Domino is a family of board games that can be played by two or more players. Each domino is a rectangular tile with an arrangement of dots, called pips, on its surface. These pips identify each domino as one of the 22 possible values, which are used to determine the value of adjacent pieces in the game. The other side of each domino is blank or patterned differently from the pips. This blank side is referred to as the “wild” side, and may be ascribed any value the player chooses. Typically, each player starts the game with seven dominoes in his or her hand.
Dominoes are commonly made from bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips. More recently, domino sets have been made from other natural materials such as stone (e.g., marble, granite, or soapstone), woods such as ash, oak, and mahogany, metals such as brass or pewter, and even ceramic clay. These materials provide a more novel look and feel, although they tend to be more expensive than polymer dominoes.
Like playing cards, dominoes can be used for many different types of games, ranging from simple blocking and scoring games to complicated arithmetic and pattern-matching puzzles. Some of these arithmetic games use the full domino set; others use only a portion. Dominoes can also be used to make a variety of artistic arrangements, such as designs on the floor or in a room.
Lily Hevesh began playing with her grandparents’ 28-piece domino set when she was 9 years old. She loved setting them up in a straight or curved line and flicking the first domino to watch it fall, one after another. She eventually started posting videos of her creations on YouTube, where she now has more than 2 million subscribers. She has used her dominoes to create scenes for movies and TV shows, as well as events for artists including Katy Perry.
Hevesh credits her success to the Domino Effect, a concept that suggests if you change one behavior, it will trigger a chain reaction of other changes that will have an impact on your life. For example, studies have shown that people who reduce their sedentary leisure time, for instance, tend to eat less fat. Hevesh says her success with dominoes is a result of making a commitment to the hobby and keeping that commitment.
As Domino’s CEO, David Brandon was known for his emphasis on the company’s core values, especially championing employees. When he was replaced by Doyle, she continued this focus on listening to the needs of employees and taking their feedback into account. For example, the company’s Domino’s Truck was a response to employee suggestions and is designed to improve driver safety and efficiency while reducing fuel costs. The trucks are also part of an initiative to modernize the company’s image and attract younger customers.