Domino is a game that involves stacking tiles on end in long lines and then knocking them over. This can result in very complex and beautiful patterns. It is the inspiration for the phrase “domino effect,” which describes how one event can lead to much larger–and sometimes catastrophic–consequences.
Dominoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They are usually a clay-like material but can be made from many other materials, such as wood or plastic. They are often numbered on both ends, although some sets feature no numbers, and others use different colored dots or shapes to indicate suits. The most common domino sets have 28 or 55 tiles and are popular for games involving several players. Larger sets are available for more intricate play.
Most people think of domino as a game for children, but it can be played by adults as well. It is a great way to teach kids about cause and effect, as the actions of each domino in a chain affect the outcome of all other dominoes. It is also a great way to show the power of cooperation and collaboration.
Lily Hevesh started playing dominoes when she was 9 years old. Her grandparents had a classic 28-pack, and she loved setting them up in straight or curved lines and flicking the first domino to watch the whole line fall, one after the other. Now, at 20, she is a professional domino artist who creates incredible setups for movies, TV shows, and events, including an album launch for pop singer Katy Perry.
Hevesh starts each installation with test versions of the bigger 3-D sections, filming them in slow motion to ensure they work perfectly. Once she’s happy with each section, she adds the rest of the dominoes and begins to put them together. She’s careful to arrange them so that the strongest parts of each structure are at the bottom, and she often has assistants help her move the pieces into place.
Hevesh says that her favorite part of the job is “the rush of seeing it all come together.” She also loves meeting with her clients and hearing their ideas. She says that the most important thing for a Domino artist is to listen to their client’s needs and wants. Domino’s culture of listening to employees is one reason the company was named a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press in 2016.