Most of us are still figuring out the instruction booklet while our kids race ahead of us — but nine-year-old Sienna took things a step further. She became one of the first children in the world to see her own idea turned into an official, worldwide LEGO set. Read on to find out how she did it, and take a peek at the set she helped design.
How Did Sienna Become a LEGO Designer?
LEGO ran a LEGO Friends design contest inviting children to let their imaginations run wild and create their own official LEGO set idea.
After receiving thousands of creative entries from children all over the world, LEGO chose Sienna’s design as the winning idea.
“We received creative, fun and innovative ideas for new LEGO sets from children all over the world,” said LEGO Friends designer Ricardo Silva at the time. “In the end, Sienna’s idea won because it was so appealing and original, and at the same time aesthetically pleasing with many fun design details. All the entries showed the endless creativity of children, and we are happy and humbled to find so many children interested in becoming LEGO designers.”
As the winner, Sienna and her family travelled to LEGO headquarters in Denmark, where she spent a week with the design team turning her idea into a real LEGO set. LEGO didn’t stop there — they also modelled and named a mini-doll after her, adding Sienna to the LEGO Friends gang.
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Sienna’s Winning LEGO Set
Sienna lives in London with her parents and little brother. She loves her local playground and playing with her grandmother’s dog, Pippa — and all of these favourite things found their way into her design. Her winning set, named the LEGO Friends Heartlake City Playground, is a place to have a blast with your best friends.
The 326-piece set features a tree house, a climbing wall, a slide, working swings, a spinning merry-go-round, a fountain and a rocking see-saw. Pippa the dog even makes an appearance alongside the LEGO Friends, who use their walkie-talkies to invite more friends out to play.
Have a look at the video below to hear Sienna talk about winning the contest and her trip to LEGO headquarters:
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What would your child design if they had creative control? Would they build a garage for a car collection, a skate park, or something entirely their own? Leave a comment below and let us know what your budding designer would create — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sienna, the LEGO designer?
Sienna is a nine-year-old girl from London who entered a LEGO Friends design competition and won, becoming one of the first children to have her own idea turned into an official worldwide LEGO set.
What is the LEGO Friends Heartlake City Playground set?
It’s a 326-piece LEGO Friends set based on Sienna’s own idea, featuring a tree house, climbing wall, slide, swings, a merry-go-round, a fountain, a see-saw, and Pippa the dog joining the LEGO Friends.
Can my child enter a LEGO design competition like this one?
LEGO runs design competitions from time to time, though they aren’t always open. It’s worth keeping an eye on LEGO’s official channels for any current opportunities for young designers to submit their own ideas.
Is Sienna’s LEGO set still available to buy?
This set was released as part of a limited competition launch, so availability may have changed since then. Check LEGO’s official shop or a LEGO retailer for current stock.
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If you enjoyed Sienna’s story, you might also like:
- 4 Nifty Apps for Making the Best Stop Motion Lego Movies
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Looking for More Rainy-Day Ideas?
Rain outside? A LEGO building session is one of the easiest ways to keep kids happily busy indoors. Browse our rainy-day activity ideas for more inspiration to save for the next wet afternoon.
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