Three techies vie to be "Lego Masters" in new Fox show

Catch up quick: In "Lego Masters," contestants in teams of two have limited time to build a variety of projects that call for a mix of creativity and engineering.

• This season's contests include an earthquake tower challenge, a demolition derby and a fashion show.

Between the lines: Straatsma says there is a strong tie between tech and Legos, crediting his childhood hobby (and adult passion) with helping lead him to his career as a network engineer.

• In building networks, Straatsma said, one has to use a predefined set of parts to achieve a goal. So too, he says, with plastic bricks.

Straatsma, who partnered with his wife Maria for the show, is joined by Moto Kanemoto, who works in cyber security in Denver, and Randall Wilson, a user experience specialist in Chicago. I spoke with the three together over video chat last week.

• Kanemoto, who has studied mechanical engineering and design, says his Lego passion draws on all of his skills, given that the show's tasks are both a structural challenge and an aesthetic competition.
• Wilson said that his work as a user experience designer is similar to his "Lego Masters" experience in that both call on him to clearly communicate an idea without saying a word.