{"id":12428,"date":"2017-09-05T11:34:19","date_gmt":"2017-09-05T01:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legoeng.local\/?p=12428"},"modified":"2017-09-07T15:22:50","modified_gmt":"2017-09-07T05:22:50","slug":"meet-the-creator-jason-allemann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/legoeng.local\/meet-the-creator-jason-allemann\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Creator: Jason Allemann"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jason Allemann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jason Alleman\u00a0is well known for his LEGO kinetic sculptures and unique MINDSTORMS models. He has\u00a0a degree in Engineering, and enjoy building models that have some kind of interesting motion.\u00a0He is an inspiration to other LEGO builders, not only in terms of his amazing creations, but also in how he shares his creative process. His YouTube channel has over 255,000 subscribers.<\/p>\n

He is an avid rock climber, and can often be found at the top of a mountain. Jason\u00a0once spent a year and a half traveling through North America living out of a car, camping, rock climbing, and hiking.<\/p>\n

How did you get started building with LEGO bricks?<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve been building on and off since I was a child. I didn\u2019t have a large collection growing up – a few Technic sets, some basic brick and a couple of Classic Space sets – but I was hooked from the start. I was especially fascinated by the mechanical capabilities of the Technic system, and I guess I still am today.<\/p>\n

Which project (or projects) are you the most proud of? Why?<\/h4>\n

Probably the kinetic sculptures I\u2019ve built. Sisyphus, the galloping horse, clockwork heart, etc. Most LEGO Technic sets have a very distinctive look, but I really enjoy the challenge of combining the engineering aspects of Technic building with brick built style sculpture.<\/p>\n

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Sisyphus Kinetic Sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where do you find inspiration for new projects?<\/h4>\n

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Watching videos of cool mechanisms, observing the environment around me, seeing other models people have built, etc. I just try to be open to new ideas when they come.<\/p>\n

I never know when inspiration will hit and it it often comes out of nowhere, completely by surprise.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Prototypes of Jason’s Horse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How many iterations do you typically go through when you create your projects?<\/h4>\n

Many. I usually start with a simple prototype capturing the basic motion \/ functionality \/ shaping that I want to achieve, then progressively refine it through subsequent models before ending up with the final result. Typically I\u2019ll build between 3 to 5 different prototypes for a model, each more elaborate than the last.<\/p>\n

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Prototype, prototype, prototype seems to be my modus operandi.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you document your creative process? If so, how and why?<\/h4>\n

I usually don\u2019t do much documentation while I\u2019m building. I have learned never to take apart one prototype before building the next one though.<\/p>\n

There is nothing worse than getting something to work the way I want, then taking it apart to build the next version and forgetting how it went together!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I do occasionally photograph the different stages of a model for the same reason. I often make instructions of my models once they are finished though, so I can share them with others, and also so I can rebuild them if I ever have to take them apart.<\/p>\n

What role does failure have in your creative process?<\/h4>\n

When things don\u2019t work as planned, it\u2019s an opportunity to try different approaches and be more creative. I find this is often when the real magic happens, and is also a great opportunity for learning. I\u2019ve encountered many problems while designing models, and abandoned several projects altogether because they just haven\u2019t worked out. I don\u2019t consider any of these \u2018failures\u2019 though, because in each case I learned a lot about different mechanisms, building techniques, and what is possible within the LEGO system.<\/p>\n

How do you evaluate your success?<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m very much internally motivated, so I usually count a model as successful if it achieves my initial goals, often before I\u2019ve even finished the final model. Usually, by the final prototype all of the major technical problems have been solved, and all that\u2019s left to do are the finishing touches. At that point I often find it difficult to actually focus on finishing a model. I\u2019m easily distracted by new projects with new problems to solve.<\/p>\n