Few toys have caught the imagination of children everywhere more than LEGOs -- the multi-colored plastic blocks that can snap together to construct houses, castles, space ships or fantastical imaginary figures.
The Danish company (whose name roughly translates to "play well") traces its roots to a failed carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen, who in 1932 decided to put his skills to work creating toys made of wood. In the late 1940s, Christiansen invested in the then-risky injection molding technology needed to make the plastic blocks. In the late 1950s, Ole Kirk's son, Godtfred, came up with the interlocking stud-and-tube design that made the company a household name.
To read the original article: How LEGO Stopped Thinking Outside the Box and Innovated Inside the Brick - Knowledge@Wharton
