LEGO Ideas: Turning Fans Into a Product Strategy Engine

# Format: Case Studies

# Theme: Community Building & DevRel

# Theme: Product Management & Feedback

# Challenge: Partner GTM

Learn how LEGO turned its fan community into a product innovation engine, and what GTM leaders can take from its approach.

September 18, 2025 · Last updated on November 7, 2025

Joshua Zerkel

LEGO is more than a toy company. It is one of the best examples of how a brand can invite its community into the product strategy itself. Through LEGO Ideas, the company created a platform where fans submit product concepts, vote on each other’s ideas, and see the winners turned into official sets. This program is more than engagement. It is a growth driver, a feedback loop, and a GTM differentiator.

Most companies view community as a support channel or advocacy hub. LEGO shows how community can become a direct input into product, marketing, and GTM planning. By giving fans ownership in innovation, LEGO generates loyalty, free promotion, and products that already have built-in demand.

Turning customers into co-creators

Fans aren’t just buying LEGO sets; they are shaping the next generation of them. Submissions on LEGO Ideas range from pop culture themes to original concepts, and community voting determines which ones advance. This co-creation model reduces the risk of product misfires, since the community validates interest before launch.

Key takeaways:

Create mechanisms for customers to submit and validate ideas.

Use voting or ranking to identify the most promising concepts.

Position co-creation as part of the brand promise.

Treat community contributions as market research at scale.

Building marketing momentum before launch

By the time a LEGO Ideas set is released, fans are already invested. The concept has been debated, refined, and championed by the community. This creates instant marketing momentum, since launch campaigns build on stories fans have already been telling. Unlike traditional campaigns, which start with awareness-building, LEGO’s GTM strategy benefits from advocacy that begins long before release.

Key takeaways:

Use community activity to create pre-launch buzz.

Amplify fan stories in marketing campaigns to extend reach.

Highlight the journey from idea to product to build authenticity.

Treat early community excitement as part of GTM planning.

Strengthening loyalty through recognition

Winning contributors see their ideas turned into products, receive royalties, and gain recognition within the community. Even those who don’t win still experience visibility and feedback. Recognition is the fuel that keeps fans participating. For LEGO, this loyalty translates into repeat purchases, advocacy, and a reputation as a company that values its customers’ creativity.

Key takeaways:

Build recognition into community programs, not just rewards.

Offer visibility and credit even for contributions that don’t launch.

Use recognition as a loyalty driver to keep customers engaged.

Show that the brand values contributions beyond transactions.

Creating an innovation pipeline

LEGO Ideas functions as an ongoing pipeline for product innovation. Instead of relying solely on internal R&D, the company taps into the creativity of its global fanbase. The result is a steady stream of concepts that reflect cultural trends, customer interests, and market demand. This pipeline supports both short-term product launches and long-term strategy.

Key takeaways:

Treat community platforms as continuous innovation pipelines.

Integrate community insights into product planning cycles.

Balance internal strategy with external creativity.

Use community to spot cultural trends early.

Why this matters for GTM leaders

LEGO Ideas demonstrates that community is not just about support or advocacy. It can be a core driver of product strategy, market validation, and GTM momentum. By inviting fans into the process, LEGO reduces risk, builds trust, and generates products that sell themselves.

Community-led co-creation is more than engagement. It is a growth strategy that turns customers into partners in innovation.

If your customers could directly shape your product roadmap, what would they ask for first?

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Table Of Contents

LEGO Ideas: Turning Fans Into a Product Strategy Engine

Learn how LEGO turned its fan community into a product innovation engine, and what GTM leaders can take from its approach.

Turning customers into co-creators

Building marketing momentum before launch

Strengthening loyalty through recognition

Creating an innovation pipeline

Why this matters for GTM leaders

Popular

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