Zio Chao

How old are you? 41

Which country are you from? Taiwan region

What is your role at the LEGO Group? Model Designer

How did you get into building with LEGO bricks, especially building your own creations? In my childhood, LEGO sets were always the most interesting thing to me. I could play with LEGO bricks all day. When I became a teenager, I stopped playing with them because I thought they were just toys and it was too childish to play. Until I went to college, I saw a TV show talking about a bunch of adults playing with LEGO sets and using LEGO bricks to create great models. In that moment, I realized LEGO products were not only a toy, but also an amazing material to craft anything from your imagination. And I started to build from my own imagination and passion.

What kind of creations do you love building the most, and why? I have many kinds of creations I love to build. In the beginning I started to make my own creations, it reminded me of my childhood fascination with castles and pirates, so I started to build a big castle and pirate ship. I was also interested in playing sci-fi video games and watching historic movies, so I like to build something which is from games and movies. Although the past and the future are what I love building, I always like to try something new, building animals and characters from games, movies, animations, or my own culture is now I most built.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring LEGO builders, what would it be? Looking at what other LEGO builders have built can always provide inspiration for something really amazing and beautiful. Then you can start to build your own way, and inspire others.

How does it feel to have your work exhibited here at LEGO House - Home of the Brick? I was invited to exhibit in the LEGO House Masterpiece Gallery as a fan builder in 2019. I felt proud and honored to display my models there. So, I’m also excited I can come back to LEGO House again to display my models as an official LEGO designer.

Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website or social media profile that you can share? Instagram: zio_creation Facebook: Zio Creation Flickr: Zio Chao

Title Mr. Santa’s Daily

Can you describe your model and what it represents? Living room of Santa: Home, sweet home. Santa’s home is the perfect place for him to relax after his hard work during the Christmas season. He can enjoy the warmth of the fireplace and a hot drink before continuing his important duties.

Workshop of Elf: Santa’s trusty elves are busy making toys, packing boxes, and wrapping presents in their busy workshop. It may look messy, but it is where children’s Christmas dreams come true!

Landing platform of Reindeer: Another of Santa’s trusted friends, the reindeer, pilots the newest sleigh, which can take off and land vertically on the platform. Perhaps it could even be called a skycraft. The reindeer is skilled enough to fly it without Santa.

How long did it take you to build? One month

Approximately how many LEGO elements did you use? There are about 1500 pieces in each scene. A total of about 4500 pieces.

Are there any hidden details, Easter eggs, or techniques in your model that fans should look out for? I always enjoy using unique LEGO elements to sculpt all-brick-built characters. For example, you might spot feather elements used as Santa’s beard, whipped cream pieces used as the furry trim on clothing, and bucket handles transformed into belt buckles. If you look closely, you may discover even more creative and unexpected uses of LEGO elements throughout the model.

I also love adding fun twists and humorous details to my builds. These can range from silly situations to funny character expressions. For example, see if you can spot the lazy elf and the naughty reindeer hidden within the scene.