The hidden references of LEGO Ideas 21355 The Evolution of STEM

Not every reference in LEGO Ideas 21355 The Evolution of STEM is obvious – there are a couple of Easter eggs hidden away to discover.

LEGO Ideas 21355 The Evolution of STEM is undoubtedly full of Easter eggs but without building the set first-hand, there are two references that you probably won't have seen so far, now uncovered and explained by one of the model's designers.

For those who'd like to keep these easter eggs a surprise, we'd recommend clicking away now as we're about to uncover the mysteries of the next LEGO Ideas set before its release in less than one week.

"The wings of the book have the light spectrum and Morse code," explained designer Ollie Gregory in a recent roundtable interview.

The Morse code segment reads STEM, tying into the subject of the set and the specific but simple part usage in 21355 The Evolution of STEM adds an additional surprise for custom model makers.

"I've seen some comments asking why they're hidden away, but we decided the point is they're on low clutch points. As a builder, you get to build the set and then show your friends the extra secrets. It's a nice thing to include, especially because, like other elements in the set, you get extra one-by-one pieces in all the colours, which is quite a nice collection of pieces."

By removing the sloped ramp elements on either side of the book – held in place with jumper plates – you'll see both secrets, uncovering them as if you were opening the brick-built book. The references in 21355 The Evolution of STEM aren't all hidden though as the designer continued to explain, pointing out two more obvious Easter eggs.

"I enjoy the sticker underneath the desk with the early minifigure design," continued Ollie. "That's a nice historical LEGO reference. That's another one like the Classic Space logo that is mixing LEGO history with natural world history."

LEGO Ideas sets have become one of the best sources for Easter eggs, paying tribute to the fan designers as well as LEGO history. Despite the specific subject material in 21355 The Evolution of STEM, it's good to see this tradition continue strong and it seems unlikely to stop anytime soon.

LEGO Ideas 21355 The Evolution of STEM launches on March 1, 2025, for £69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99. Head here to see how the design team stopped the set from stepping on LEGO Space's toes after 2024.

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