Domino is a game, and it’s also a metaphor for things that cascade into greater and often unanticipated consequences. The idea is based on the fact that dominoes can be stacked end to end in long lines, and when the first one is tipped, it triggers energy to fall in a similar fashion to all the rest. These days, the term domino is often used to describe any series of events that begin with a small action and lead to bigger results.
Hevesh is a domino artist, and she makes mind-boggling creations for TV shows, movie premieres, and even pop star Katy Perry. Her largest installations take several nail-biting minutes to fall, and they can involve hundreds of thousands of dominoes. Hevesh starts each project with a theme or purpose in mind, and she brainstorms images and words that might go with it.
Once the design is set, she begins laying out the pieces on a table or other flat surface. She might use straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. She may also draw a diagram on paper, including an arrow for each domino and the way it will fall when tipped.
The most basic domino variant involves two players and a double-six set of tiles. The tiles are shuffled and placed face down to create the stock or boneyard, from which players draw seven at a time. As they draw, players check to see if the tiles they have match those of their opponents. When they do, the opponents have to pick up those tiles and place them face down as well.
As the dominoes are drawn and matched, they are laid down in rows or other formations to complete the structure. Then, the resulting pattern is scored, and the player with the highest score wins. Other games have a different character, being mostly solitaire or trick-taking exercises that are adaptations of card games. These were often popular in areas where religious prohibitions barred the use of cards.
While many people play dominoes for fun, it is also possible to turn the activity into an artistic pursuit by using different colored tiles and creating elaborate layouts. The art can be framed and displayed in homes, offices, or schools. In some cases, a domino artist may be hired to make artistic layouts for events such as weddings and other celebrations.
The change in leadership at Domino’s was meant to address the company’s main complaint from its customers, and it worked. The new CEO made Domino’s more customer-friendly and brought in a few other changes, including introducing breakfast items to the menu. The move was a success, and Domino’s is still in business today.