Hugo Eccles's guest appearances

Hugo Eccles

NoBraking

The Pigeon Whole Motorcycle Podcast

Before It Happened

Tom Gilroy

Carlos Rodriguez

Jack Roush

Geoff Velazco

Chris Ashmore

Lance Stander

Ryan Truax

Martin Klein

Emma Dixon

Benedict Radcliffe

Abhi Eswarappa

Doug Breuninger

Erica Sacks

Pontus Fontaeus

Henk Van Dongen

OwlTail

We’ve talked a lot about electrification and sustainable energy and transformational technologies shaping the ways we move through the world on Before IT Happened. In this episode, award-winning industrial designer and co-founder of Untitled Motorcycles Hugo Eccles joins the show to talk about his creative process driven by a passion for both riding and design, talking about his family’s deep connection with automobiles all the way to his current challenges designing e-bikes and trying to attract new groups of riders through innovation and conscious development.Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life. JUMP STRAIGHT INTO:(02:11) - Hugo’s family legacy with mechanics - “My great-grandfather was one of the founders of the Royal Automobile Club and played a big part in electrifying Britain. In fact, there's a story that he got punched by Queen Victoria. He got into a disagreement with the queen when he was installing electric lighting in Buckingham Palace.”(05:11) - Working with the design firm IDEO in the 90s - “I worked on everything from office furniture systems to mobile phones to children's toys, car interiors, medical products, you name it.”(09:57) - Establishing a booming design career - “We're not engineers. We're very ignorant about things, which I think is good in a way. We're really well-positioned to be the kind of advocate for the consumer—for the user—because they're not engineers either.”(13:17) - Hugo’s decision to focus on motorcycle design - “It just started with a really innocent question. My wife asked me ‘This might be a stupid question, but you love design and you love motorcycles. Have you ever thought about designing motorcycles?’ It was interesting. I think I was waiting for permission to do it.”(20:56) - Designing on trend - “I think the trouble with style is it's generally attached to fashion, and fashion is very temporary. If I had to choose function or style, I’d choose function because function never goes out of style.”(27:49) - Hugo’s on the future of e-mobility (and how to attract new non-male riders) - “ I really think comparing a gas bike to an electric bike's a bit like comparing a landline to an iPhone. They both make phone calls, but the implications of the two things are so very different.”EPISODE RESOURCES:Connect with Hugo on Instagram and LinkedinLearn more about Untitled MotorcyclesLearn more about the Petersen Museum in Los AngelesListen to Before IT Happened’s: Smart, Electric Motorcycles and Achieving Zero Fatalities Before 2030Listen to Before IT Happened’s: Driving the Nostalgia of Motorcycles into the EV Era with Paul d'OrleansThank you for listening! Follow Before IT Happened on Instagram and Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share the show wherever you listen to podcasts! Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and StudioPod Media with additional editing and sound design by nodalab. The Executive Producer is Katie Sunku Wood and all episodes are written by Susanna Camp.

We’ve talked a lot about electrification and sustainable energy and transformational technologies shaping the ways we move through the world on Before IT Happened. In this episode, award-winning industrial designer and co-founder of Untitled Motorcycles Hugo Eccles joins the show to talk about his creative process driven by a passion for both riding and design, talking about his family’s deep connection with automobiles all the way to his current challenges designing e-bikes and trying to attract new groups of riders through innovation and conscious development.Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life. JUMP STRAIGHT INTO:(02:11) - Hugo’s family legacy with mechanics - “My great-grandfather was one of the founders of the Royal Automobile Club and played a big part in electrifying Britain. In fact, there's a story that he got punched by Queen Victoria. He got into a disagreement with the queen when he was installing electric lighting in Buckingham Palace.”(05:11) - Working with the design firm IDEO in the 90s - “I worked on everything from office furniture systems to mobile phones to children's toys, car interiors, medical products, you name it.”(09:57) - Establishing a booming design career - “We're not engineers. We're very ignorant about things, which I think is good in a way. We're really well-positioned to be the kind of advocate for the consumer—for the user—because they're not engineers either.”(13:17) - Hugo’s decision to focus on motorcycle design - “It just started with a really innocent question. My wife asked me ‘This might be a stupid question, but you love design and you love motorcycles. Have you ever thought about designing motorcycles?’ It was interesting. I think I was waiting for permission to do it.”(20:56) - Designing on trend - “I think the trouble with style is it's generally attached to fashion, and fashion is very temporary. If I had to choose function or style, I’d choose function because function never goes out of style.”(27:49) - Hugo’s on the future of e-mobility (and how to attract new non-male riders) - “ I really think comparing a gas bike to an electric bike's a bit like comparing a landline to an iPhone. They both make phone calls, but the implications of the two things are so very different.”EPISODE RESOURCES:Connect with Hugo on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hugoeccles/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugo-eccles-92855b8b/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Linkedin</a>Learn more about <a href="https://www.untitledmotorcycles.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Untitled Motorcycles</a>Learn more about the <a href="https://www.petersen.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Petersen Museum in Los Angeles</a>Listen to Before IT Happened’s:<a href="https://www.beforeithappened.com/podcast-episodes/tapping-into-startup-culture-and-betting-on-the-future-of-mobility-with-vitaly-golomb-episode-19" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.beforeithappened.com/podcast-episodes/smart-electric-motorcycles-and-achieving-zero-fatalities-before-2030-with-damon-founder-jay-giraud" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Smart, Electric Motorcycles and Achieving Zero Fatalities Before 2030</a>Listen to Before IT Happened’s:<a href="https://www.beforeithappened.com/podcast-episodes/tapping-into-startup-culture-and-betting-on-the-future-of-mobility-with-vitaly-golomb-episode-19" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.beforeithappened.com/podcast-episodes/driving-the-nostalgia-of-motorcycles-into-the-ev-era-with-paul-dorleans-episode-40" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Driving the Nostalgia of Motorcycles into the EV Era with Paul d'Orleans</a>Thank you for listening! Follow <a href="https://www.beforeithappened.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Before IT Happened</a> on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beforeithappenedshow/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBIHShow" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share the show wherever you listen to podcasts! Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and <a href="https://www.studiopodsf.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">StudioPod Media</a> with additional editing and sound design by <a href="https://nodalab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">nodalab</a>. The Executive Producer is Katie Sunku Wood and all episodes are written by Susanna Camp.

Flying On the Road with Untitled Motorcycles Co-Founder Hugo Eccles

Our latest podcast guest is Hugo Eccles the Co-founder of Untitled Motorcycles, a company based in San Francisco and London that designs and builds custom motorcycles. Aside from being a motorcycle builder, Eccles is also a professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts (CCA). Eccles graduated from the Royal College of Art in London before starting work at IDEO. He emigrated to the US in 2003 to become global director of product design at Fitch, winning numerous awards including an IDEA Gold. From there, he went on to head the Arnell Group Innovation Lab in New York. In 2010, he returned to the UK to work with Sir Terence Conran as MD of Studio Conran, and later to serve as creative director at Native Design.His background in industrial design clearly has an influence on his motorcycle designs. Eccles’ most recent build is the ZERO XP, an experimental electric motorcycle that explores the future of motorcycles by taking a first-principles design approach.

Our latest podcast guest is Hugo Eccles the Co-founder of Untitled Motorcycles, a company based in San Francisco and London that designs and builds custom motorcycles. Aside from being a motorcycle builder, Eccles is also a professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts (CCA). Eccles graduated from the Royal College of Art in London before starting work at IDEO. He emigrated to the US in 2003 to become global director of product design at Fitch, winning numerous awards including an IDEA Gold. From there, he went on to head the Arnell Group Innovation Lab in New York. In 2010, he returned to the UK to work with Sir Terence Conran as MD of Studio Conran, and later to serve as creative director at Native Design.His background in industrial design clearly has an influence on his motorcycle designs. Eccles’ most recent build is the ZERO XP, an experimental electric motorcycle that explores the future of motorcycles by taking a first-principles design approach.

Hugo Eccles sits down to chat about the new Zero XP and where you can see it in person.  We also get a look at where Hugo comes from and his career as an Industrial Designer.  

Hugo Eccles sits down to chat about the new Zero XP and where you can see it in person.  We also get a look at where Hugo comes from and his career as an Industrial Designer.