NICK HOLLISTER.
Industrial Designer
Education
Purdue University
BFA in Industrial Design
Minor in The Russian Language
Experience
Industrial Designer - Hasbro
Industrial Design Intern - ICM Design
Research Analyst - Balkans investment Consulting Agency
Me
I’m a designer who’s driven by curiosity, exploration, and the process of turning ideas into something real.
I believe the strongest work comes from close cross-functional collaboration. I thrive working in person; whiteboards, quick mockups, and side conversations.
Outside of design, I’m a long-distance runner. Endurance training has shaped how I work: consistent, resilient, and comfortable staying with a challenge long enough to see progress.
Thanks for taking the time to explore my work.
Email
Resume
Linkedin
Work
- Nerf _ Roleplay
- Nerf _ Licensed
- AEC Design Competition _ E Bike Storage
- Sketchbook _ Ideation & Exploration
- Maps _ 3D Prints & Studies
- Metalwork _ Project Sampling
Nerf _ Roleplay
Hasbro
Industrial Design + Manufacturing
6 Months
2025
Problem
Develop a fast-to-market Nerf foam roleplay line at a lower cost than ever achieved, enabling entry into mass retail while maintaining brand presence and perceived value.
Process
Led material exploration with a focus on foam construction, evaluating density, durability, finish, and cost tradeoffs. Partnered with global vendors to source and refine materials while collaborating closely with overseas development teams to align on manufacturing capabilities and tooling constraints. Rapid iteration cycles allowed the design to evolve in parallel with production realities, balancing aesthetics, safety, and cost efficiency.
Solution
Delivered a material-driven solution that redefined the cost structure for Nerf roleplay. By adapting form language and feature detailing to foam manufacturing processes, the line achieved aggressive cost targets, accelerated development timelines, and secured new mass retail placement.
Material-Led Development
Investigated EVA, polypropylene foam, and blended formulations to optimize resilience, density, and surface quality. Prototyped various forming and finishing methods to understand how material behavior influenced form language and graphic application. This exploration directly informed a manufacturing-aligned design approach that leveraged the strengths of foam rather than forcing it to mimic rigid plastic construction.
Nerf Shadowspeed Sword
Constructed from EVA foam.
Nerf Shadowstrike Daggers
Constructed from Polypro foam.