Dominoes (also known as bones, cards, men, or pieces) are rectangular blocks of varying thickness with one side bearing an arrangement of spots, called pips, and the other a color-coded value. The total number of pips is the domino’s rank. The higher the rank, the more valuable a domino is. The earliest sets of dominoes were made from natural materials, such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, and dark hardwoods like ebony. Several types of plastics have also been used to make modern dominoes, although these are usually less durable and more expensive.
Hevesh has worked with dominoes for decades and continues to refine her designs. She begins with large 3-D sections, then works on flat arrangements before putting them together. Testing each section before constructing the entire display allows her to make precise corrections when it doesn’t come out right. She also films her tests in slow motion, which helps her see what happens and why it doesn’t work.
When she’s not collaborating with other artists, Hevesh also works on projects for the home, including designing furniture in partnership with Crate and Barrel and producing a podcast called Design Time, which features candid conversations with renowned designers such as Bobby Berk, Justina Blakeney, and Jeremiah Brent. In 2016, she published her second book, Domino: Your Guide to a Stylish Home, which debuted on The New York Times bestseller list.
While a lot of us may not be able to replicate the joy that comes from tipping a domino ever so slightly and watching it fall in a mesmerizing cascade, we can apply the concept of Domino to our own lives in many ways. There are many learning challenges that impact students in the same way that a single small movement can affect a long line of dominoes. Compensating for these challenges can often lead to an overabundance of skills that prevent students from learning the basics.
As a result, they can end up buried in a sea of information and lose sight of the bigger picture. In order to avoid this, it’s important for teachers and administrators to listen to their students and provide them with the support they need.
In recent years, Domino’s has put its leadership structure in place with an emphasis on listening to its employees. This was demonstrated in an episode of the TV show Undercover Boss, which saw CEO Don Meij send himself undercover to observe the way that Domino’s restaurants handle their deliveries and how well their employees respond to customer feedback. He quickly put into effect a series of changes, such as a relaxed dress code and leadership training programs that focused on the importance of being a champion for their customers. The result was an improved customer experience and a more positive image for the company.