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Lux Blox: A More Dynamic Take on Lego

These allow you to create flexible, bendable, roll-able, articulating shapes

By Rain Noe - June 8, 2016

in Toy | Design Business

While the company Lux Blox never mentions Lego by name, their tagline of "A new century deserves a new block" makes it clear who they're taking aim at. Invented by artist Michael Acerra and wife Heather, Lux Blox have a more organic aesthetic; the shapes seem reminiscent of something a science teacher might use to explain chemistry, biology or one of the other courses I failed in high school. But like the Danish toy staple, they can be connected ad infinitum.

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Whereas Lego blocks are rigid, Lux Blox are flexible, taking advantage of the properties of plastic to form a snap-lock connection that's strong enough to hold even as the parts are bent. As a result, you can build sheets that fold and roll up, structures with articulating joints, shapes that expand and contract and more:

Welcome to LUX - the intelligent construction block. from Lux on Vimeo.

Of course, the real test of the saleability of Lux Blox versus Lego may have to do with the question every parent will ask: "When my child leaves these on the floor and I step on them barefoot, which one hurts more?"

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Scott Watrous

8 years ago

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They look fun but if the name of the game is salability they look Dead on Arrival.

They don't have trucks and pirate ships and mini people with funny expressions. They don't have knights on horses with shiny swords, and any castle you build won't have all kinds of fun furniture.

What makes LEGO is the detail. It's taking the random custom shapes and mixing and matching to make new texture.

These things are more worthy a better block if compared to K'NEX

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- Mike Acerra
  
  Scott Watrous
  
  8 years ago
  
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  Hi Scott- we totally hear you. We intentionally kept clear of Lego's formula. We don't even provide printed instructions in the box. We are into free play open ended construction. They star whole in the center of the block is designed to fit cheap common ubiquitous items like Popsicle sticks and pencils. Again- unlike LEgo we don't want a licensed franchise on what you can stick in our block. It is more a creature of the DIY and Maker movement than the toy industry.
  We have zero interest in mass market- keeping our eyes on aspiration parents and smart shopper looking for an alternative to the specialized licensed toy market offerings. Lux is currently sold in over 250 specialty toy retailers and museum stores in the US and Canada since its launch last October. We will be in over 450 Barnes and Noble stares this fall, and featured at MoMA design store. We are fans of Bucky Fuller and love doing more with less. And currently we have launched Lux with only one single shape.
  
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Mike Acerra

8 years ago

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"Danish Toy Shape"? Lux are made in 'merica, man. :)

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  Mike Acerra
  
  8 years ago
  
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  Whoops- I misread shape for staple.
  
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Mike Nelson Pedde

8 years ago

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What Scott said may be true, but I hope not. I grew up with Lego (and Mechano and Lincoln Logs) as well as string and empty toilet paper rolls and (rare, coveted) empty spools of thread. Back then Lego didn't have all of the specialized pieces it has today and I think the company was better for it. Using them required Imagination. My cousins and I used to build dragsters from Leho that ran on rubber bands, and we learned about torque, power vs. weight ratios and more. If you buy a Lego starship or whatever today you're not Requiredto build whatever is in the picture on the cover butyou're strongly encouraged to do so (because to build something different you'd have to buy another kit).

My grandsons would love these. Hell, I want some!!

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