LEGO designer shares thinking behind darker colours in LEGO Icons Kingfisher

The fresh reveal of LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher Bird shows off a more muted palette than some might have expected – but the LEGO designers have their reasons why.

LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher Bird has just been revealed – and it’s a real beauty. The real kingfisher is well known for its vibrant colours, iridescent feathers, and quick movements. While a static LEGO set cannot, of course, capture the lightning-quick motion of the bird, the colours and delicate stature of the kingfisher have been well represented.

Arguably, the pose of 10331 Kingfisher Bird also does go some way to conveying that sense of speed, with its wings spread as though about to take flight. Indeed, this was inspired by people’s real-life experiences and encounters with the tiny bird.

“It’s well known that [the kingfisher] is a very shy bird that usually perches on streams and catches fish, so this is a very iconic pose that photographers usually shoot it in,” explained LEGO designer Sven Franic.

It’s not only the pose of the brick-built bird that is affected by its real-life counterpart’s character, but also the entire colour scheme of the set – a topic that was a lengthy discussion between those who worked on the set. Check out the full presentation from Sven in our video below, along with an explanation of which recoloured and reused elements went into the creation of 10331 Kingfisher Bird.

LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher Bird will be out from February 1, 2024, retailing for £44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99.

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