Lego is one of the world's most famous toy brands and with good reason. This Danish company has been producing their signature small plastic bricks for over 60 years. There is something to be said for a company that refines a basic idea over the course of half a decade without changing their design philosophy.

Considered the grandfather of Lego and modern construction toys, Ole Kirk Christiansen was a carpenter who designed children's wooden toys when the first plastic toys began to emerge in the market. He formed the company called Lego (from the Danish leg godt, which translates to "play well") and started to produce what he termed "Automatic Binding Bricks" soon after. After a few different variations on the theme he refined his product into the patented bricks we now know as Lego.

Generations of kids have grown up with Lego and it is not uncommon to find parents passing down their own childhood collection to their own kids, such is the durability of the product. The company's motto is 'only the best is good enough' and many adults would agree.

The age of people interested in Lego can be as young as one and as old as 99. Small kids love the creative hands on nature of the product which develops hand-eye coordination and older "kids" love the creative challenge of designing and building larger models.

While based on the simple interlocking brick design, made possible by the studs on top of the bricks, Lego has come a long way since last century. Modern Lego sets are colorful and varied, with many specialized pieces available to transform simple models into true works of art.

Licensed sets featuring movie and television characters are some of the most popular Lego models, especially those that feature Star Wars or Harry Potter figures. While some believe these preconceived stories detract from the pure imaginative essence of Lego, it is a direction that has taken the popularity of this toy into the stratosphere.

With a recent decision by the European court to disallow Lego's trademark on their distinctive studded brick we may see more inferior copy cat products in stores but parents should remember that the quality of the Lego brand is unique and will endure for years.