From Bricks to Bugs: How LEGO® Can Inspire a Love of the Natural World

Building an insect out of LEGO® bricks might seem like a purely creative exercise. But anyone who has tried to recreate the delicate wings of a dragonfly, the segmented body of a beetle, or the intricate pattern of a butterfly quickly discovers that it requires something more: close observation.

LEGO® stick bug built by Travis Schmidt-Wagner

To capture the details that make each species unique, builders often find themselves studying reference photos, noticing colors and textures they had previously overlooked, and asking questions about how these remarkable creatures are put together. In the process, a simple hobby can become an invitation to look more closely at the natural world.

That connection between creativity and curiosity is one reason LEGO® has become more than just a toy. For generations of builders, it has provided a hands-on way to explore ideas, solve problems, and bring the wonders of nature to life — brick by brick. From NASA-themed sets to botanical collections and prehistoric creatures, LEGO® has long embraced science as a source of inspiration.

“Play and education go hand in hand for the LEGO® Group,” says BrickSlopes show manager Bryan Benson. “LEGO® has done a lot over the years to push science. From NASA and other space-related sets to animals, and even rocks and crystals.”

Museums are uniquely positioned to encourage this kind of lifelong learning — which is why NHMU has partnered with community organizations to host an insect and Bug World-themed LEGO® contest this summer.

“One aspect of museums that I’ve always found compelling is the ability to engage people with science in informal ways that speak to their interests,” says Jason Cryan, Ph.D., NHMU’s Sarah B. George Executive Director and trained entomologist. “People who might not consider themselves museum enthusiasts might be interested in this community-building event around a fun science topic. In participating, they may become interested in learning more about bugs, about science, and about the museum.”

Looking Closely at Nature

Scientific discovery begins with observation, and building with LEGO® often encourages the same mindset. Creating a realistic model means paying attention to proportions, shapes, patterns, and movement. Builders experiment with different pieces, revise their designs, and search for creative ways to capture features found in nature.

Ladybug on giant flower. Build by Ryan McNaught

Subjects from nature present a unique challenge to builders because those models don’t always follow the straight lines and efficiencies humans tend to favor. 

“Nature doesn’t conform to human standards,” Benson says. “We build things utilitarian and efficient. Nature develops in ways that ensure survival.”

That challenge is part of what makes the natural world so compelling for LEGO® artists. 

“Nature is such a rich source of inspiration for LEGO® builders because of its complex patterns, organic curves, and endless variety,” says LEGO® artist Matt Heff of the Utah LEGO® User Group and a volunteer for NHMU’s Paleo Field Team. “This presents the ultimate creative challenge for a LEGO® builder who is trying to recreate the living world out of rigid, geometric bricks.”

Creativity Meets Discovery

Building an accurate LEGO® insect model requires more than creative thinking and clever engineering. The challenge mirrors the process of scientific discovery itself.

“The scientific process is one of exploration, experimentation, and discovery,” says Cryan. “Builders will need to learn about bugs, try out different LEGO® pieces to find ones that work for their design, and enjoy and celebrate their completed bug model.”

In fact, creating this kind of model requires learning about insect anatomy and specialized adaptations. “In order to create a cool LEGO® bug, builders will need to learn about insect anatomy,” Cryan says. “I hope builders will learn about both general bug anatomy and specialized structures that define major insect groups, such as the predatory forelegs of praying mantises or the shell-like forewings of beetles.”

Changing Perspectives

Sometimes, this curiosity can even help people overcome fears.

For LEGO® enthusiast Weston Bindrup, participating in the Bug World LEGO® Contest became an unexpected opportunity to confront a lifelong fear of insects.

“I have a fear of bugs,” Bindrup says. “This contest gave me a chance to move outside of my comfort zone and face my fears by building something I've never built before.”

Weston Bindrup created this unique, larger-than-life grasshopper build. Fito Torres for NHMU

As he researched his model, he began looking more closely at the creatures that once made him uncomfortable. “I had to look up zoomed-in pictures of insects to see how their bodies were shaped, how their joints bent, and where to connect wings and legs to the body,” he says. “After a few days, they started to look like regular animals to me.”

Bindrup ultimately chose to build a grasshopper and discovered that combining something he loved with something he feared made the challenge approachable. “LEGO® made it easy to immerse myself without being afraid,” he says. “I'm still a little afraid of bugs, but this contest made a big difference in feeling confident in facing my fears.”

Bringing Science and Creativity Together

This summer, the Natural History Museum of Utah is inviting builders of all ages to experience that same sense of exploration through the Bug World LEGO® Contest.

Created in partnership with local LEGO® communities, the contest celebrates the incredible diversity of insects and other arthropods while encouraging participants to combine creativity with observation.

For Heff, one of the most exciting aspects of the contest will be seeing how builders tackle nature's engineering challenges. “Imagine using a minifig flipper for an insect jaw or a transparent windshield for an insect wing,” he says. “Seeing the creative use of parts to realistically capture nature's organic engineering is going to be so much fun.”

Ant build made by 11-year-old Carson, from Grantsville, Utah. Carson

Meanwhile, Benson is excited to see how builders bring movement to life. “Bugs have such interesting walking patterns,” he says. “Some move very fluidly, and the angles achieved by others should make for some very fun builds.”

More than anything, Cryan hopes participants leave with a new appreciation for insects — and for museums. “I hope that participants come away with the impression that science museums can be places where they are welcome, where they can have fun, and where they look forward to visiting,” he says.

Scientific curiosity doesn't always begin in a laboratory. Sometimes, it starts with a handful of colorful bricks and a simple question: How would I build that?

The Bug World LEGO® Contest invites builders of all ages and experience levels to answer that question for themselves — and perhaps discover something new about the natural world along the way.

You can learn more about the Bug World LEGO® Contest, including reading contest guidelines and filling out entry forms, by following the link below. Contest winners will be announced shortly before BugFest in August of 2026.