Craig Callum | Hot Wheels

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices