Domino—the flat, thumbsized rectangular blocks each bearing from one to six pips or dots, in 28 pieces that make up a complete domino set—is the basis for many popular games. The simplest, Block, for two players requires a double-six set that is shuffled and then drawn from so that each player has seven tiles in hand. The players then alternately extend the line of play by playing one domino on its edge against another. The game ends when a player cannot play and calls “out” or when a player’s opponents are blocked and no legal plays remain in their hands.

Some domino sets are crafted of natural materials such as silver lip oyster shell (mother of pearl or MOP), ivory, or dark hardwoods such as ebony and feature contrasting black or white pips that are inlaid or painted on. These sets tend to feel more substantial and expensive than the polymer ones that are more widely available. They can also be more difficult to construct and can require the use of special tools.

MOP and ivory dominoes may be carved with patterns or images, as well as inlaid with gold, silver, or other precious metals. Some sets are emblazoned with logos or brand names to be used as promotional items for restaurants or retailers.

While many people know of the traditional domino game, few understand how such a simple toy can be used to build mind-blowing displays of rhythmic motion and visual beauty. The secret to a successful domino installation lies in physics. A domino, like any object in a resting position, has inertia—a tendency to resist movement—and a tiny nudge is all it takes to tip the first domino past its tipping point. Once it does, most of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy—the energy of motion—and is transmitted to the next domino, pushing it over. And so on, until the last domino falls.

As Hevesh creates these amazing designs, she follows a version of the engineering-design process. She tests each section of the installation to ensure it works. Once she has all the individual sections together, a test run on a flat arrangement allows her to fine-tune the final configuration. In this way, she can make sure the whole display works as intended. Hevesh’s meticulous testing and fine-tuning make her domino creations more complex—and more beautiful.