A method for producing a blend comprising randomly substituted mesogens comprising: providing one or more platform molecules have the following general structure: ##STR00001## wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of X and Y comprises one or more spacer groups; R.sup.2 is a bulky organic group whereby, when both X and Y are reacted with polymerizable groups to produce polymerizable mesogens, R.sup.2 provides sufficient steric hindrance to achieve a nematic state at room temperature while suppressing crystallinity of the polymerizable mesogens at room temperature; and, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are selected from groups less bulky than R.sup.2; and independently substituting at least one member selected from the group consisting of X and Y with a polymerizable group, thereby producing a blend of randomly substituted mesogens.