Summary: “I WANT MY STUFF TO BE WHOMPED ON.” <br> <br> <br> Here on episode sixty-five, we sit down with <a href="http://www.iconthriftmaster.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ICON 4×4</a> and TLC founder and CEO Jonathan Ward. It’s a laid back, candid look at building cool vehicles in a very technology-driven world. A self-starter in definition as well as practice, Jon’s childhood acting days (from a chance shot in Peter Pan to Charles in Charge to a stalker incident) and an interest in restoring old tech and cars lead to starting a business. We explore the passion that drives ICON, the idea behind the brand, and the marketing approach.<br> <br> <br> THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:<br> <br> * Industrial design meets entrepreneurship<br> * Raymond Leowy<br> * Avoiding the “theme” build while staying true to the vehicle’s character<br> * Steering clear of bad design directions<br> * Crafting a unique aesthetic<br> * Creating brand identity<br> * Working to make a unique statement without turning down the bread and butter work<br> * The balance of loving what you do and loving the customer– When to fire a client<br> * Steering the client via renderings<br> * Nostalgia as a motivator in building a project<br> * The gender difference in styles/needs/wants– Women VS men with regard to needs and wants in a vehicle<br> * “Corrupted by the perversions of modernity”– A discussion on tech and obsolescence<br> * Being an “old school martyr”– Brian proposes the “Tune-ruining choke knob” feature<br> * Changing the mood and personality of a vehicle just through exhaust note<br> * A “rockabilly” bar cruiser Hudson Hornet<br> * “Build it like you’d keep it”<br> * The challenges of working with obscure vehicles– “It’s like the dot-com era for hot rodders”<br> * Working with technology like 3D printing and <a href="https://roundsixpod.com/2018/10/26/the-fiber-at-the-speedkore-david-salvaggio-and-lyle-brummer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">composites</a>– The “pucker moment” when you need an impossible-to-find part<br> * Watching tech and changing attitudes toward <a href="https://roundsixpod.com/2019/03/01/luc-delay-rolling-panels-and-spinning-yarns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">old-school craftsmanship</a><br> * Research and design on the fly<br> * Getting stuck in a rut in your craft and not seeing the advantage of pushing forward– Looking forward at nanotech, hydrophobics and more<br> * Drawing inspiration from a wide variety of sources<br> * Passion builds versus assembly line product<br> * The first resto project: a ’55 Ford<br> * Meeting Mikhail Baryshnikov– Hitching a ride to a cattle call and landing a role in Peter Pan on Broadway<br> * The advantages of not having a board to answer to when working to preserve the passion and DNA of a brand<br> * Purity of execution working through a series of compromises<br> * Going international with <a href="https://roundsixpod.com/2019/06/07/design-driven-down-under-with-ziggy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SEMA Australia</a><br> * A discussion on the appreciation of vintage Americana<br> * A benchracing session complete with dream project ideas<br> <br> <br> THE ICON VIDEOS<br> <br> <br> <br> PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR<br> We are proud to have this episode brought to you by Trailer Tug. Please visit their website to learn more at <a href="https://trailertug.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TrailerTug.com</a><br> Round Six Podcast listeners get 10% off by mentioning the podcast when ordering by phone, or by entering “round six” in the discount code box at checkout on the website.<br> <a href="https://trailertug."></a>
