Love a good page-tuner? Enjoy getting lost in a riveting read? Then bring your bookshelf to life with the BOOKNOOK: THE STORY LABORATORY by Pedro_RuizMx. Be sure to head down to the comments once you've finished reading this to congratulate Pedro!
ABOUT YOURSELF
- What is your name?
Pedro Antonio Ruiz Bravo.
- Where are you from?
Mexico City.
- What hobbies do you have?
Aside from everything LEGO related, I like listening to music, watching cartoons, reading books and looking after my cats.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud of it and do you have a photo of it?
There are two that I created recently (both were a challenge from a friend), and I really liked the result. One is DaVinci's office - I’m sorry about the telescope, I know it hadn't been invented yet, but it looked so cool, and DaVinci was a moon watcher! The other is a representation of Jules Verne, who is a great example of the limits of the imagination.
- How and when did your interest in LEGO products come about?
When I was 7 years old, I received my first LEGO set for my birthday. Shortly after building it, I took it apart because I wanted to build something else. I don't remember what I built afterwards, but that’s when my building instinct was born. That experience, together with the incredible sets that have come out since and the possibility of creating your own models, is what’s brought me here.
- What does the LEGO hobby mean to you? How does it fit into your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games or 'just' watch the cartoons
LEGO helps me escape from the real world for a while and de-stress. It also puts my mind to work and allows me to learn things I didn't know I could learn. It means a lot to me, it's a part of me.
- What is your favorite official LEGO set ever? Why?
My favorite set is the Star Wars UCS Sandcrawler (75059). I've loved it for years, but I don't have it because it's too expensive. I like it because it’s a colossal vehicle, a real junk from another galaxy and the home of the Jawas!
- Is there a LEGO designer (official LEGO designer or fan designer) who you are inspired by and look up to? Who and why?
I greatly respect and admire designer fans and colleagues from platforms like @yop113, because they have great experience in this world and they’re from my country. One such person is @Exesandbox, because everything he did was a piece of art (I hope he comes back!). I must also mention Mr P. Rodriguez - he is not a LEGO Ideas user, but his videos on YouTube were a great inspiration for me for about 10 years. And that’s just to mention a couple
ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I love books. I don't have many, but in the future, I would like to have a room just like I made here. For now, though, the idea can live among our books! I’m quite a chaotic person, and so I wanted to make the model a little chaotic, too - but in a beautiful way. I always wanted to have a LEGO booknook with many details that could complement any type of tastes. I think this laboratory of stories and ideas does just that.
- How long did the process of making the project take and what did you have to research? What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
It was a fairly fluid process. I simply decided to create a booknook, then built from one moment to the next, almost without stopping. I just knew that the finished model would be a kind of library full of colorful books! It took me less than one month to build the structure, but I’d say I spent more time on the details, minifigures and rendering.
- If you could talk to yourself before you started on this project, what would you tell him/her? What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
I would tell him to add references to books not only from stories or novels, but also from science or educational books.
- How long did it take to complete the model? Did you finish it fairly quickly, or did it take a long time? And how did the build time compare to the time you spent promoting your Product Idea to reach 10,000 supporters?
I started building the model in January and finished it in March, when I published it. It reached 10,000 supporters in just under two months - so comparing both, it was quicker to get the votes, which I still can't believe!
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
It was amazing! Reaching 10,000 votes just once was a dream for me, so having achieved it again is simply incredible. It had a reception that I never expected and received a lot of support in a short time, reaching 10,000 votes in just 1 month and 21 days. I thought I wouldn't get into the May group, but it all happened extraordinarily fast!
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
2997 magic bricks.
- What is your favorite building technique or part/section that you’ve incorporated into your Product Idea?
The giant book that looks like it’s floating is a small build I made a long time ago. I hadn't added it to any models or builds because I liked it so much that I would only put it in a model that was actually worth it. While I was building the booknook I said, “This is the moment.”
- If you built your model digitally, what software did you use to build and render your model?
I started building it in LEGO Digital Designer, then moved it to Mecabricks to add minifigures, accessories, sticky parts, and parts that aren't in LDD. Finally, I exported it to Blender 3D to render it.
- If you used custom stickers or prints for your design, how did you create them or where did you get them?
On three little brown books I put covers inspired by the 'fantasy' minifigures, and I used Mecabricks to render the image. I then pasted those images into the little books with Photoshop.
ABOUT LEGO IDEAS
- Do you have any useful advice about creating a successful LEGO Ideas Product Idea?
Put lots of effort into your presentation and include lots of details. Finally, be very patient - it’s not something that pays off overnight, it’s the first part of a whole process.
- What (if any) methods did you use to advertise and attract support to your Product Idea?
I shared it and asked for help in about 10 Facebook groups. I'm not saying it's the magic key, but it was the only thing I did.
- What is your favorite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
Without a doubt, the Krusty Krab from @Exesandbox is my favorite idea of the entire platform.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
I was attracted to the idea that anyone can put something forward, and that something can become real. That connection with the fan is not very common to see. The main tip that I would give to someone is to be patient during each moment of the process.
- Do you have plans to submit any other Product Ideas in the future? If yes, can you give us a hint what that might be?
I have two pending ideas that I'm very excited about. One is something decorative and the other is a building where lots of people's childhoods live!
By
JacobM366