523 - The Collection with Huck Gee - Part 14: Mad Toy Design

Huck Gee and Mark Brickey invite Jeremy Madl of Mad Toy Design to The Collection this month and he has a lot to offer. Jeremy has a degree in toy design and has spent almost two decades inside the industry learning every aspect of development from research to production. We've had a lot of talented designers on The Collection, but Jeremy is the first to use terms like "play patterns" so it's obvious he knows his stuff inside and out. Jeremy has worked with every name in the business, made his own successful toy company, and helped huge properties like Halo and Minecraft. Which conventions does he see as valuable? How does he view his own line of toys? How does he avoid getting burned by clients of all sizes? This episode lets you inside the mind of a modern renaissance man who has built a successful empire from a home base miles away from any major market he deals with regularly. Jeremy Madl brings his unbridled passion to The Collection and shares exactly how he has made things work.

Talking Points

Finishing up the smallest motorcycle for pre-order.
Determining edition sizes.
Bringing out the ultimate potential in a toy.
The process of pricing.
Planning out each step of your storyline in a larger than life universe.
Dreaming past the current state of technology and reconfiguring your workflow to follow new production capabilities.
The broach to end all broaches.
Getting mad at Madl.
Unreadable Hong Kong toys as a gateway into vinyl.
Building cultural collateral and the importance of patience.
Strategically developing your first toy to allow for variation and customization.
Exploring medium and scale as you hone in on the definition of "model."
Doing your research, developing a pitch, and taking a risk.
Getting more work from your toys than from selling them.
How the side hustle moves the day job forward.
Adding skills that increase your value at the board room table.
The Diner Menu or the Niche Food Truck.
Who are you dealing with and what is their budget.
The greatest hits of getting ripped off.
Licensing your own own IP to develop your brand with people you trust.
Avoiding getting Funko-fucked if you're beat to market.
The Toy Fair in New York City.
What is the best designer toy convention to attend?
Researching where you want to be in the industry.
Rolling the dice, collecting a paycheck, and the motivation behind each choice.
Living off the grid while working in the modern world.
Learning more about your career form your kids.
Cultivating free thinking, personal style, and following your passion.
Raising the next generation of makers.
Future plans based off the greatest invention ever made: royalties.
Staying resourceful and making a living off your gifts.