Lego Digital Designer
Program to build models using virtual LEGO bricks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lego Digital Designer is a discontinued CAD software made by Qube Software and the Lego Group. It allows people to design a virtual model using a selection of virtual Lego bricks. These models could be saved locally as well as be uploaded to the Lego website for sharing and ordering as a physical product.[4][5]
mac OS X 10.1 or higher
| LEGO Digital Designer | |
|---|---|
| |
Screenshot  Building a creation in the program | |
| Developers | |
| Initial release | 24 July 2003[2] |
| Final release | 4.3.12
/ 18 November 2019[3] |
| Operating system | Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or Windows 11 mac OS X 10.1 or higher |
| Size | 276 - 285 MB |
| Available in | English, German |
| Type | Computer-aided design |
| License | Closed source (Freeware) |
| Website | ldd |
It was available for macOS and Windows, but only as a 32-bit application, which means that it didn't run on newer versions of macOS. The program allowed users to build models using virtual Lego bricks, in a computer-aided design like manner. Until 16 January 2012, these could be uploaded, along with instructions and a box design, to the Lego Design byME website, from where the models could be ordered for delivery as a real, packaged set. Users could also take screenshots of their models and store the models on their computer in an .LXF file. On 9 November 2011, Lego declared that the Design byME service was going to end on 16 January 2012, due to its failure to meet quality expectations and for being too complex. In its absence, custom brick orders have had to be made via the Pick a Brick service. The closing of Design byME has not affected the ability of users to print custom instructions for their models.[6]
On 21 January 2016, Lego announced the project had been defunded, and would not receive any more significant updates,[7] although it continued to receive updates occasionally.[8] In early 2022, Lego Digital Designer was officially discontinued, with BrickLink Studio becoming its replacement.[9][10]
A special version of Lego Digital Designer (Hollywood Edition) was used in the making of the Lego Movie franchise.[11] The Hollywood Edition has also been used in the creation of Forza Horizon 4 - Lego Speed Champions.[12]
See also
- List of Lego computer-aided design programs
- LeoCAD, an open source alternative