Craig Callum, Senior Design Manager at Hot Wheels (@cforcraig), joins us for a fascinating conversation about his journey through the automotive and toy industries. From dreaming of being a car designer at age five to working at MG Rover, Lego, and now Hot Wheels, Craig has always been driven by creativity. We discuss his time freelancing for Lego while snowboarding in the Alps, his role in creating the popular Speed Champions line, and how he's now leading the design of Hot Wheels' iconic mini cars.
Craig shares insights into designing cars both big and small, the challenges of scaling car designs for toys, and even how Hot Wheels projects inspire real car manufacturers. He also reveals his personal love for hot rods, his Ford Model A builds, and his perspective on car culture in Los Angeles.
Enjoy,
Sam
Show Notes:
00:00 The Journey to Car Design
02:57 The Evolution of Design Thinking
06:11 The Role of Imagination in Design
09:01 Hot Wheels: Merging Fantasy and Reality
11:50 The Challenges of Scale in Design
15:07 The Experience of Studying Car Design
17:57 Career Path: From Internships to Design
20:50 The Transition to Freelancing and Lego
24:05 Designing for Lego: A New Adventure
26:57 The Impact of Design on User Experience
30:10 Speed Champions: Bridging Cars and Lego
33:01 The Future of Design and Personal Passion
44:39 The Evolution of Adult Lego Fans
48:02 Sam's Journey at Lego and Speed Champions
52:55 Transitioning to Hot Wheels
56:21 Life on the Road: Building a Camper Van
01:00:15 Managing Design at Hot Wheels
01:06:53 The Hot Wheels Legends Tour and Community Engagement
01:12:41 Personal Car Collection and Experiences
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