Juniorization
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 | This article is about an unofficial term but describes a subject relevant to official LEGO. |
Juniorization is a unofficial term that refers to practice of designing LEGO System sets that especially feature highly specialized large single pieces instead of using several already existing parts that can be assembled into equivalent configurations. This design was introduced with the idea in mind to make it easier for younger children to build the sets. The term Juniorization itself was originally coined by AFOLs.
[edit] History
From a purist standpoint, Juniorization is already present when a set features so called POOPs (Parts which can be made Out of Other Parts). One of the earliest parts that can be described as such is the BURP, introduced in 1992. Some even consider pieces like the 1x2x5 Brick already as juniorized element since it can be reproduced by stacking five 1x2 bricks on top of each other.
But Juniorization got more prevalent with the introduction of themes like Jack Stone or the replacement of older Town subthemes with Town Jr. in 1999. Another example for a highly juniorized set is 6091 King Leo's Castle that includes pieces like 30272 (Arch 2 x 12 x 6 with Grooves) or 30246 (Panel Wall 3 x 4 x 6).
The use of extremely juniorized parts in System sets has been cut down in recent years and many sets (especially City and the new Castle sets) feature more complex building techniques.
[edit] Arguments
Especially AFOLs complain about the fact that juniorized elements have a substantially limited range of use that also reduces the reuse-value of said pieces in the construction of alternative models.
It can be also said that many juniorized pieces have a greater stability than an equivalent structure that consists of a greater amount of smaller pieces and thus can be used in places where a convential assembly would admittedly look similar could not but serve the same purpose in statics.
Another point is that the production costs for larger pieces are lower than for a complement of pieces to reproduce them.
