Domino, the classic tile game, is all about setting up a pathway that is yours alone to establish. And once it’s set up, whether you pursue knocking over each domino or rearrange your pieces to establish a new pathway is a choice that you can make at any time. Like a story, each scene domino is ineffective by itself and may even get knocked over by the wind, but when you put them all together they can create an intricate, compelling path.
Dominoes are small, square-cut tiles that can be stacked on end in long lines. When a domino is tipped over, it causes the next one to tip over and so on, until the entire line topples over. This is the basis for the popular saying, “the domino effect.”
In addition to being fun and a great way to learn math, dominoes are used to make some pretty impressive artwork. One of the most amazing examples is a hand-built structure that a Japanese artist, Yukio Miyazaki, created in 1994 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his studio. The structure was based on an old map of Japan and included over 3,500 dominoes. The dominoes were all painted in bright colors and some of them had words written on them.
Creating such an intricate domino setup takes some serious skill. Hevesh starts by planning out the overall design she wants to achieve. She then tests different versions of the piece to make sure that each section works well individually. Once she has tested each section of the layout, she puts it all together. She starts with the biggest 3-D sections first, then adds flat arrangements and finally lines of dominoes that connect all the different parts together.
Another example of the Domino Effect can be found in the business world. A company’s leadership can have a huge impact on the organization as a whole, especially when it comes to customer service. For Domino’s Pizza, CEO Dave Brandon made a point to listen to employees and addressed complaints directly instead of letting them slide by. This led to a number of changes, including relaxed dress codes and new leadership training programs.
As for the word domino, it is not as old as some other English words, but it has been around since 1750. It may have come from the French word domicilium, which denoted a hooded cloak that could be worn with a mask. An earlier sense of the word may have been a cape that a priest might wear over his surplice. The modern word is also related to the Portuguese word domar, which meant a large table or a ledge for playing games. Interestingly, Domino’s corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is named after the same Portuguese city. Domino’s is often ranked as one of the best places to work in Michigan, and their commitment to listening to customers has been an important part of their success. In fact, the company’s previous CEO, David Brandon, participated in the Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces survey and listened to what employees had to say.