Cornerstone Brick Designs

12/02/2025

Here’s video footage of the Environmental Defense Fund project I did for Fair Worlds LLC. Projectors positioned 15-20 feet above the oil field model projected the movement of methane emissions and communicated how the MethaneSAT satellite can detect them at various levels. This model was displayed at the World Gas Conference in Beijing in May, and then again at BrickCon in Seattle in September. There’s talks of bringing the model to BricksCascade in Portland in 2026.

12/02/2025

One of the highlights of 2025 came in April when I was hired by Fair Worlds LLC () to build a model to be used by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) () for the World Gas Conference () in Beijing China in May 2025.

It was a model of a topographical oil field and refinery, complete with pump jacks, well heads, flare stacks, oil tanks, and a refinery. The entire model was 6’ square, on 49 baseplates, each separated by a gap to create a grid-like effect. The thing that made this unusual was that it was built entirely out of white elements.

Why? The goal was to have two projectors positioned 15-20’ above the model project the movement of methane emissions and to communicate how MethaneSAT can detect it at various levels. Essentially, the model was a blank canvas — a projector screen, if you will. This design opens LEGO building up to many new applications. (see video)

Since the model was built on a grid, it was easy to break down into small components and ship to Beijing for the conference. The plates were easily stacked, and the other elements easily removed and bubble-wrapped.

Unlike most Cornerstone Brick Deisgns projects, this was built in Seattle, Washington. Under the direction of Erik Horn from Fair Worlds, I designed and built this with the expert assistance of Carlyle Livingston II and Steven Stelter (), both locals to Seattle and avid builders in the Adult Fan Of LEGO world. I’m eternally grateful to both of them who completed work on the model after I had returned to Los Angeles.

Shout out to Tom Alphin () who visited me on set during the project, and Alejandro Hidalgo for showing me around town.

Also, a very special heartfelt thanks goes to Erik Horn who hired me for this project. Working with you on those was a privilege. I hope we get to do more projects together.

02/13/2025

Last Saturday, Cornerstone Brick Designs invited 15 people into my home to participate in two free taster sessions of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY, an enhanced communication tool used in corporations and institutions to teach leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and strategizing using LEGO bricks.

To say the sessions were a success is an understatement. The purpose these sessions — the first I’d ever led solo — was to give me practice in the methodology, and help me troubleshoot my process for an official session I am leading later this month with a group of educators. There’s a lot I have to change and refine, but for the most part, the core is there, and it’s sound.

The build challenge for these sessions was to build an individual — and later, shared — model depicting the key elements of great community collaboration. I came up with this prompt in response to the recent fires and the upswell of people coming together to recover from this disaster.

Many thanks to all who participated and provided valuable feedback. I may do another set of taster sessions again sometime, so look out for an opportunity to participate.

02/01/2025

In December 2024, France TV came to visit me in Los Angeles to film a piece for a news segment on LEGO. There had been a recent theft at a local Bricks & Minifigs store, so they wanted to do a story cracking open the reasons for such crimes. They toured my collection in my apartment, and then followed me out to my studio in the garage.

This is the full segment, and I appear at the 1:57 mark. They were super nice, but they misspelled my company name as “Cornerstone Bricks Design”. 😕 I can’t tell you what is being said about me here, but I’m honored that they chose to interview me.

Une boîte de Lego serait vendue toutes les sept secondes. Certaines pièces sont devenues si rares qu'elles alimentent un marché parallèle, notamment aux États-Unis. Mais pourquoi ce trafic ?

01/25/2025

Have you heard of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY? Are you curious about it?

LEGO SERIOUS PLAY is a communication methodology by which LEGO is used in corporate, institutional, or group settings to teach problem solving, visioning, strategy, leadership, and team building skills.

I am expanding Cornerstone Brick Designs to include consulting services. To that end, I recently got certified to be a facilitator for LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Workshops, and I need some practice. I’ll be doing my first professional workshop next month, and before then, I’d like to flex my LSP muscles by leading some FREE taster sessions. I’m inviting Facebook followers in the Los Angeles area to be a part of this activity. This would involve showing up in person at my place near Hollywood, and engaging in a small group activity involving LEGO and creating a vision for 2025. Space is limited, so depending on the response, I might not be able to accept everyone.

You don’t have to be an experienced builder at all. The less experienced, the better! Just come ready to play and learn about yourself and your mates. You’re welcome to bring one family member. No one under 18 for this session, please. Refreshments will be served.

I will be holding two sessions on the same day. The event date will be Saturday, February 8th, from 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm. Each session will probably be shorter than 3 hours, but I’m allowing for social time.

Please choose one of the two sessions. I have room for 8-10 people at each session. If I get a great response, I will add an additional session at night, or the following weekend.

If you’d like to attend, please DM me, and respond with the following info:

Name of Participant (You):
Your Contact Info (Phone & Email):
Your LEGO Skill Level (from 1-10, 10 being a set designer level):
Name of Guest:
Relation:
Skill Level:
Preferred Session Time:

I’ll send out the location info to those who are confirmed to attend.

I won’t be making this post public, so as to prevent trolls from seeing it. If you know someone who would like to go, message me and I will send you my email address for them to contact me.

Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you on the 8th!

03/07/2024

03/06/2024

Tick-tock! Almost ready for the big reveal!

11/10/2023

In an hour, these two independent contractors from Cornerstone Brick Designs — Drew Smith (L) and Ben Kahn (R) — will be boarding a flight from Portland to Abu Dhabi to install our latest big project. Please join me in wishing them a safe journey!

I can’t say much about the project yet, except that it is being installed in a shopping mall. Once the location opens to the public in February 2024, I’ll be able to share all the details and pics. Stay tuned!

10/12/2023

Here's a recording of the webinar I was in this week. Watch & share!

Multi-talented speaker and author, Intentional Event Design: Our Professional Opportunity,Tahira Endean, moderates and chats with mesmerizing illusionist, Al...

10/10/2023

Happening tomorrow! Come check out this webinar that I’m in! Registration is free.

10/09/2023

I'm going to be in a webinar on Tuesday, talking about my LEGO work, sustainability, and making models for special events. Register and join us (it's free)!