For many, playing with Lego bricks was just a fun childhood hobby. But for some, it became a way of life. And an even luckier few were able to gain TV fame doing what they love.
Amy Corbett, senior design manager at The LEGO Group, has become one of the faces of Fox’s new reality competition show Lego Masters.
Each week teams face off in complex challenges that test their building abilities. Winners head home with more than just bragging rights -- they can win cash prizes, the Lego trophy and the grand title of Lego Masters.
“I think with every week we have a different challenge. We want to push our builders to the limit to see who really is the best,” Corbett told Cheddar.
LEGO Group was founded in 1932 and has managed to stay relevant in a technology-savvy toy world. Corbett says one reason is because the company is constantly trying to take a fresh look at how people are playing. “We always try to re-invent. Look what’s happening in the world, what kids are interested in, and re-invent the play experience around the bricks. That keeps it fresh.”
The company does offer some product lines with augmented realities that combine physical and digital play, however the design manager says there is still a need for non-technology based toys. “We also see that the more technology there is, the more parents want their kids to step away from technology and have less screen time,” she said.
Corbett, who played with LEGOs as a kid with her brother, says the company’s new products connect with her more. “Definitely some of the products we have now, I feel like resonate with me much more and I would have loved to have them as a child.”
The basic concept is timeless, though, she said.
“The thing that makes it really magic is that they all fit together and we can almost re-imagine it in the way we put the bricks together,” Corbett said.
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