The Domino Effect
When one small thing causes another small thing to happen, the result is often a chain reaction that spreads quickly and leads to unforeseen consequences. This is what’s called the domino effect, and it can occur in many areas of our lives. For example, if you start smoking, you might not think that will have a major impact on your health; however, if you don’t stop smoking, you might develop a lung disease, which will lead to more serious diseases and can even affect the people around you. Similarly, if you get an injury, it could have a negative effect on your finances, and you might have to work harder to cover your expenses.
Domino is a game that involves stacking flat, rectangular blocks on end to form long lines. When you knock over the first domino in a line, it triggers the next domino to tip and so on, creating complex designs that are fun for children and adults alike.
The term domino is a Latin word for “falling block” or “little tyrant,” and is derived from the Greek verb domnon, meaning “to control.” The game of domino dates back to the early 18th century and was popular in Italy, Austria, southern Germany, and France. In America, it became a fad in the 1860s and continued to grow worldwide.
Although there are countless games that can be played with dominoes, the most popular are the layout games. In these, players score points by placing tiles end to end and matching the pips on their exposed ends (for example, one’s touching two’s, two’s touching three’s, and so forth). The most common sets are double six and double nine. Some sets are extended to include larger numbers of pips on an end, with a maximum of double-twelve and double-nine.
When Hevesh creates a domino set, she follows a similar engineering-design process to ensure that the finished product will be strong and stable. She first tests each section of the layout and films it in slow motion to pinpoint any weaknesses or potential problems.
Once she has a fully working section, she starts building the entire design. She starts with the largest 3-D sections and then moves to flat arrangements and lines of dominoes.
The final step in the process is to polish up the piece by adding additional details and making sure it’s ready for display. This final step can take a while, but Hevesh is committed to ensuring that her creations are as perfect as possible. Ultimately, she hopes that her artwork will inspire others to try their hand at the art of domino.