The LEGO Ideas theme, which started in 2008 as an offshoot of the Japanese website Cuusoo, then formally known as LEGO Cuusoo, is based around a website which allows users to submit ideas for LEGO products to be turned into potential sets available commercially. If fellow users in the LEGO Ideas community up vote the project to 10000 then LEGO Group has a committee which votes on whether to build the set and release it. If the project is approved and cleared for production, it is developed and later released as an official set under the "LEGO Ideas" banner and the original designer receives 1% of the royalties and a number of free sets. Typically, a few projects are approved a year and most are rejected due to various restrictions.
2021 LEGO Sets
In 2021, LEGO explored digital-physical play with LEGO VIDIYO, a collaboration with Universal Music Group that let users create augmented-reality music videos using minifigures and collectible BeatBits. Although short-lived, the experiment reflected LEGO’s continued pursuit of hybrid play experiences. The LEGO Art series expanded with more display sets inspired by pop culture and design icons, strengthening LEGO’s appeal among adult builders. Established themes such as Star Wars, City, and Technic maintained momentum, while LEGO unveiled prototype bricks made from recycled materials—an early step toward fully sustainable production.