Designing the Berkeley sets

We go through quite a process when designing our sets. We start with an idea, some prominent features from a college campus that we want to incorporate. Sometimes there are too many features and we end up having to leave some out, as was the case here.

One of the fun parts is figuring out how to bring out certain features in a building/location using a LEGO pieces that is clearly something else. In the LEGO world that’s called NPU - nice part usage.

So, scroll on down to see some of the renders of the build in process. We hope you enjoy this little insight into our process.

Starting with Sather Gate - pretzels were bad idea #1.

First attempt at the Campanile.

Trying out some other tower designs. Already the unicorn horns and roller skates make an appearance at the very top.

Combining the tower and the gate - not bad! We found a mud guard worked great for the arch of the gate, and binoculars were added for the gate decoration on top.

Added Doe Library - this one came together quickly.

Adding camouflage to the base of the Campanile so it doesn't look so stubby. Added transparent minifig heads for the globes on either side of the gate.

Bad idea #2 - using a Statue of Liberty head to replicate the top part of Sather Gate.

Trying to fit the Berkeley rose garden in there but it's too tight a squeeze.

Football stadium? Not bad...

Now we have multiple options! Bad idea #3 - LBNL in the middle set looks like a weirdly-colored cupcake.

Still more options!

Attempt at a combo set featuring Doe and the Stadium but it's tight.

Final set design - this one was the winner! We added a skate to mimic the hands of the clock at the top of the tower saving the need to print a sticker. The fewer stickers the better!