Jamie Berard Appreciation Week

[Izzy]

Jamie Berard Appreciation Week 18th - 24th January 2010

With the recent arrival of pictures of 'The Grand Emporium' the latest set by Lego Creator - Set Designer extraordinaire Jamie Berard. I thought it was high time to give a little back. So I am offering this thread here as a chance for everyone to show/tell Jamie and the Creator Team just how much we appreciate all the effort and detail that goes into these great sets.

What are your favourite sets and why? Have you learned any new techniques from these sets? Have any of these sets inspired you to create a MOC or MOD? Just how much do you love Jamie?

Feel free to let all your appreciation flow... after all it is now 'Jamie Berard Appreciation Week' (January 2010)

[prateek]

Oh, wow! A whole week dedicated to a designer! I've got to say, though, Jamie is an awesome designer. He brought so many different techniques never before seen in an official Lego set.

Hats off to Jamie and his co-workers!

[RileyC]

I just love what he has done witht he modular buildings! They are my favourite theme after SW which brought me into the lego world.

[Legoliner Pilot]

Jamie... You are amazing! Even though I COULD write a big long mushy thank-you note for all of your hard work, I will instead state that I admire your building techniques. You rock!

[Captain Zuloo]

Three cheers for Jamie Berard! Kind enough to be interviewed TWICE on Behind the Helm, not only is he a supurb designer, but he also a fantastic public speaker. His sets are amazing, full of interesting uses of parts, stylish colour schemes and challenging builds, even for a skilled AFOL. Jamie Berard is certainly a fantastic addition to The LEGO Group's arsenal of talented designers.

[YG-49]

(Psst! Cutlass! I found Jamie's Facebook! )

Hooray to Jamie Berard, who created this awesome Space Hungry Hippos MOC:

[Sisco]

I'd like to thank Jamie for his wonderful work on the Emerald Night. That set is-ahem-

DA BOMB!

No, I will never say that again.

[jamieberard]

With the recent arrival of pictures of 'The Grand Emporium' the latest set by Lego Creator - Set Designer extraordinaire Jamie Berard. I thought it was high time to give a little back. So I am offering this thread here as a chance for everyone to show/tell Jamie and the Creator Team just how much we appreciate all the effort and detail that goes into these great sets.

Wow! Thanks Izzy and everyone for the kind words. However, I think we could easily have every week of the year booked up once everyone knew how many other fantastic designers and colleagues there are who work here at LEGO. I'm just the fortunate one who's been in the media and at LEGO fan events lately :)

Another thing we shouldn't forget is all the other people who contribute to the creation of a LEGO set. I'm quite lucky to have a wonderful team of colleagues in LEGO Direct who all want to try and deliver some 'kickass' products for you guys. (Yes, that term actually showed up in our official documentation.) They really give me and the other designers a lot of creative freedom to dream of what LEGO could be. However, if it weren't for all their efforts (building instructions, marketing, packaging, production, supply chain, Shop@Home, etc) none of our ideas would ever make it to market.

Finally, a big thank you to you the LEGO fans. LEGO Direct started out about a decade ago as a small experiment to see if the company could better understand this mystery shadow market of Adult LEGO fans. Today, LEGO Direct is stronger than ever and getting recognized across the company and throughout media channels as providing the ultimate LEGO experience. Huge thanks for supporting the exclusives line for all these years. I know our models can test the limits of any bank account or even sane relationships with spouses and loved ones. But your support has ensured a bright future for endless creativity!

Cheers and many thanks again,

jamie :)

[Rick]

Thanks Jamie - and everyone else involved! - for creating and being responsible for and involved in so many great Lego sets over the past years. I hope the Exclusives line and especially the Modular Buildings line will continue..., well..., forever.

[Ras 74]

It is not to easy to choose one set only from that list but I just picked one. I am not telling which one

You have a point Jamie for us to do a "Appreciation Week" for every single designer. But I guess it is not doable.

Then we have all the people working in all the other departments of the chain that would need one as well

Still it does not change the fact that you did create so many sets that I actually own or will own in a close future.

I do appretiate a set designer that is actually an AFOL himself. I do not know how many of you designers actually is that.

Anyway, don´t be to modest about yourself!

Feel good about your great work and know that we are many out there who just loves your work.

[The Cobra]

Hats off to this designing genius.

I picked Green grocer as his best work, but I'm waiting to see more of the Grand Emporium.

[Izzy]

Wow! Thanks Izzy and everyone for the kind words. However, I think we could easily have every week of the year booked up once everyone knew how many other fantastic designers and colleagues there are who work here at LEGO. I'm just the fortunate one who's been in the media and at LEGO fan events lately :) *snip*

Cheers and many thanks again,

jamie :)

You are most Welcome Jamie! For those of us who cannot get to events or any place where they will get the chance to meet Lego set designers (such as yourself) I thought it would be nice to let you and your team know that your efforts are really appreciated and in particular you who really puts a lot of extra AFOL style effort into your sets that I know so many fans on here absolutely love.

We would love to 'appreciate' many other designers and other department workers as soon as we can find out who they are.

[escortmad79]

Thanks Jamie for designing so many decent sets (EM, CC, GG, GE).

Thanks for creating a realistic looking steam train in Emerald Night Mine is on order awaiting delivery (Sometime in March!)

Thanks for creating some wonderful realistic looking buildings

Thanks for getting me back into Lego at the age of 30!

[Inconspicuous]

Thanks Jamie for all the awesome sets you've brought us! The Modular buildings have been inspiring and amazing for me, and I can't wait to dive into some of your other work. It's so great that you can share your experiences with us through interviews and participation on these boards.

Thanks again for everything!

[user]

Half a cheer for Jamie! Hip! Hip! hoo! But really he is a great lego designer in fact he's so great he gets his own week of celebration.

[Zorro]

Thanks for your great work, Jamie!

You are in our hearts.

[Holodoc]

Thank you so much for your wonderful creations, Jamie!

Even if some others are working on it as well, it's still the modular buildings-line, that really "kicks-a$$" (the forumsoftware will convert it into kick-megablocks ).

Lego always has been wonderful and a great toy for younger and older FOLs to play with, you (all) put the building idea to a next, a higher level.

We cannot be thankful enough for that.

So this is for you:

THANKS - and keep on rocking (us)!

[MightySlickPancake]

Tut-tut i am dissapointed that you have only giving him a a week if it was up to me he would clearly get at least a month .

no really all his models have been fantstic with no let downs at all . and lets hope he gets one next year .

thanks cb

Edited January 18, 2010 by crabboy329

[Erdbeereis]

Thank you so much for all of your great contributions to the LEGO community Jaime.

I recently built the Green Grocer, and it was the most fun I ever had building a set. Your designs provide a lot of inspiration for my own MOCs, and I look forward to seeing (and buying ) future sets designed by you.

I also think it's fantastic that you find time to visit us once in a while. It's nice to be able to communicate with the people that provide us with what we love.

[ILikePi]

Thank you so much for creating all of these fine sets Jamie!

I own the Winter Toy Shop, and I must say, it looks stunning. Lots of uncommon parts, and I really like the roof technique. Lots of detailing on places like the chimney too!

I really, really wish that I had enough money to purchase Green Grocer, Fire Brigade, and Grand Emporium, but those sets alone would leave me without any other sets for one whole year (I cannot bear with that ). The LEGO Direct "theme" has got to be the best theme in all of LEGO history!

I also like how you visit Eurobricks often, it's always great to see what the guys that designed the sets we all know and love have to say.

[brickme]

Three cheers for jamie. Thanks for all the great sets and here's to many more in the future.

Just wait till next week... hehehe who wouldn't want "Mark stafford week"

[arnoldtblumberg]

Seeing that list of sets at the beginning of this thread, I can safely say that this man and his incredible creative vision is the main reason that I returned in such force to LEGO after years away. I eagerly look forward to what the future holds for Mr. Berard's career and my wallet. :)

[Front]

I had to vote for fast flyer, seeing that noone else did It's a nice set, I know I have at least two, and even built one in different colours.

At least among some in PMD Billund, including me, Jamie is a bit of a star.

Front aka Erland

[Zorbas]

Just this, I think this phrase speaks for itself:

It's nice to be able to communicate with the people that provide us with what we love.

A great thanks Jamie!

[Perterz]

Voted for Café Corner earlier today, it's the set that brought me back into LEGO.

I'm amazed by the detail and refreshing building techniques in those sets, I've learned some SNOT work while building the exclusives which really come in handy for my own MOC'ing, thanks!

Lookijng through my current personal collection: Café Corner, Green Grocer, Emerald Night and Winter Toy Shop + Fire Brigade that's on the way + Grand Emporium comming soon; I can say I'm a fan of Jamie.

I've noticed you visit the forums sometimes, that's unique and fantastic. TLG is deffinatly on huge progress towards adults, thank you!