The man who invented Lego’s iconic minifigures has died at the age of 78. 

Jens Nygaard Knudsen worked on creating the yellow characters, complete with movable arms and legs, in the 1970s before the toy was finally released in 1978.

The designer had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND), and was being cared for in a hospice when he passed away on 19 Feburary.

Nygaard Knudsen worked for the Danish toy brand from 1968 to 2000.

During his time at the company, he developed some of Lego's classic sets, including Space and Pirates, and had a hand in designing early versions of the family theme park Legoland.

Commenting on the news, former colleague and Lego designer Niels Milan Pedersen paid tribute to the children's toy maker, saying: “His imagination was so fantastic. If we had a brainstorm it was more like a brain hurricane, because he had so many ideas.”

The Lego Group also issued a statement regarding the sad news on Twitter, writing: “We're very sad to hear that Jens Nygaard Knudsen, the creator of the LEGO Minifigure, has passed away. 

“Thank you Jens, for your ideas, imagination, and inspiring generations of builders.”

In an additional statement, Julia Goldin, Lego Group's chief marketing officer, added: “He was a true visionary whose ideas brought joy and inspiration to millions of builders around the world and we thank him for helping to create some of our most loved play themes.”

Matthew Ashton, vice president of design at Lego and producer of the Lego movies, also commented on the designer’s passing and thanked him for inspiring generations of children.

“While I never met Jens, what he created played such a huge part of my childhood as well as for many other millions of kids around the world,” Ashton wrote on Twitter.

"Without him, I would never have been inspired to do the things I do today, without him I wouldn't even have my job today! What an amazing man, and what an incredible legacy he leaves behind."

Following his death at the Anker Fjord Hospice outside the small town of Hvide Sande, the designer’s wife told local press that her husband “was a man of ideas”. 

“The figure was created so that there would be life in the houses. At the time Lego’s houses were empty, but then he drew this man.”

Lego fans have also expressed their sympathies on social media, with person writing: “A small salute, to the man who designed my happiest childhood memories.”

Another person agreed, commenting: “Thank you for your invention, the firefighter was my first of the new wave of figures I had in 1978. You have been a big part of my childhood & now my adult life as I explore Lego with my son Cam.”

Lego was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen and began manufacturing toy bricks in 1940s. 

The brand’s name is an abbreviation of two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”.

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