The problem with BrickLink Designer Program

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Five more finalists have joined the long list of LEGO BrickLink Designer Program sets, painting a picture that is becoming distinctly medieval.
Series 4’s selection of upcoming sets in the LEGO BrickLink Designer Program has been revealed, rounding out the lengthy list of every set in the program’s series so far. That is until Series 5, 6 and 7 have their sets picked out.
Every series of the BrickLink Designer Program (in its latest iteration) has now featured at least one Castle-adjacent build (with the exception of Series 2), and Series 4 includes two: Bricks_fan_uy’s Medieval Seaside Market and SleeplessNight’s Siege Encampment. (Hanwas’s The Riverside Scholars is also tangentially Castle-related, or at least fantasy-inspired.) That hasn’t escaped the notice of those with their finger on the pulse - at BrickLink or in the community.

[@rocksandforestquiver959]

Castles are fine but we really don't need every single one to be a Display-first moc-level set that costs as much as half a wave of regular castle sets would

[@kevinadair5174]

I don’t like how Lego used this Designer program to have designers create more castle sets when Lego has the ability to make these sets themselves knowing how there’s a community base that loves Castle theme.

[@tomjames9681]

It just seems to me like this is the overflow of demand for a more regular medieval/castle theme.

[@OrdinarilyBob]

I want a proper CASTLE Theme, with not just Castles, but also bring back medium and small sets including again making bridges, houses, shops, towers, workshops, walls, siege engines, army-building packs, etc.

[@brentwaller]

As someone who has submitted designs to every BDP series thus far, it's disheartening to spend so much time on something for it to be selected over "yet another light grey castle". I love castle stuff myself but some variety wouldn't go astray. I think you're correct though, there is a huge difference between voting on something on ideas or BDP and actually opening up your wallet to purchase something via crowdfunding.

[@ZenobiaBenz]

Hope there will be Pirate/Imperial Guard fans! Need those forts, outposts, ships!

[@Revenant7n]

Brick Fanatics, your takes and insights are getting to be spot on and focused on topics that LEGO does need to address, vs some channels that make entire videos on nitpicks of little consequence. Keep it up!

[@octav1600]

I think that LEGO just saw how fast the Castle in the first series went away and they thought that Castle fans are willing to pay extra for these sets (low cost to produce -> high price -> high profit). I would much rather have these sets as normal lego ideas sets though> I am not loving the price (I got one of the castles in series one, but can't justify getting more than one like I usually do with the other releases that Lego has themselves. I really hope they won't relegate castle sets behind these huge paywalls and limited editions (without new pieces / prints / factions). I do hope they realize that people like these castles and just make all the other factions in normal ideas / 18+ sets and also a fun "new" castle city wave like they did with space.

[@justcoll3ct]

I think 1-3 were doing fine, but series 4 was just overkill. There were so many awesome sets, even if they wanted to do buildings, there were plenty that gave us a different feel than castles. And the siege was a big miss, as it's another high piece count set, but yet again, castle based

[@GoatsOnABoat-rt1wz]

This is such a great LEGO channel. You always talk about interesting relevant subjects in each of your videos. You don't farm negative content either, anytime it is "negative" content (like this vid) it's completely called for and is worth talking about.

[@ZIAD9992000]

AFOL They pay, they don't care about the money at all, they are just afraid that they will not get one of the thirty thousand copies. All Lego needs is 30,000 people who don't care about money. This is the simple story

[@memyselftheone]

I agree with you. I'd like to see more variety. And certainly, like is happening in wave 4, not multiple of a single 'theme' within a wave. Having 'a' castle set in there is fine, but having multiple, imo, is not.

[@momaw_C1-10P]

The program in it's current iteration has had four crowd votes but not delivered a single set yet. So those people who at the first round were clamoring for castles, trains and western sets, are still clamoring for them when round two is voting, when round three is voting and when round four is voting. Is it any surprise the same themes are being voted for in those rounds when people still don't have the sets in hand to satisfy the craving that drove round one results? I'm positive this will play out in the round 2 vs round 4 western train battle. My guess is the sales of the round two train will be much lower than they would have been now the (arguably) better round four version in on the table.

[@Ambugginfly]

Castle, Trains, Space are all perennial themes/subthemes and remain popular so why not give people what they want.

[@badbob001]

Maybe the DESIGNER program needs to have multiple teirs based on size or weight or maybe price.

[@brickblums]

I completely agree, I was hoping for some of those more unique buildings, things that LEGO would never consider. I am one of those who do not want 10 castles. I have 2 and that is enough for me (well, and 2 Disney castles). I want more sets like the Science Observatory and the Winter Chalet. I love the chocolate factory in series 2. I was hoping for more like those two sets.

[@user-rr9dr5nq6u]

Very informative vid. Thanks. The castle wave is still building. I’m hoping for smaller sub sets. I’m guessing different factions will see more sets in the future.🌊

[@manlius10agames]

In your video, you are speaking to one of my primary concerns. I was inspired by the recent castle sets (Lion Knight's Castle and Medieval Town Square), and I have been working hard to prepare two smaller castle themed sets for the next BDP Program (May 2024). Even before the winners of Series 4 were announced, I had an inkling that castle fatigue was setting in, and I realized that if I don't make the next submission period, castle would reach market saturation. Hopefully, I am not too late. Both my sets are around ~1,500 pieces and neither have the light-bluish gray castle walls, so I am hoping for the best!

[@Goose_Willis]

I love Lego castle, but let's expand that for some forestman themes, space, city, or whatever. The ones I preferred lately has been city stuff like the Retro Bowling Alley, 1950's diner, and the Snack Shack. Series 2 maybe the Ominous Isle. Series 3 probably Camping Adventure. and Series 4 I will probably pass on. All are great and would love to have them, but too pricey or at least spread the love for other genre's.

[@sidneyleejohnson]

Lego themselves first pick among the Lego Ideas (10K+ votes), then the BrickLink Designer program gets the "scraps". Lego can decide to be balanced all it wants on their initial production decisions. I don't mind the popularity contest of the Designer program at all at the BrickLink Designer program. While I do wish there were more fans of Modular houses, at least Lego produces one of these per year keeping the sets consistently styled and within the same time period - I can live with that. I can certainly tolerate the trains and castles rising to the top. I do think that better designers are likely to get repeat votes. I do wish everyone to continue to participate regardless. Its a shame I can't seem to see what I voted for in the first place after the winners are selected. I haven't read the TOS on the Lego Ideas submissions but I don't recall seeing their IP lines like Star Wars show up. So there seems to be filters already applied as layers on top of the overall experience. There have been some really fantastic seafaring ships but weirdly enough we see a fishing boat picked but those main ships passed upon in later seasons. I bought that fishing boat and thinks its fine.