The LEGO Group is set to Launch its Brand-New Lead User Lab

This sounds just like the old MCP Programme, only not restricted to just MINDSTORMS... What do you guys think, @Marc-Andre Bazergui and @Jetro de Château?

If anyone intends to move to Billund, there is also a job search: https://www.lego.com/it-it/careers/jobdescription/open-innovation-insights-manager--lead-user-lab/56836590

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept.. will this project look for new ways of using LEGO products or new products/solutions that are extending the possibilities of the LEGO world, or maybe both?

25 minutes ago, Balazs Kiss said:

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept.. will this project look for new ways of using LEGO products or new products/solutions that are extending the possibilities of the LEGO world, or maybe both?

Maybe this "focus" will help yhou (see the LINK mentioned above):

"We are starting up the Lead User Lab in AFOL Engagement meant to capture radical ideas, evaluate their potential and bring them to life. As an Open Innovation Analyst, it will be up to you to scan, analyse and document the trends, insights and learnings around lead users and their innovations in a systematic way. 

• Ongoing scanning, analysing and visualisation of AFOL categories and ideas
• Scan and document Lead User (LU) candidates, core capabilities, innovation areas and link to The LEGO group strategy. 
• Ongoing tracking of industry trends and insights
• Scan various digital media channels and AFOL related media and document learnings around the Lead User Lab project. "

Thank you @Francesco Frangioja I checked also the job posting but the phrasing is still too vague for me  

7 hours ago, Alexandre Campos said:

This sounds just like the old MCP Programme, only not restricted to just MINDSTORMS... What do you guys think, @Marc-Andre Bazergui and @Jetro de Château?

My thoughts exactly!

10 hours ago, Balazs Kiss said:

Thank you @Francesco Frangioja I checked also the job posting but the phrasing is still too vague for me  

Instead, I came up with a rather clear idea of what will be the focus of the new Lead User Lab team and the "mission" of the new professional figure they are looking for ... and I sincerely hope my idea is wrong.

I don;t have much experience with fan bases of other brands, but I like how TLG finds ways to use (utilise is maybe better word) the AFOL fan base for their benefits which ultimatly makes better product and service, and thus it is indirectly for our benefits as well. LEGO Ideas sets are among those of most soughted in our club, and most appriciated, good buzz and wide reach made by RLFM, constant showing what can be done with bricks on RLUG events, satisfying need for socializing with RLOCs - at some point, we will take over the management, and then, free bricks for all!

(just joking;)

I wish visitors on our events do this with same elan: make testimonials on their own and post them online, help with surveys, bring creations to events, brainstorm to innovations - we can make a twice per year support where they can visit our parties and exhibit their mocs

A lot of material for thinking, but emulating TLG's innovative ideas have always proven benefitial to us - I saw the door mechanism on one inside tour video - and the idea that everything can be innovated into something better was a leading goal for our club's development

As I always claimed, the true power of AFOL communities is in brainstorming and innovation - find a way to utilize this, and you've struck a goldmine

I strongly support this project, and am looking forward to see results - hopefully, some of those great ideas will be usable for communities also :)
@Tamara Butkovic, take a look :)

Hi, I have one question: which are the "radical innovations" that they're talking about?

I'm a MOC designer and I have a lot of projects, so could they consider MOC as innovative? Or they're referring to something new, related to digital platforms/new technologies?

I am also having a little difficulty understanding what you are looking for 🤔. I understand that you are not looking for any one product, but anything innovative. But, I am unclear if you are looking for building techniques, new parts, entirely new products, new sets, new digital media, or all of the above? Would it be possible to have an example of something that would fit the bill?

Would this be for example - a third party entity has created a lighting system for LEGO sets, which is something LEGO don't really produce but it's something many LEGO fans would like and it compliments already available products? Or am I way off?

38 minutes ago, Adam White said:

Would this be for example - a third party entity has created a lighting system for LEGO sets, which is something LEGO don't really produce but it's something many LEGO fans would like and it compliments already available products? Or am I way off?

It could be possible. I'm informing everywhere but I can't find more informations... Lego has been too generic

I'm guessing targeting something like i-Brix, which is tiny wireless lighting for LEGO MOCs.

They've been actively wanting LEGO to help them scale:

I think you are all reading too much into this. I don't expect the Lab to be about anything specific and "breakthrough" is probably just marketing speak for "different". 

I read this as LEGO actively trying to tap into the resource that is AFOLdom without focussing on set ideas.

I think Jetro is right. LEGO Ideas is nice but lately there seems more focus on themed competitions than innovative ideas. It can take up to 2,5 years before an idea goes into review. I think this is about having a pool of talented AFOL designers and could provide a shortcut for AFOLs to have their design (or part of it) put on the market much sooner by LEGO. A good example is the space rocket (although a gift).

If LEGO wants to get something useful through this program I think they need to be more specific about their expectations since people will really don't know what to bring them, it'll be either to little or too much. I don't think the best way is to ask for "anything innovative related to LEGO" then try to find what they were looking for in the flood of e-mails.

The question remains: will this group be actively asking for input or will they look around at what individual AFOLs are doing and invite people to collaborate based on what they detect?

By reading the final paragraph, it seems that they will use both ways 

I'm thinking this is a way out for LEGO when it comes to all the current issues with PowerUp. Let the AFOLs take on the expense and risk of low volume solutions. LEGO will help the solutions that look promising. Ultimately it may lead to a relationship much like the one with HiTechnic.

This sounds quite wide-ranging, but that is normal for an Innovation Portal.  Such a portal can discuss both service/marketing ideas and product/technical ideas by turns.

I would like to get involved in some technical ideas where LEGO Ideas has not been the right vehicle for them (since it is product-focused but not so technical).  The LEGO Ideas I have raised so far are more technical than what would be successful by that route; I need a better route for them to be considered by TLG and I hope this is it.

However, the majority of the text above is around new outlet avenues and markets.

Let's say that one LEGO-related need is for a decent monorail system; I'd be happy to co-develop that with Masao Hidaka and others.  I have also suggested a wireless charging device for charging a LiPo battery on a train and a working BB-8 droid since LEGO did not have one at Christmas 2015.  The high technical content of the last two would have been beyond many people who really wanted it, unfortunately reducing potential sales, though BB-8 compares well with the forthcoming Liebherr excavator 42100.  BB-8 was so much fun though; a Technic sphere, twin XL drives from twin LiPos and the updates as a blog for others to learn from.

So any technical or product-based innovations like that, count me in, and if I could contribute usefully to other fields then great.  An innovation portal would involve raising ideas and encouraging those of others, with some guidance to help them and a level of challenge tempered by reality - avoiding rubbishing ideas.

Seems to me like a perfect fit for i-Brix!

I see so much more opportunity and potential with the product if they'd work in collaboration. 

Thank you for your answer

Still seems to be a great fit for i-Brix - let's see LEGO take on an amazing feature/technology and incorporate it into their products! 

I would really like LEGO to team up with I-Brix. It's a small team and they are struggling to keep up with demand, but they are at a stage where they still have full time jobs and can't make the transition over to doing I-Brix full time. It's a really tough spot to be in, and I wouldn't want to see the concept die because they can't get a successful liftoff.

I was a backer in their Kickstarter campaign and have the I-Brix system in hand. It's great in itself, and with a bit of further tweaking and improvements it has tremendous potential. It's unlike anything else on the market. LEGO fans really want lights. Lights that don't involve running tons of tiny wires or inserting big and bulky components. I-Brix is both kid and AFOL friendly, and it works like magic. Whenever I show it to kids or adults they are in awe.