Quality above all: what LEGO teaches us about test automation

Ole Kirk Kristiansen, LEGO’s founder, believed in one thing above all else: quality. Whether he was crafting furniture or wooden toys, he refused to cut corners. His son, Godtfred, once tried to save money by reducing the number of varnish coats on a batch of wooden ducks. That night, Godtfred learned a hard lesson: quality isn’t negotiable. This experience led him to carve LEGO’s famous motto: “Only the best is good enough.” And that same principle applies to test automation.

The LEGO approach to test automation: quality, not shortcuts

In test automation, teams often try to cut corners by:

• Skipping foundational work and rushing into automation without a solid framework
• Building brittle tests by focusing on quick wins instead of long-term maintainability
• Treating automation as a cost-saving tool instead of a quality investment

But just like LEGO’s three coats of varnish, it requires layers of quality to truly be effective:

• A solid base: A well-structured automation framework is like LEGO bricks, it must be modular, reusable and scalable.
• Consistency & maintainability: Tests should follow best practices, just like LEGO enforces strict manufacturing standards so every brick fits, no matter when or where it was made.
• Attention to detail: Skipping critical test validations is like skipping a varnish coat. It might not show immediately, but sooner or later, the cracks will appear.

Smart automation is like a well-built LEGO set

Smart test automation is like a well-built LEGO set: it starts with modular and reusable test components that fit seamlessly into different scenarios. A strong framework requires clear guidelines and best practices, just as every LEGO set comes with precise building instructions. However, within that structure, there must be room for creativity. Testers should be able to innovate without compromising the framework’s integrity. Finally, seamless integration is key, like every LEGO brick connects perfectly, automated tests should work smoothly across tools, environments and CI/CD pipelines.

Do you want a house of cards or a LEGO castle?

Building a test automation framework without quality and modularity is like fitting together LEGO pieces with other brands. It might seem good at first but falls apart under pressure. If built correctly, test automation can become a strong, reusable and scalable foundation for software quality. Just like LEGO did for generations of builders.