Dominoes are a fun way to teach young kids about cause and effect, but they can also be used as tools for social skills training. They help children learn to be more patient, and they can be helpful in teaching them to respect other people’s opinions and preferences. In addition, domino games are a great way to help children practice counting and math skills. There are many different types of domino games, but most involve emptying one’s hand while blocking opponents’ play. Some are scoring games, such as bergen and muggins; others are blocking games, such as matador, chicken foot, and Mexican train; and still others, such as domino rumble, involve identifying the number of pips (spots) on a tile.
Lily Hevesh has built mind-blowing domino creations since she was 9 years old, when her grandparents gave her a classic 28-piece set. She sets them up in straight or curved lines and then flicks the first one, watching as the entire display falls in a chain reaction that continues until the last domino falls. Hevesh’s setups require a lot of planning and testing to work as intended, which she accomplishes by building test versions of each section. She then films her creations in slow motion, making precise corrections when needed.
When the Ypsilanti-based pizza company Domino’s launched in 1967, it quickly became a nationwide player. Founder Tom Monaghan emphasized opening stores close to college campuses, and the strategy worked, allowing Domino’s to capitalize on the demand for quick delivery of pizza from students.
The first dominoes were simple rectangular blocks, but as Domino’s popularity grew, the company introduced more and more elaborate designs. Domino’s newest products included dominoes with pictures, letters, and numbers to make them more attractive. These new designs also offered a greater variety of uses.
By 2004, Domino’s was in major trouble. Several leadership changes had disrupted the chain’s core business, and the company was more than $943 million in debt. The CEO at the time, David Brandon, understood what was wrong and made several changes in the company, including a relaxed dress code and new management training programs. His successor, Dominic Doyle, kept up the momentum and refocused the company on its customers.
Domino’s is now an omnichannel media and e-commerce company with a magazine, books, furniture, and more. Its design-focused magazine, Domino: Your Guide to a Stylish Home, has appeared on multiple best-seller lists, and its website features video content with design experts like Bobby Berk and Justina Blakeney. The magazine also has a popular podcast, Design Time, with interviews with designers and style icons such as Ayesha Curry. In addition, the company has expanded its offerings into travel, wellness, and wedding issues. The company’s values include recognizing employees and listening to customers, which has helped it stay in business even after upending decades of tradition.