We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Nicholas Perillo about their original and creative Hubless longboard design work. Nicholas Perillo is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original hubless longboard works.
Nicholas Perillo ("NP") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Zenyth Hubless longboard. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
NP : This design was for an advanced prototyping class at university. I was not restricted by a design brief as such, so i could have some fun. The main objective was to explore prototyping processes that I hadn't had much, or any experience with before, to create a resolved product before the end of semester. I had been talking to a friend about his new longboard and playing around with hub less wheels on some car sketches for fun. I thought, why not both? And the idea was born.
NP : I really wanted to challenge myself to make a high quality and functioning product. It also had to look great, so a standard skateboard design wasn't going to cut it. I wanted the whole form to flow seamlessly and cast an almost impossible shilouette. When I proposed my idea people had their doubts on weather it was possible so i had to prove them wrong.
NP : I have had thoughts of improving the design and producing a limited run of these boards. But it would be a huge process that would distract from my current study. It is of course still an option later on if interest is high enough.
NP : The initial design was really fast. I didn't have time to make any mockups or much testing so I jumped from sketches to machine ready CAD files within 3 weeks and tweaked things as the build progressed. I had to get it all done for the end of semester exhibition while also working on other studio work. The whole board from concept to final product was completed in 13 weeks among other projects.
NP : This was me having fun with the facilities I had at my disposal and a crazy idea. I had presented three concepts initially and this was the most challenging, thats why I chose it.
NP : This is all still up in the air. It may end up being a one off piece.
NP : Being free to design whatever I wanted while challenging my prototyping skills.
NP : Anyone who wants to be the centre of attention when rolling down the street. This thing turns heads and baffles people!
NP : I think you would be hard pressed to find many similar or resembling concepts. It has a form factor unlike any other longboard or skateboard made before. most skateboards have a deck that dips down and the trucks are mounted underneath. This board rises and the trucks mount on the tips of the board. Its bonkers!
NP : The word zenith means, the highest point reached by a celestial or other object. I changed the spelling to Zenyth as a point of difference and I felt this worked well with the rising, arched deck and the overall sci-fi feel of the design.
NP : A mixture of hand sketching, Solidworks modelling, Adobe programs and rapid prototyping.
NP : Its beautiful form and of course the hub-less wheels.
NP : In the workshop at RMIT I had the help and advice of some very experienced technicians who where integral to realising this project.
NP : Without 3D design tools and rapid prototyping methods this design wouldn't exist. I was able to test strength and make assemblies very quickly and cheaply.
NP : Time was the biggest challenge. I was constantly against the clock managing other work and assignments during the semester. As with any project, things go wrong and take time to work around. One of the other challenges was making the whole thing work without any other prototyping. Because of the time constraints I only had one shot at everything, so it all had to be very well considered. This had to be the first and final prototype.
NP : I have received more attention on it than anticipated so I thought I might as well go for it.
NP : I have learnt a lot through this project. Mainly about rapid prototyping and all the factors that need to be considered, to fully realise a product.
