'New things' we need for LEGO BrickLink Series 11's castle

Something is in the works that will be of benefit to a LEGO BrickLink Designer Program Series 11 finalist, and we're wondering what it might be.

During the finalist reveal panel for Series 11 of the BrickLink Designer Program at Brickworld Chicago, the head of the program teased something that was in the works, which a particular project would be able to benefit from.

"We've got a lot of fun things coming for this model, so stay tuned for next year," shared Head of the BrickLink Designer Program Alex Kastelic, referring to Royal Nest from _TLG_. "Similarly, there are some new things on the horizon that we'll be able to take advantage of, which is a lot of fun."

Alex's comments are expectedly light on specific details, but whatever is being teased, it's something that the future Castle creation will be able to benefit from. We have no idea what this might be, but that won't stop us from speculating. Everything on this point onwards is exactly that, framed entirely around what Royal Nest would benefit from.

Curved masonry elements

One of the signature features of Royal Nest, which helped it stand out from the rest of the Castle creations in Series 11, is the round towers. These were brought up during the Brickworld Chicago panel and are made in the fan design with rounded plates stacked on top of each other, as well as curved plates on their side.

Most LEGO castles opt for square towers, which are both historically accurate and easier due to the nature of LEGO elements. While curved pieces exist for such rounded towers, they are without any of the masonry details that straight pieces have, at least without stickers.

A curved masonry piece of some kind would be precisely the kind of innovation that Royal Nest would greatly benefit from, levelling up the rounded towers that the BrickLink team loved in their finalist selection process.

More Griffin Knight minifigure parts

Griffin Knights make up most of the minifigures in Series 11's Royal Nest, using elements from the duo in 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine. Considering how often these minifigures are being proposed in BrickLink Designer Program projects, an expansion to the Griffin Knight prints would be appreciated by the community.

As good as the existing prints are, these designs are sure to become too familiar too fast. Designs that incorporate the maroon colour scheme of the Griffin Knights that are different to what we currently have would greatly increase the diversity of this faction's minifigures.

This would need the Griffin Knights to return in an official LEGO set beyond 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine, since the BrickLink Designer Program only uses existing prints.

The return of the Griffin (or Hippogriff) figure

While the BrickLink Designer Program is limited to existing pieces and prints, our most outlandish proposal for whatever is being teased for Royal Nest is a moulded Griffin minifigure. A handful of LEGO Harry Potter sets, including the most recent 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures, featured a figure for the Hippogriff Buckbeak.

That figure has now retired, but its return, ideally in a different colour, would be decent for a Griffin figure to go alongside the Griffin Knights. Alternatively, a new Griffin figure with paws on the front legs would be more accurate. Either way, it would need to appear in an official set before hopefully being featured in the Series 11 set.

Crowdfunding for Series 11 will start in June 2027, and the final designs will be revealed by May 2027. Click here to see all of the finalists for Series 11.