Everyone in the AFOL community is an influencer.

If you build your own LEGO creations, you have probably influenced someone else. Your build has probably inspired others to do something similar or to take your idea and make it their own. Sure, their build might turn into something even more amazing and beyond your own personal skill level, but their inspiration, the seed of the idea, came from your creation.

My own Tardis moc originally built in 2006

Over 15 years ago, I built a MOC of the TARDIS from Doctor Who. It was a quick build with limited parts that is still used as a “filler” MOC at events whenever there is a last-minute space to fill. In 2013, Doctor Who fan and LEGO Masters Australia Season 3 winner, David V., saw the MOC at Brickvention and it inspired him to start building his own custom LEGO creations. Prior to that, he had only been a set builder.

David V’s recent Doctor Who inspired build at Brickvention 2022

Likewise, Ryan Evans, also of LEGO Masters Australia Season 3, was first introduced to the concept of Brick Bending after I displayed some of my own experimentation in the technique. He even used it in some of his builds during LEGO Masters. I, myself, was influenced by the work Jeff Sanders and his ongoing exploration in the field.

Ryan evans demonstrating Brick Bending on season 3 Lego masters australia

Even if you build sets and nothing else, you have probably influenced someone else. One of your friends will have seen the joy and satisfaction you receive when you build and complete a set and will have been inspired to buy their own LEGO sets and give it a go. This is especially true now that LEGO is directly targeting the adult market.

Along the same lines, if you are a collector of LEGO sets, rare pieces or even branded merchandise, you have likely influenced someone. Someone will have seen your collection, or a picture of it and been inspired to seek out something similar. Maybe they saw you with a branded T-shirt, bag, shoes or plush toy and made their own purchases because they loved the design and thought it looked cool. Last year, I showed my plush Duplo bunny collection on a SortLUG Zoom meeting and it inspired Catherine (CrankyBricks) to seek out her own. A Duplo plush bunny is now a regular feature of her Twitch stream.

the plush duplo bunny makes an appearance on a sortlug zoom call

The plush duplo bunny on the crankybricks twitch stream

But how often do we tell those that influence us, that they were the catalyst for our creations or collections? Probably not that often unless you see someone regularly. We should be telling them… all the time. People should be told something they have created or done has sparked someone else’s imagination. It might be something as simple as a colour combination, an unusual building technique or a building style and size different from the standard minifig scale. Tell them you were inspired! (Simon wrote about how inspiration has affected his LEGO building and community too.) Just like you can’t tell that the TARDIS is bigger on the inside, the influence you have may go further than you might expect.

Especially tell the people who build smaller creations. Their stuff sometimes doesn’t have the “wow factor” of the big builds and often goes unnoticed in the general scheme of things. Most people will be genuinely surprised to learn they have influenced others. I know I was. My builds don’t have the “wow factor” of prize-winning creations because I like to build small focussing on standards like Miniland scale, Minifig habitats, Micropolis or boundary-pushing techniques like brick bending.

Hearing my work and interests had influenced others gave me the greatest thrill and I think that’s something we should all experience. If someone has influenced or inspired you in some way, let them know. We are all influencers, in our own way.

“Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.” – The War Doctor

Who in the LEGO community inspires you? Let us know in the comments below!

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