Bryan Zhao, Jimmy Liu
Background
Bryan Zhao — Bryan Zhao is a Hot Wheels designer (Mattel). He moved from China to the United States, where he became interested in cars. He is the designer of the 2026 mainline Toyota Prius, a project he himself proposed to the team; in a 2026 interview with Lamley, he explained that he advocates the use of part breaks (splitting a casting into separate parts) to reduce decals and increase detail. The sources consulted do not state his education or start date.
Jimmy Liu — Jimmy Liu has been at Mattel since 2015 and is Director, Product Design for Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Before moving into design, he worked as a marketing manager at the company. His path to Mattel began outside the toy industry: he was a banker at Wells Fargo and other financial services companies and joined Mattel as an intern, later becoming a full-time employee. He also designs cars, but not regularly. In 2026, Lamley cited him as Design Director in the review of the mainline Toyota Prius.
