The creator of LEGO is who? Behind the tiny bricks that have captivated millions of children lies the challenging journey of Ole Kirk Kristiansen, the founder of LEGO in Denmark. From a small carpentry workshop, he gradually built a globally famous toy brand and laid the foundations for the modern LEGO brick system.
Join Mykingdom as we look back at the key milestones in LEGO's history and explore how this brand has developed across generations.
Who created LEGO? Ole Kirk Kristiansen and the origins in the carpentry workshop
Ole Kirk Kristiansen: The Founder of LEGO
Against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the 1930s, the talented carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen in the town of Billund (Denmark) began producing meticulously crafted wooden toys such as cars, airplanes, and the iconic pull-along wooden duck.
His perseverance and innovative thinking laid the first cornerstone of LEGO's toy history.
The challenges from the ashes and the turning point in history
Ole Kirk Kristiansen's business faced several fires, with his workshop burned down in 1924 and once again in 1942. After each disaster, he chose to rebuild from scratch.
After World War II, he astutely introduced plastic injection molding into toy production alongside the traditional wooden toys. In 1949, LEGO produced the first plastic bricks capable of interlocking under the name Automatic Binding Bricks, the precursor of today's LEGO brick system.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and the modern LEGO brick
If Ole Kirk Kristiansen laid the foundations, his son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, was the one who developed the modern LEGO brick.
In 1958, Godtfred filed a patent for the "stud-and-tube" design. This initiative helped bricks lock together firmly yet remain easy to take apart.
In 1960, a major fire at a wooden toy warehouse became a turning point that led LEGO to stop producing wooden toys and focus on plastic toys. By 1963, the company began using ABS plastic, giving bricks high durability, color stability, and an ideal ability to hold interlocking joints.
The founder's philosophy "Det bedste er ikke for godt" (Only the best is not good enough) remains the guiding principle to this day.
LEGO brick molds achieve extremely high precision with a tolerance of only about 0.005 mm – roughly 1/10 the width of a human hair, allowing bricks produced decades ago to still connect perfectly with bricks produced today.
The founder's green legacy is alive in Vietnam
The founder's family's sustainable vision continues to be realized in Southeast Asia. In April 2025, the LEGO Group officially inaugurated a manufacturing plant in Bình Dương with a total investment of more than USD 1.3 billion.
The factory is designed with sustainability in mind, aiming to operate entirely on renewable energy from 2026. Here, LEGO has also completed planting 50,000 trees in the surrounding area to support biodiversity and minimize environmental impact.
Helping children develop holistically with authentic LEGO bricks at Mykingdom
LEGO DUPLO: The first bricks for young children
LEGO DUPLO is a line of products for young children, with many sets designed for kids from 1.5 years old and up. The larger bricks help little ones easily grasp, stack, develop fine motor skills, and become familiar with shapes and colors.
Ignite imagination through the real world with LEGO City
For children who are starting to engage with more complex building sets, LEGO City offers familiar themes such as fire trucks, rescue stations, or police helicopters. The building experience helps children develop dexterity and problem-solving skills.
Nurturing warm hearts and sharing skills with LEGO Friends
Open up a world of sweet friendship through familiar role-play scenarios in a bakery or a veterinary clinic; the LEGO Friends line provides opportunities for children to practice communication, build stories, and share.
Thinking challenges and courage with LEGO Ninjago
For adventurous kids, the LEGO Ninjago world offers majestic sacred dragons or mighty armor. The building and role-playing experience of good versus evil provides opportunities for children to practice perseverance, concentration, and the ability to face challenges.
Ignite technical thinking and a passion for mechanics with LEGO Technic
LEGO Technic is suitable for older kids and those who love exploring mechanics, with sets of varying difficulty depending on the design. The gear system and pistons move realistically, helping players nurture logical thinking and practical science.
Common questions parents have about LEGO's brand history
Who created the LEGO toys?
Ole Kirk Kristiansen is the founder of the LEGO Group and laid the groundwork for the brand with wooden toys in 1932.
Where does the LEGO name come from?
The brand name is derived from "Leg godt" in Danish, meaning "play well" or "play nicely."
Where to safely buy genuine LEGO in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, LEGO toys are officially distributed by Viet Tinh Anh Joint Stock Company – the operator of the Mykingdom store network.
To ensure you purchase genuine products that meet international quality standards, are safe for children, and come with attentive age-appropriate guidance, parents can visit the Mykingdom store network nationwide or order online at the Mykingdom website.
Every small colorful brick is a loving gift inspired by the noble philosophy of the creator of LEGO. Mykingdom is always ready to accompany parents on the journey to nurture creativity and cherish their child's sweet childhood.
Visit Mykingdom today to choose high-quality genuine LEGO sets to gift to your little one, dear parents!
Source: LEGO
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