In December 2022, I wrote about the possibility of LEGO phasing out paper instruction manuals in favour of digital versions and two years on, it looks like LEGO are pushing forward with their plans to make paper instructions a thing of the past.
The post caused a bit of a stir in the LEGO community, attracting over a hundred comments with a lively and spirited discussion, many of whom were opposed to the idea.
Brickset has reported that LEGO have launched a brand new survey on LEGO Insiders, calling on feedback to decide on the future of LEGO building instructions.
Update: It seems like the survey has been removed from LEGO Insiders. I can’t see it here in Australia and many others from around the world have also reported it has disappeared from their LEGO Insiders Activities section.
For 50 Insider Points (thanks LEGO!), you’re invited to take a survey where LEGO are asking very explicitly whether they phase out paper instructions for digital instructions for sustainability purposes.
If you feel very strongly about this issue, I urge you to take the survey and share your thoughts on this.
Here are the questions in the survey.
Honestly, this doesn’t really surprise me. As I mused back in December 2022, LEGO have already been going down this path, and will continue to encourage digital building.
You might have noticed huge ads and exposure for the LEGO Builder app in your instruction manuals, plus recent sets like the 8-in-1 Batman Brickheadz require you to download the app to get the alternate build instructions.
With the price of paper pulp increasing, plus all the weight from the millions of instruction manuals stuffed in each LEGO box, LEGO does have a point when it comes to sustainability and their carbon footprint.
Coincidentally, not printing instructions would also positively affect their bottom line as well, so hey, win-win right?
Personally, I think this transition is inevitable for some (not all) sets as younger LEGO fans don’t have the same attachment to analog physical instructions. Just observing my own daughter’s behaviour, she actually prefers using digital instructions through the LEGO Builder app, so I’m sure LEGO has reams and reams of consumer research and focus groups ready to back up this decision.
Now, they just need more direct consumer feedback from their biggest fans to rubber stamp this transition before fully embracing a world of digital LEGO building.
If I were a betting man, I think we’ll eventually move to a place where most LEGO sets will require digital instructions, and the paper-based ones will be reserved for more adult, LEGO Icons-esque sets for obstinate AFOLs, but let’s just watch this space to see what happens.
Again, if this is something that you’re especially passionate about, please take the survey on LEGO Insiders to make your voices heard.
What do you think about this? Should LEGO ditch paper instructions for a fully digital manuals?