Some projects are just more fun that others. Every designer loves car designs, but getting the opportunity to a design to life rarely happens. When Sharper Image approached us with an internal engineering package ready for a complete design overhaul, we saw an opportunity to do something different. Most youth-targeted remote-controlled vehicles rely on over-the-top, hyper-aggressive aesthetics with loud surfacing and chaotic, saturated colorways. Instead, we wanted to design something cool, modern, and sleek by retaining the fun of a high-performance toy while injecting the sophisticated restraint from an industrial design perspective.

Because the mechanical boundaries were pre-determined, our focus shifted toward maximizing the impact of the silhouette through a strong, athletic stance and detailed touchpoints. While the overall form language remains clean and geometric, it is punctuated by subtle form transitions, perforated under-armor, and a rugged metal front bumper that signals it can confidently tackle any slope. We placed a heavy emphasis on the lighting elements, which can change color based on user preference, as they bring the whole design together. Ultimately, we designed the Phantom Crawler for ourselves, and the market responded in kind, driving it to become one of the top-selling RC vehicles in the entire Sharper Image lineup.