The Art of Domino
A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic that has one face bearing an arrangement of dots resembling those on a die. Two or more such blocks are called a set of dominoes. The word is derived from the Latin domino, meaning “little domina.”
A game of domino typically involves placing one or more pieces edge to edge with each other on a flat surface. Each piece may bear an identifying mark, or blank, on one side and an arrangement of spots or numerals, or a combination of both, on the other. Each mark or pips corresponds to a specific number, which must be reached or exceeded in order for the next domino to be placed. The most common type of domino has a single number pips, but there are also sets with multiple numbers of pips and some that use a mix of Arabic and numerical pips.
The most basic domino game requires two players and a double-six set, which contains 28 dominoes. The first player begins by playing a domino from his or her hand, and the other player attempts to match it by placing a new tile that has an end that matches the number of pips on the end of the played domino. The player who cannot make a match passes their turn. Then, the remaining tiles are picked up by the other player and mixed back into the boneyard for future turns.
Lily Hevesh, a professional domino artist who has created some of the most mind-blowing setups ever seen, follows a similar process when creating her installations. First, she considers the theme or purpose of her design. Then she brainstorms images or words that might be used to convey the desired message. She has even used her art to help set the record for the most dominoes toppled in a circular arrangement.
Hevesh believes that one physical phenomenon is key to a successful domino setup: gravity. This force pulls a knocked-over domino toward Earth, which helps to set off a chain reaction that continues until the last domino falls.
In the business world, a good domino is a task that contributes to a bigger goal and has a positive effect on the rest of the project. For example, if you want to create a financial plan for your business, breaking down that process into smaller tasks or dominoes can help you tackle it more easily and efficiently. When selecting a domino, it is important to prioritize tasks that will have the greatest impact on your business. This way, you can be sure that your hard work is paying off in the long run. For example, implementing new hiring processes can have a dramatic effect on your company’s bottom line in just a few years.