Here’s how much money you could make from Bricklink Designer Program Series 1. Hint: a lot!
February 3, 2023
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In December, Bricklink announced the return of the Bricklink Designer Program with a few small tweaks, and a soft-reset of the program, with submissions for Series 1 now open until 28 February 2023.
Budding Bricklink Designer Program Designers now have all of February 2023 to get their submissions through to be considered for the next Review Round, before the 5 shortlisted designs will be announced in late May 2023.
One of the major differences with previous Bricklink Designer Program rounds is that previous designs were taken from LEGO Ideas Review Rounds submissions, and was an invite-only program, but this new Series is an open invitation, allowing anyone to submit designs.
Aspiring fan designers will also have to follow Submission Guidelines, where there are requirements that cover theme, size, part selection, part usage, stability, submodels, building experience, working models, stressing the elements, Minifigures, and stickers.
Another consideration is that submissions should contain digital instructions, and unlike the previous rounds, there will be less hands on contact with LEGO’s Model Governance team, so there needs to be way more consideration from budding designers on not just the overall design and presentation, but how sets are built, and instructions are laid out.
Oh, and designs also need to be made in Bricklink Designer Studio, which took over from LEGO Digital Designer (RIP).
How much money can you make from Bricklink Designer Program Series 1?
And now to the interesting bit, and why I think this could be a potentially very lucrative project for talented builders.
Successful fan designers who get their submissions approved, and crowdfunded will receive royalties of 5% from the net price of each set sold.
It might not sound like much, but let me show you the earning potential of successful fan designs. All prices below are in USD.
| Price Per Set | Total royalties if 3,000 units sold | Total royalties if 10,000 units sold | Total royalties if 20,000 units sold |
| $100 | $15,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| $200 | $30,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
| $275 | $41,250 | $137,500 | $275,000 |
| $300 | $45,000 | $150,000 | $300,000 |
| $400 | $60,000 | $200,000 | $400,000 |
| $500 | $75,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
Here’s a table of different permutations of prices, and assumptions based on 3,000 (minimum for crowdfunding), 10,000 and the maximum of 20,000 units sold.
Update: I’ve also just heard from Bricklink clarified the 5% net sales. The 5% of the sales is minus shipping costs and VAT/ sales taxes for countries where its included in the price.
Obviously a LOT of factors will weigh on which projects get through the review round, and most importantly, whether fans will back them, but the Bricklink Designer Program sets have been incredibly popular with deep-pocketed adult fans, with Round 3 design selling out in less than 24 hours.
The US$275 price might seem odd, but that was the average price of Round 3 models. The most expensive set in that round was Train Station: Studgate (4,062 pieces) which came in at US$399.99.
Assuming the designs are rock-solid, you can see the potential earnings for these sets to be life-changing amounts, and I think a great way to reward some of the most talented builders and fan designers in the community.
Even if you get a design in at US$100, and it sells 20,000 copies, that’s a cool US$100,000 in your bank account.
Bricklink Designer Program Round 3 sets and prices
- 1950s Diner (1,377 pieces) – US$129.99/ AU$179.99
- Train Station: Studgate (4,062 pieces) – US$399.99/ AU$549.99
- Winter Chalet (2,705 pieces) – US$199.99/ AU$279.99
- Mountain View Observatory (3,889 pieces) – US$319.99/ AU$449.99
- Modular Construction Site (3,371 pieces) – US$319.99/ AU$449.99
Judging by the hugely successful first 3 rounds, especially Round 3 with some of the biggest, and most advanced models… there’s definitely appetite for large, complex sets from fans of the Bricklink Designer Program, so I think it shouldn’t be difficult for designs to hit the crowdfunding minimum threshold of 3,000 units.
Of course, there are many unknowns here with final pricing being set by LEGO, and of course, fan voting being a crucial element to which 5 sets will make it to the Crowdfunding Round.
So yeah, if you’ve been thinking about whether to submit a design to Bricklink Designer Program Series 1, maybe the potential economical payoff that I’ve highlighted here will sway you to put in the work necessary to throw your hat in the ring.
You have until 28 February 2023 to prepare and submit your submission. Good luck!
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