How a Domino Layout Is Created

A domino is a small, rectangular block used for gaming. The most common domino set contains 28 tiles bearing an arrangement of spots or pips on one side, and blank or identically patterned faces on the other. Each tile is normally divided by a line or ridge into two squares. The identifying marks on each side, referred to as the ends or values, are valued according to the number of spots in the dominant end, with those having more pips deemed higher than those with fewer (or none). Each domino belongs to one of four suits, designated by their colors: red, blue, black, and white.

A common activity for children is to stack dominoes on their ends in long lines. When the first domino is tipped, it sets off a chain reaction of other dominoes that fall over one at a time until the entire sequence is complete. This is how many complex domino designs are created, and it’s what gives the term “domino effect” its meaning: a small action causes larger and bigger effects over time.

As with any sort of toy, there are a variety of games that can be played with dominoes. Some involve blocking opponents’ play, and others, such as bergen and muggins, score points. The most popular type of domino game, however, is layout, in which a player attempts to make as large of a domino pattern as possible before the other players.

To build her mind-boggling domino setups, Lily Hevesh, 20, follows a version of the engineering-design process. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the installation and brainstorming images or words that might help convey it.

Once she has a plan, Hevesh begins to draw out the blueprints for her creation using markers and pencils. She then lays out the foundation, starting with a central piece that will hold other pieces in place. Hevesh works outward from this center piece, building her layout with smaller and smaller tiles as she goes.

As she works, Hevesh pays close attention to the placement of the different colors of the tiles. The precise placement of each color is vital for the success of the final layout. She also has to consider how the pieces will fall when she’s done, which is a bit tricky.

Dominoes that have too few pips on the end may not have enough energy to trigger the next domino to fall, while those with too many pips might be too heavy to get a good bounce. Hevesh’s goal is to create a domino cascade that has just the right amount of momentum to keep the entire structure upright and stable.

The most common domino set includes a standard 28 double-six tiles, and there are a number of extended sets that increase the maximum number of possible ends. Generally speaking, each larger set increases the maximum number of pips on an end by three, with the most common sets being double-nine and double-12.