Lego Digital Designer

So during the Christmas break I thought I would get a little creative and build a VIRTUAL LEGO MODEL using an application called Lego Digital Designer (LDD), which is a completely free computer program created by the LEGO team. The aim of the program is to allow users to use their imagination and build LEGO models using virtual LEGO bricks designed within a computer-aided manner. It is designed to run on Mac or Windows platforms, where the screen loads up with a clean LEGO board as shown below:

The beauty of the program is that it isn't age-based, and therefore means children and adults alike can share in the building experience and follow their interests. Children can also use this to develop their imagination in a way that is not lead by adults, without the stress of mess, while also developing their computer skills. Using the different range of tools building becomes easy and using the Save Tool allows you to close the program and come back to it again later, allowing you to add more and more to your model until you are completely satisfied with the outcome or want to start again on something new!

You are also able to share your mode with the rest of the world once you have finished, as stated on the LEGO website 'when you are finished with your amazing creation, you can upload your LEGO Digital Designer file to the MINDSTORMS Community. Other LEGO MINDSTORM fans from around the world will have access to your instructions to build your new robot! You can also read comments and feedback'. This is an interesting feature as those who share a love for LEGO can easily go online and view what their friends have created and then get ideas from their designs, or can proudly show their models to others as well. 

I myself have tried using the program and decided to build a simple red brick house with a white picket fence. At first I found the program rather difficult to navigate and needed my more experienced friend, Archie (a link to his portfolio can be found here), to show me the ropes and find my way around the LEGO board so to say. I would therefore suggest children who want to use this application be supervised by an adult as it can be quite mindboggling to a new Virtual LEGO Builder! Its fair to say that I'm far from becoming a Master Builder, but I am rather happy with the overall result of my house design as shown above!