Product Design Manager – Hardlines Toys

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives. From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world.

Be Part of the Story at The Walt Disney Company as the Product Design Manager – Hardlines Toys. This role supports the Senior Manager in the assigned brands and categories, featuring characters and content from Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Media Networks, Interactive Media, and Parks. The ideal candidate would bring passion and positivity to a highly collaborative team that develops story driven product. This role would work within a variety of categories, from action figures, interactive electronics, to high end collectible statues, leveraging an iterative design approach.

This role reports to the Sr. Manager of Product Design

This is a Full-Time role.

Applicants Must Submit a Portfolio Focused on Art to Product for Consumer Products (apparel, games, toys, accessories).

What You Will Do:

• Concept, design, sketch, prototype (including managing art-to-product, sample creation, 3D modeling, where applicable), deliver and present trend-right consumer centric product lines that feature market-leading innovation and great price/value for each tier of the value pyramid.
• Research global markets to identify new trends, technologies, play patterns or category innovations.
• Manage product development in a collaborative, matrixed organization with various partners
• Prepare concept sketches and design inputs, Identify and collate 2D and 3D reference needs
• Create color sheets for product paint-masters
• Develop and design product mock-ups, compile line sheets for line reviews, layout creative presentations, and presentation decks
• Collaborates with Product Development Leads regularly to execute assigned projects.
• Collaborate with internal partners (Creative Design, Brand Merchandising, Sourcing and Tech Design, Global Product Design teams, BERGs, CBM, Legal, Business Affairs, Product Integrity, Integrated Retail, BPM, Public Affairs, D&I teams, Cultural Consultants) to design and approve all products
• Monitor competitors, product innovation and market dynamics
• Multi-task and prioritize multiple design projects within deadline

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Art, Design and/or Illustration
• Industrial design experience for character forward product (figures, collectibles, statues)
• 5+ related experience
• Solid knowledge in hardlines categories (raw materials, plastic, textiles, print, pattern, graphic composition, manufacturing limitations, electronic feature product, paint decoration)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Solid negotiating skills with positive personality
• Must be detail-oriented, organized and able to follow art direction well with excellent execution
• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple projects, timelines and communicate across teams in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manipulate graphic assets to create new designs and compositions
• Strong product design skills (e.g. 3D product design, technical design, sketching, creative application and manipulation of art, final mechanical art, fabric and trim identification)
• Strong computer software skills (e.g. MS Office, Photoshop, Illustrator)
• Familiarity with the Star Wars brands a plus

Benefits and Perks:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits .

About Disney Experiences:

Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; the world’s largest children’s publishing brands; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Global Product Dev & Creative , which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences .

Disney Global Product Dev & Creative is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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