LEGO

Rebuild the World: How LEGO Reinvented Creativity in Play

LEGO logo

This teaching case study examines the LEGO Group’s 2019 “Rebuild the World” campaign—its first global-scale brand initiative in more than three decades—and the strategic shift behind it. After a 2016–2017 stall-out driven in part by low-affinity parents who did not view LEGO play as creative, the company sought to reframe its value proposition around creativity and rebuilding, in a marketplace where parents increasingly influence toy purchases. Tracing LEGO’s evolution and changing buyer-user dynamics, the case applies core marketing concepts such as perception, segmentation and targeting, positioning, and brand versus product strategy, then turns to the practical challenge of measuring a global, parent-targeted campaign in cluttered adult media environments and translating performance results into clear, board-level insights.

Read LEGO case studies

Part A – Reinventing Creativity in Play >>
Part B – Measuring The Campaign Performance >>

Simulated Data

Appendix 1 – Tracking Study Response Data >>
Appendix 2 – Media Effectiveness Evaluation Data >>
Appendix 3 – Actual Purchase Evaluation Data >>

Teaching Notes/Discussion Guide >>

 

Authors

Dr. Jia Li

Dr. Jia Li is the Robinson-Lightcap Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor of Marketing at Wake Forest University School of Business. He specializes in applying econometrics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence techniques to big data to address critical marketing questions. His research is also characterized by a strong interdisciplinary focus, leveraging data analytics to explore marketing issues that intersect with economics, information systems, operations management, and public policy.

Jia’s research has been published in leading academic journals, including Marketing Science, Management Science, Journal of Marketing, Production and Operations Management, and Journal of Retailing, among others. His paper on social influence and peer effects has appeared on SSRN’s Top Ten Download List across twelve subject areas, and is used in executive education programs at institutions such as Yale University and the University of Michigan.

Michael Moynihan

Michael (Mike) Moynihan is a Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Insights and Partnerships for the LEGO Group with over 30 years of experience in branding and marketing. In his role, he has global responsibility for marketing strategy, planning and performance, research and insights, and audience & portfolio strategy. Prior to joining The LEGO Group, Mike worked in brand management for General Mills and began his professional career with the management consulting firm The Monitor Group.

Mike graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor of Arts and the Harvard Business School with a Master of Business Administration. Alongside his professional work, Mike is also a member of the faculty at Harvard Business School, where he teaches marketing and brand strategy.

 

This teaching case study was written for classroom use in collaboration with Marcia Soling and the ANA Educational Foundation (AEF). We thank the authors for their commitment to education.

"Our future marketing and advertising leaders are not just looking for a job, they are looking for a meaningful career that will make a positive impact on society."
— Gord McLean, President and CEO at ANA Educational Foundation