My opinion on my favorite set changes frequently, but right now I think it is Pirates of Barracuda Bay. This was the set the got me back into LEGO brick building after an almost 10 year dark age and its an amazing display piece if you love pirate sets.

I would really love to see more sets from ancient Rome. It’s an interesting period and a set that has a minifig scale temple or Roman Legionaries would be so cool!

How would you describe your building style? Do you usually design sets within a certain theme?

I like to build old ruins or buildings that look aged. Making something look old opens a lot of opportunity for details and adds a lot of character to a structure. You will also find that in many of my builds, I like to incorporate a lot of plant life. This is one reason why I was drawn to the Forestmen faction. I thought it would be cool to make something that included a lot of big trees and vegetation.

From time to time, I enjoy designing something from old set lines such as Adventurers, Classic Pirates, and the Western theme.

How would you describe your role in the LEGO fan community?

My role is small in the fan community, but I would really like to be able to spend more time engaging with others in the future. Right now, building with LEGO bricks is just something I enjoy doing in my downtime. 

Have you been to any LEGO community events or conventions? If so, what were they like?

Yes! I only started visiting conventions as a spectator two years ago. They are a lot of fun to attend as I love being able to see so many amazing MOCs in person. It is also a great way to meet other people in the LEGO community. I hope to bring my own MOCs one day to display. 

What do you think makes a BDP set successful?

Well, it’s hard to say, there are so many factors at play. When I’m looking at designs, that first thing I will notice is how detailed something is, and how unique the building techniques are to achieve those details. A model that tells a story is also a factor I consider to be important. It adds so much more significance to the purpose of the model.

What advice would you give to the next set of hopeful BDP designers?

Design what you like, because chances are there are other people who like the same things. And imagine if your design was an official LEGO set. Would you buy it on release day?  You’re going to have a much easier time creating something around a theme you’re passionate about. Don’t’ design a model just for the sake of trying to be a finalist.