The domino, or dominoes (singular), are small rectangular blocks that can be arranged in long lines. If a domino is tipped over, it causes the next one in line to tip over and so on, in a process called a domino effect. Stacking dominoes in this manner can result in very complex designs, and many people enjoy playing games with them.
Dominoes can be made from a variety of materials, including ivory and silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), bone, dark woods such as ebony, and other synthetic materials such as plastic and resin. Early domino sets were often decorated with a pattern of dots or “pips” resembling those on dice, and they may have been painted in bright colors or engraved with a design or message.
In a game of domino, each player draws seven dominoes for his hand. Each player then plays any domino in his hand according to the rules of the game. When a player can’t play from his hand, he passes it to the other player. The first player to completely empty his hand wins the game.
Hevesh has created some mind-blowing domino setups, and she says that she follows a version of the engineering-design process when creating them. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the installation and brainstorming images or words that may be associated with it. She also makes test versions of each section of a display, filming them in slow motion to make precise corrections when they don’t work.
Whether they’re used for fun or to demonstrate complex mathematics, dominoes have many applications. People can use them to build structures out of wood or cardboard, or they can create curved lines, grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall, or 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. The possibilities are endless, but constructing them requires careful planning and patience.
In storytelling, just as in domino constructions, timing is important. A story needs scenes that advance the hero’s progress toward or away from his goal, but they shouldn’t be too long or too short. They also need to be spaced correctly so that the scenes don’t feel too crowded at key moments of discovery or tension.
When Domino’s faced a crisis in 2011, its new CEO, David Brandon, vowed to stick closer to the company’s core values and listen to employees more closely. In order to show this commitment, he visited stores and spoke with employees to hear what they had to say. He put in place new changes, such as a relaxed dress code and new leadership training programs. These changes helped turn the company around and made it a top workplace in Detroit. In addition, Domino’s has partnered with a number of sports leagues and music festivals to promote its brand and reach new customers.