Chad Steahly

 Project
Autumn Cafe Custom LEGO Design
Role
Set Designer
Graphic Designer
Software Used
Lego Digital Designer, BrickLink

Admittedly, this project was just for fun but I can’t help myself from adding it to my portfolio. I first designed this custom LEGO set in the computer using Lego Digital Designer. I then purchased all the pieces from sellers on BrickLink and prayed that the set would come together based off of the digital blueprint…and it did!

I had a blast designing this little set, acquiring the parts, and seeing the physical set come together just as I had imagined it in the design software. So much of what I do professionally exists solely in the digital realm. It was a nice change of pace to work on a creative project which ended with a physical end product.

When I finished the set I posted it to Lego Ideas, and the LEGO community was incredibly kind and encouraging. The set even inspired a review on All Day Bricks. The LEGO community is one of the best communities out there on the internet. Thank you, LEGO friends!

basic info

Dimensions: 10"x10"x5" [built on a 32x32 baseplate]
Number of Pieces: 1,600+
Number of Minifigures: 8

model description

It’s early Autumn.  The air is brisk and the sky is brightly overcast.  Small streaks of sunlight peak through the plump clouds overhead while chilly bursts of an Autumn breeze rustles the crunchy leaves dancing across the sidewalk outside the café.  Inside patrons enjoy the warmth of a well-made, foggy cup of coffee.  They peer out of the windows and wonder - about their past, present, or future.  Entire afternoons float away in coffee cups.  Entire worlds are discovered through headphones, newspapers, or books.  What seemed like another mundane autumn day has transformed into an unforgettable moment inside the warmth and comfort of the Autumn Café.

This model was initially designed using LEGO’s Digital Designer program [LDD].  Once the digital model was complete, I purchased the piece inventory and built a tangible model of the design.  The images included with this project are actual images of the physical model.  The exterior design includes benches, trees, foliage, a black bicycle parked in the back, lighting fixtures, a front and back entrance, an outdoor dining area in the front of the café, and a custom sticker which displays the café’s name over both the front and back door. 

The interior includes a fully-detailed café which includes a complete service area with an espresso maker, blender, bar, sink, and a cash register. Tables and chairs are included in the customer dining area along with a newspaper stand, a shelving unit containing merchandise, trash can, wall clock, and even a fire extinguisher to ensure that the café’s safety standards are up to code.  

The roof of the café is built as one single piece attached only by a small number of studs around the top of the café’s wall build.  The entire roof is removable to allow for easy access to the café’s interior.   

the minifigures

This project includes a total of 8 minifigures, all of which are custom minifigures built using preexisting minifigure parts from various sets. The minifigures included are:
    
    + Male and Female Barista: the cheerful customers make their job easy
    + The Café Bum: he spends way too much time in cafés reading newspapers
    + The College Kid: he’s listening to music, but he should be studying
    + The Mother and the Daughter: enjoying a treasured afternoon together
    + The Grandmother: She’s in her morning routine. Drop of the grandchildren at school, grab a coffee
    + The Local Songwriter: the town loves when he has time to play outside the café

The Digital Design

the physical model

graphic designs

feedback from the lego community