(Ask to see private professional "Toy Design" portfolio for projects not disclosed to public yet)
Hot Wheels Fall 2024 EC Hauler
This was a project during my 2023 internship.
It is not common for an intern to have a toy designed and approved for production; I am the first to have this happen. I was fortunate to be there at a time where they had a "late add" to the following year's release, meaning I had a chance. I took this opportunity to come up with something worth an approval to get my name in the game.
Deliverable:
Design a Hot Wheels Car Hauler that is within the $14.99 MSRP price range, holds at least 9 cars, and has a unique Hot Wheels "transformation action".
Outcome:
I came up with many concepts for a hauler that fit this criteria, and ultimately my "Extend N Stunt" Hauler- name changed to "Speed Track Transporter" was the chosen design!
The "Speed Track Transporter" holds 11 die-cast cars, transforms into one long race track that can have additional Hot Wheels track added to the end, and cars can be launched from the cab down the track!
What makes this toy extra cool is that it can transform from its double-decker state to a single-lane while keeping all cars on board, something other haulers like this do not do. It is also still able to drive while in its transformed state due to the additional wheels added to the end of the trailer, something else that separates it from other car haulers made in the past.
Because Hot Wheels already has a large portfolio of haulers, it was important to be innovative!
Brainstorm Phase
This phase happens during the first week of receiving the project.
I sketch anything and everything that comes to mind, no matter how good of an idea it is. I create rough sketches of silhouettes, mechanism ideas, and general play features to communicate to others what I am thinking.
Silhouettes
Tip mech. concept
enclosed trailer concept
double decker concept
launch from cab
Spring Mech. concept
1st idea of extending hauler
1st mech. design for extending hauler
1st mech. design for extending hauler
During this phase, logistics and cost are not to be thought about, as it often hinders the creative process early on. When brainstorming initial concepts, I try to think about how to make a toy really cool and unique, while maintaining the brand's iconic look.
Eventually, every drawing is presented to the design team. This is where the ideas narrow down into a select few based on the input from others.
Final Drawings
There are plenty of phases that happen between the "Brainstorming" and "Final Drawings" phase, but to keep it simple, lots more sketches of varying detail go back-and-forth between the team until a single design is selected.
Just like the fully colored and rendered illustrations pictured below, drawings of other concepts may also be finished to this extent, depending on how many the team is interested in moving forward with. I created detailed illustrations like these for one other concept that cannot be shown as of now.
During this final phase of the design process, the chosen design is illustrated to the fullest extent, including drawings to show scale and play features. The drawings are then critiqued and adjusted accordingly through several sessions.
Once illustrations are completed, the toy can be pitched for a final approval, allowing it to move onto the production stage of the process.
I gave a few pitches throughout the duration of this project.
Production Phase
The production phase is the last phase of the design process. This is where the chosen concept gets modeled, prototyped, and sent to manufacturing. Cost is within target, and materials and color pallet are chosen.
There is back-and-forth between manufacturing and designers to ensure the toy looks and works as the designer intended.
