Tormod Askildsen, head of AFOL Engagement for the LEGO Group, has been intrigued by digital building since using LDD to bring alternate model instructions for the LEGO Factory Hobby Train set to market in 2007. “When the LEGO Group acquired BrickLink,” Askildsen said, “one of the things that impressed and inspired us was their purposeful development of the Studio software. They have truly inspired a generation of digital LEGO creators.” I am so proud of the team behind LDD and the greater virtual building community.

They took ownership and created the most amazing virtual LEGO models and have grown the virtual building ecosystem. “Our initial vision for LEGO Digital Designer back in 2002 was to make building on a computer accessible and fun for children – to play with and share their creations online.” said Ronny Scherer, producer of the first-generation LEGO Digital Designer. “I am so impressed with how the community of creators has evolved. Builders-enthusiasts and professionals alike-have used LDD in wonderful and unexpected ways. Now after almost twenty years since its conception and eighteen years in distribution, LEGO Digital Designer will retire and pass the mantle to BrickLink Studio as the officially supported and maintained 3D building application. It has played a prominent role in various offerings, from LEGO Factory, LEGO Design ByME, LEGO video games and movies. LDD pioneered real-time rendering of LEGO bricks, virtual brick connectivity, and the compact LEGO Exchange file format (LXF) which made LEGO models built in LDD light and portable. LEGO Digital Designer was released in 2004 as the LEGO Group’s 3D building tool. While downloaded versions of the LDD application will continue to work, people are encouraged to download BrickLink Studio, import their LDD files, and use Studio for 3D LEGO building files, and use Studio for 3D LEGO building. The LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) website will close on January 31st, after which time LDD will no longer be available for download. Today, the LEGO Group announces that BrickLink Studio will replace LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) as the official virtual LEGO building software going forward.

Virtual lego builder online