Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro by Adam Miller - Hot Wheels RC Design Team is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Taonga Tākaro, Kēmu me ngā Hua Runaruna Competition Category.
HiriwaTaonga Tākaro· 2025
Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro
by Adam Miller - Hot Wheels RC Design Team
Client: Mattel Inc.
A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Taonga Tākaro Category
- 52,884
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #170982
The Design
About Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro
Ko te Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC he kaiwhakahaere mamao mō ngā waka tākaro. I hangaia te kaiwhakahaere mā ngā kaiwhaiwhai o te tākaro whakahaere ā-irirangi, ā, mā ngā kaiwhakamahi he rerekē ō rātou hiahia neke me te mōhio ā-ringa. Mā te pātene nui kotahi e whakahohe te āhuatanga mahi whakamīharo. He nui ngā mana whakahaere ahunga, ā, kua tohua ki ngā pere mārama. Ka taea te pupuri i te kaiwhakahaere ki te ringa, te here ki te aho kakī, te whakatakoto rānei ki runga i te mata papatahi. I whai te whanaketanga i ngā tikanga hoahoa e arotahi ana ki te tangata, i ngā uiuinga mātanga, me ngā whakamātautau auau me ngā tamariki.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Hiriwa
Ko Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Kaiwhakahaere Mamao Taonga Tākaro he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The new Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC Controller delivers the excitement of RC play to core fans, yet is inclusive of new users who may have a variety of unique mobility and dexterity needs.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 95mm x 42mm x 68mm (measured from the controller battery door to the thumbsticks).
The vehicle dimensions that will work with this controller vary, but will be included with models ~ 350mm long x 200mm wide x 200mm tall. - Tags
- accessibility, inclusivity, play, design, inclusive design, user centered design, human centered design, special needs, empower, fun
- Production Technology
- Human Centered Design methodologies were employed to put Hot Wheels RC’s target users at the center of the design work. Extensive user-testing, idea iteration and additional validation practices were followed to ensure exciting RC play can be delivered to both existing audiences and users with special needs.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to deliver exciting RC play that is easy and fun for all abilities. This meant maintaining fun and intuitive RC controls for existing Hot Wheels RC audiences while expanding usability to fans with a variety of mobility and dexterity needs. Understanding that not everyone plays the same way presents the challenge of identifying core barriers to play that exist for a wide range of users, and addressing them all inclusively. Challenge Accepted.
- Research
- The Accessible Play Challenge was launched across Mattel Design teams and was judged by Design leadership. Winning concepts, like the HW Monster Truck RC Controller, then entered into a Design Sprint phase, which required divergent brainstorming, interviews with subject matter experts, (in this case, special needs educators), and iterative testing with children with a variety of mobility and dexterity needs to refine and validate the design.
- Inspiration
- Mattel is celebrating its 80th Anniversary as the world’s most trusted toy and entertainment company, home to the world's biggest brands, like Hot Wheels, Barbie, Uno, and more. Mattel is driven to create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences, and develop children through play. Understanding that not everyone plays the same way, Hot Wheels design and development teams have embarked on a mission to reimagine existing toys with inclusivity at the core, so the company can deliver on its purpose: empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential, for all.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2023 as an accessible toy design challenge. As a finalist in that challenge, the Accessible RC Controller concept then entered a robust design sprint and user testing phase to challenge assumptions, unlock innovation, and deliver play for ALL. The finished product will launch Fall 2025.
- Operation Flow
- The inclusive Hot Wheels Monster Truck RC controller was designed to increase access to the joy of RC play to users with special needs. The stunt feature can be activated by pushing a single large button, the directional controls are large and with clearly indicated directional arrows. The controller can be attached by a lanyard and operated in hand, or placed against a flat surface, allowing for greater play accessibility.
- Team Members
- Hot Wheels RC Design Team
Gerry Cody
Adam Miller
Sam Tsui
Melissa Scanlan
Amanda Verzini - Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Adam Miller, Hero Shot, 2025. Image #2: Photographer Adam Miller, Activation Shot, 2025. Image #3: Photographer Adam Miller, Supplemental Shot, 2025.
Video credits: Videographer Adam Miller, Accessible Controller, 2025.
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