LEGO Ideas the Evolution of Stem (21355) | The Evolution of STEM: A Fan-Designed Tribute to Scientific Innovation and Iconic Pioneers!
Published: 1 year ago
Last Updated: 7 months ago
Since its launch, LEGO Ideas has transformed fan creativity into reality, evolving into one of the brand’s most celebrated platforms where enthusiasts from around the globe submit, vote on, and see their concepts come to life. This unique initiative has not only celebrated pop culture and fantasy but has also embraced educational themes, including STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In today’s rapidly advancing world, STEM is pivotal in driving innovation and inspiring new generations of problem-solvers. By bridging the gap between imaginative play and real-world scientific principles, LEGO Ideas continues to captivate both young minds and adult collectors, offering inventive ways to explore the evolution of STEM.
Set Details
The LEGO Ideas "The Evolution of STEM" set (21355) invites builders to explore scientific innovation through a uniquely designed, brick-built book display. This collectible model for adults showcases mini builds that capture landmark moments in the history of STEM, featuring elements such as an early car, a vintage home computer, and the iconic NASA Voyager Probe. With interactive details like a dial that animates a carbon atom and rotates a DNA strand, the set also pays homage to trailblazing scientists with minifigures of Marie Curie, Sir Isaac Newton, and George Washington Carver. Originating from a fan-designed concept in a celebrated STEM challenge, this 879-piece set is filled with creative Easter eggs and thoughtful nods to LEGO history, offering an engaging and inspiring journey through mankind’s scientific achievements.
Theme Analysis
The LEGO Ideas theme has been a very popular one since its inception in Japan in 2011 and since then there have been 70 sets launched, the majority of which are now retired. The theme continues to grow, both in popularity as well as in diversity of sets, and LEGO 21355 is likely to do so in both cases! To date the retired sets have seen an average annualised growth of 15% making it a strong LEGO investment theme and with it being such a broad LEGO theme, even better returns can be achieved with focussed set selection for your LEGO Portfolio.
We have taken a look at some of the retired LEGO ideas sets with a Science background including LEGO Ideas Research Institute (21110) which has seen 160% growth since retiring in 2014 (10% annualised growth, LEGO Ideas NASA Mars Science Laboratory (21104) which has seen an amazing 1250% growth since retiring 10 years ago (29% annualised growth) and LEGO Ideas Women of NASA (21312) which has nearly doubled in value since retiring in 2018 (10% annualised growth).
Again, these numbers show a strong LEGO investment theme and also the importance of selecting the right LEGO investment sets even within a strong LEGO investment theme!
Conclusion
Another great set that shows the breadth and diversity of the LEGO Ideas theme, LEGO 21355 is sure to appeal to fans of LEGO, Science and History as well as coming with 3 amazing unique LEGO minifigures of Marie Curie, Sir Isaac Newton and Geoge Washington! The LEGO Ideas theme is home to some great LEGO investments of which this may well become another one.
Head to LEGO to pre-order ahead of the 1st of March 2025 launch!
Author: Mark Ellison
Mark is a former secondary school teacher who used LEGO in STEM clubs to encourage problem-solving and teamwork. Rebuilding alongside his students reminded him how much he loved LEGO as a child, and he soon became an AFOL in his own right. His passion lies in Technic, Mindstorms, and classic educational sets that highlight LEGO’s engineering roots. Mark writes about the learning value of LEGO, the evolution of mechanical design, and why some “play-first” themes become long-term classics.
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