Everything you need to know about LEGO’s BrickLink Designer Program – Round 3

Round 3 of the LEGO BrickLink Designer Program starts today, and we’ve summarised everything you need to know to get your hands on the limited-edition sets.

After two previous phases of the BrickLink Designer Program, it’s almost over as Round 3 is starting soon with the final nine rejected LEGO Ideas projects that all stand a chance of becoming an official model that you can pre-order.

The process of purchasing these models is a bit more complicated than your standard order on LEGO.com, so for those new to the BrickLink Designer Program, here’s everything you need to know.

What is the BrickLink Designer Program?

The BrickLink Designer Program is a joint venture between the LEGO Group and Bricklink after the acquisition of BrickLink in 2019, offering a second chance to a selection of LEGO Ideas projects that were rejected in their respective rounds.

How many designers are involved in the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3?

27 LEGO Ideas users initially accepted the LEGO Group’s invitation to join the BrickLink Designer Program, submitting 31 different designs between them. Since then, some dropped out and others have had their only projects finish in the first and second rounds of the BrickLink Designer Program. That leaves us with a total of eight fan designers in Round 3 between nine projects.

What happened in the first two rounds of the BrickLink Designer Program?

To put it simply, a lot. From sets selling out resulting in an expansion on the maximum number of pre-orders to servers crashing, it’s safe to say that there’s been a few teething issues that should be resolved ready for the launch of Round 3.

How many designs will be included in Round 3 of the BrickLink Designer Program?

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There are nine designs in Round 3 of the BrickLink Designer program, and here’s a look at the sets and how much they’ll cost.

Space Troopers! – £149.99 / $199.99 / €169.99
1950s Diner – £99.99 / $129.99 / €109.99
Train Station: Studgate – £299.99 / $399.99 / €339.99
Working Waterfall – £169.99 / $229.99 / €189.99
Exploratorium – £219.99 / $299.99 / €249.99
Winter Chalet – £149.99 / $199.99 / €169.99
Modular Construction Site – £245.99 / $319.99 / €269.99
Mountain View Observatory – £245.99 / $319.99 / €269.99
Brickwest Studios – £259.99 / $349.99 / €289.99

When will the BrickLink Designer Program sets in Round 3 go on sale?

Round 3 of the Bricklink Designer Program starts later today, May 17, at 10am Pacific / 7pm CET. At that time all nine sets will be available for pre-order.

Where can I pre-order the BrickLink Designer Program sets in Round 3?

To purchase the models of your choosing, you’ll need to select them from the BrickLink Designer Program landing page. Then, you’ll be redirected to the official online store where the rest of the purchase will take place. You’ll be able to log in to your VIP account, though note that the BrickLink Designer Program models do not count towards any gifts. Money will only be taken in the event that the project is successful.

How many sets will come out of the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3?

Only the first five sets to reach 3,000 pre-orders will be produced as part of the third round of the BrickLink Designer Program. Any orders for those not successful in achieving this will not be fulfilled, and money will not be taken.

How many backers does a BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 project need to successfully pass the crowdfunding phase?

Each project needs 3,000 pre-orders to be produced as a real set and any others that do not reach this total in time will not be produced. However, once a project has reached 3,000, you’ll still be able to order until they hit 10,000 backers.

How much will the BrickLink Designer Program sets in Round 3 cost?

Here’s a quick rundown of how much each of the BrickLink Designer Program sets in round 3 cost in the UK, the US and Europe:

Space Troopers! – £149.99 / $199.99 / €169.99
1950s Diner – £99.99 / $129.99 / €109.99
Train Station: Studgate – £299.99 / $399.99 / €339.99
Working Waterfall – £169.99 / $229.99 / €189.99
Exploratorium – £219.99 / $299.99 / €249.99
Winter Chalet – £149.99 / $199.99 / €169.99
Modular Construction Site – £245.99 / $319.99 / €269.99
Mountain View Observatory – £245.99 / $319.99 / €269.99
Brickwest Studios – £259.99 / $349.99 / €289.99

How many BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets can I back?

There aren’t many restrictions on the number of sets you can pre-order in the third round, provided they haven’t reached the 10,000 backer limit. Note that only one of each can be pre-ordered to stave off resellers.

What happens if I back a BrickLink Designer Program project in Round 3 that doesn’t go into production?

Nothing will happen. Anyone who orders a project that fails to reach 3,000 backers in time will see their pre-order cancelled, meaning there will be no charge to your account.

When will the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets be shipped?

An exact shipping date for the third round of BrickLink Designer Program sets has not been confirmed, though a timeframe of spring 2023 has been provided.

Where will the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets ship from?

The BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 models will all be produced in and shipped from Europe.

Which countries will the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets ship to?

Unfortunately, not every country: only users located in the UK, US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Ireland, Slovakia, Czechia, Luxembourg, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand will be able to back BrickLink Designer Program projects in the third round.

How much will shipping cost for BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets?

All sets in the third round of the BrickLink Designer Program will come with free shipping, so you won’t need to spend any more than the price of the project itself.

How are the BrickLink Designer Program’s creators in Round 3 compensated?

Any designers whose projects successfully enter production will receive 10% in royalties, while designers whose models are turned into digital building instructions will receive a 75% royalty fee. Usually, sets from LEGO Ideas only grant their designers 1% in royalties, though these BrickLink Designer Program models are more limited in comparison.

Where will the pieces for the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets come from?

All elements for the BrickLink Designer Program’s sets come directly from the LEGO Group, brand new for the builds.

Will the BrickLink Designer Program Round 3 sets include printed instructions?

None of the Round 3 BrickLink Designer Program models will include physical instructions, but you’ll be able to find a digital version on the Building Instructions app under a new theme on the home page.

Will the BrickLink Designer Program sets from Round 3 come in official LEGO boxes?

Yes, the sets from the previous rounds came in official LEGO boxes, marked with the name of the fan designer and a special seal.

Can you earn VIP points on BrickLink Designer Program sets in Round 3?

Pre-orders will take place through LEGO.com and you’ll be able to earn VIP points on all orders. You can also spend your current haul of VIP points on them using rewards vouchers in the usual way.

Will BrickLink Designer Program sets count towards gifts-with-purchase?

Considering that your pre-order may be cancelled if the project doesn’t reach 3,000 backers in time, none of the Round 3 models count towards GWPs, though you’ll still earn VIP points from them.

How quickly will sets in Round 3 of the BrickLink Designer Program sell out?

It’s tough to say for certain, given that one model in Round 1 sold out so quickly that double the initial maximum amount of orders was accepted and that Round 2 resulted in a slow race to the finish between 910016 Sheriff’s Safe, 910028 Pursuit of Flight, and 910017 Kakapo. We’d recommend ordering whichever set you have in mind as soon as possible to be safe.

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