LEGO case study: LEGO’s innovation model

Eleven lessons: managing design in eleven global brands

In the first instance, the LEGO innovation model is designed as a ‘quick guide’ to help foster a shared understanding and language around innovation in LEGO

The model and tools helps the entire company to:

  • Participate in a dialogue early on in the process to define project objectives for the project and the innovation approach needed to deliver this
  • Anticipate and acknowledge the resources and skills required for succeeding
  • And enable the assessment of results against set objectives at different stages of the project

LEGO's innovation model helps the company manage its design processIn order to prevent unnecessary redesign or replication of work without stagnating creativity, the LEGO innovation model is applied to all the four fundamental areas of business at LEGO: business, product, process and communication. In each area, activities are constantly reviewed and the right level of change is selected. 

Approaches of innovation used in the model are: 

  • No change – a product or process is currently fit for purpose
  • Adjust – minor changes and optimisation of known parameters are used to update products or modify processes in order to improve performance
  • Reconfigure – known and often of multiple parameters, are put together in a new way in order to better meet existing business and/or customer needs
  • Redefine – an entirely new approach and offering are introduced in a business area or market sector – existing products and processes may undergo quite fundamental modifications

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