Interview with Steve Guinness, fan designer of 21327 Typewriter
Posted by Huw,
As the latest LEGO Ideas set hits the shelves, we sat down with its fan designer Steve Guinness to find out what happened after he learned that his project had passed review:
Steve, we last spoke to you in September 2019 when your project was still gathering support and shortly before it achieved it. What were your thoughts when it did so?
I was very happy once the number of supporters had reached 10,000. I actually stayed up and watched it hit the magic milestone in the early hours of the morning!
Did you think at the time that there was much of a chance that it would pass review?
I was always hopeful, but just didn’t know which way it would go. Once it reaches 10,000 supporters, as a fan designer you have done all that you can do, then it’s all in the hands of the LEGO review panel to decide, so I had a long and nervous wait!
When the results were announced last summer you must have been ecstatic! Did you celebrate?
I actually found out on a conference call with the LEGO ideas team, just a few days before the official results were announced. They said they wanted a call to go over a few of the details of my submission, and then surprised me during the call with the good news! After the call it was quite emotional sharing the news with my wife, son and daughter. They are so proud of my achievement and are my biggest supporters; it’s a moment I will never forget.
What was your involvement in the development process and how soon did that begin?
The development process actually began very quickly. The first virtual meeting with the design team was on the same day as the public announcement of the review results. I have had quite a few virtual meetings and got to visit the team out in Billund which was amazing. The timing was perfect in-between two UK lockdowns, so I was very lucky.
I was really made to feel a part of the team and even got to go inside Innovation House which was pretty cool! In each meeting the designers would share their developments and give me lots of opportunity to contribute. As an example, at one stage they mocked up 6 different colour variations for the typewriter and asked me which one I would prefer. I went for the Sand Green, as this was the colour of my final prototype and the colour of the Erika 10 Typewriter that I got inspiration from.
Were you surprised by the amount of functionality the designers managed to cram into the machine?
The functionality is fantastic. The two main designers Wes Talbot and James May have done a great job and also got some help from some of the Technic specialists within the design department. My different prototypes did incorporate a range of movement and the model I made using a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 had a moving carriage as well, but the fact that you can now press every key is brilliant.
What's your favourite part of the final model?
It’s hard to pick a favourite part as I love all of it; however the two parts that stand out are probably parts that may get overlooked by most people! The sticker on the back, with my personal Easter egg of ”SG NGUOYD” meaning “Steve Guinness: Never Give Up On Your Dreams” and the letter from Thomas Keld Kristiansen.
It’s very rare for the family owners of the company to have direct involvement in a LEGO set, and to have such a personal letter is really amazing. It also reflects my hope that the set might inspire some new people to build with LEGO, and come to realise that LEGO really is not just a kid’s toy, but an amazing system allowing limitless creativity.
Is there anything about it you wish had turned out differently?
The final set is beyond my expectations and I really am very happy with it. I had originally had an idea for the box being shaped like a typewriter case, I had even made a cardboard model for one of the updates in my original submission. The design team did look in to this, and at one stage investigated the option of having an additional shaped box inside the outer packaging. This didn’t work out but I guess it gives me the opportunity of making a unique LEGO case for it at some point!
Will you be rushing down to a LEGO store to see your model on the shelf?
Yes, I plan to be first in the queue, with my wife and children! It’s a moment I have dreamed of so it will be pretty fun to do! Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions LEGO decided against organising any signing events, so it will be fun to see if anyone recognises me on the day!
Do you have plans to launch any more Ideas projects?
I do have a couple of ideas up my sleeve, but I know that the LEGO Ideas platform is super competitive at the moment with large numbers of projects going to review, so I’ll want to get any future projects I submit just right before I submit them, so watch this space.
Thanks Steve!
21327 Typewriter is now available at LEGO.com.
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25 comments on this article
Congrats, Steve. Fantastic achievement!
It's amazing to see what comes out of the Ideas programme. One of the first sets I bought, coming out of my Dark Age, was the Ideas (Cuusoo) BTTF Delorean. Great though that set is, the designs coming out of Ideas now are a world apart.
Thank you for the interview and congratulations on achieving such a challenging goal! The typewriter is a beautiful set and will make a lot of people happy:)
If I were him, and if it weren't for COVID-19 restrictions, I'd be standing next to where it was on the shelves at the Lego store with the biggest grin on my face...
Faszinating read.
And wow, James May now works as LEGO designer. Very fitting.
Good thing they didn't hire Jeremy Clarkson though! I can just imagine him during brainstorming sessions for new sets saying "how hard can it be" ;-)
Caveat, before anyone tries to lecture me: of course I know this is not THE James May we know and love.
So cool to have an idea brought to life, would love to be able to create something this good. Though as Lego gains popularity it seems more and more are creating and getting ideas approved now.
I hardly have the time to build lego sets i have let alone create my own.
Congratulations, Steve, on a lovely set. Such a terrific accomplishment.
Really enjoyed the interview.
@AustinPowers said:
"Good thing they didn't hire Jeremy Clarkson "
Came here to make that joke but you had beaten me to it :P
Congratulations, Steve! You and LEGO’s team really put together a beautiful set. You must be immensely (and justly) proud!
I hope to join you among the ranks of LEGO Ideas fan designers one day. It probably won’t happen, of course, but you never know…
Congratulations to Steve!
Beautiful model, Steve. Well done!
Wonderful achievement! And to have it cast in Sand Green :-)
You know this already, but please ignore the naysayers commenting on other related articles.
Congratulations, Steve! Really nice model (supported :-) and interview!
Great interview and SUPER CONGRATS STEVE!!!
@BooTheMightyHamster said:
"Congrats, Steve. Fantastic achievement!
It's amazing to see what comes out of the Ideas programme. One of the first sets I bought, coming out of my Dark Age, was the Ideas (Cuusoo) BTTF Delorean. Great though that set is, the designs coming out of Ideas now are a world apart."
Now we need a UCS Delorean like the Ecto 1. Imagine the pair on display!
@AustinPowers said:
"Caveat, before anyone tries to lecture me: of course I know this is not THE James May we know and love. "
It's NOT the one we know and love? So it's the James May from Top Gear then? ;)
(Kidding! They're both great.)
Great news, Steve, and fully deserved for all your innovation, design and also my favourite brick colour!
Fun fact, the Top Gear James May actually had a LEGO House built and later demolished.
@TeriXeri said:
"Fun fact, the Top Gear James May actually had a LEGO House built and later demolished."
Demolished sounds a bit brutal. Actually it was simply dismantled and the pieces given away to charity.
The whole "James May's Toy Stories" series is awesome and a definite recommendation. Not just the LEGO episode but all of them. Great fun, especially the model railroad one where he and his team "battled" a German team from Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland. :-)
Nice interview. Congrats to steve, well done!
Congratulations, Steve! And wow I can't believe we were this close to getting a custom box which 10282 Adidas Originals Superstar ended up getting... wouldn't it have been cool to have both.
Congratulations! Great interview! I’m glad you chose sand green as the color too, it’s gorgeous!
Wow what a long journey from winning the UK Lego Masters in 2017. I am glad that something physical has finally materialized after that success. Thank you for the long answers, provided interesting details about the process going on behind the scenes to enhance the product. Glad they were able to obtain the carriage movement from a spring rather than using Mind-storms. Interesting last comment about Lego Ideas being ultra competitive now, meaning need to think of something totally original that really stands out to be noticed.
@Henry_D:
As the fan designer, he won’t need to buy it. They’ll give him a stack of free copies, but I can’t remember the exact quantity. As for sales, you probably haven’t noticed all the comments from people who said they plan to buy this, or that they already have. Granted, it’s only a few dozen, at most, but as a percentage of the commenters, it’s enough to indicate this will have decent sales even if it’s not the most popular set on the shelves.
@Henry_D said:
"This thong is more poontless than piano, wich is impossible to imagine"
I haven't seen the Lego thong yet, so I shall reserve judgement. As for the Piano and the Typewriter; both excellent sets, although maybe not particularly aimed at you... probably better to stick to Star Wars.
@sjr60 said:
" @Henry_D said:
"This thong is more poontless than piano, wich is impossible to imagine"
I haven't seen the Lego thong yet"
Well, we've just gotten the Adidas shoe, so a matching thong is definitely in the cards... ;-)