Product Design & Development Associate - Toys

About The Role & Team

The overall purpose of this role is to develop trend and brand-right products for licensees and Direct-to-Retail (DTR) partners, providing technical product design direction, inspiration, and support. You will be responsible for executing the product design, development, and approval processes for the relevant category, ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of quality and creativity.

This role requires a keen eye for trends, a deep understanding of brand integrity, and the ability to inspire and guide licensees through the entire product lifecycle. Your contributions will be pivotal in maintaining the Disney brand's reputation for excellence and innovation in consumer products.

This role is a full-time position, with 4 days in the office based out of Hammersmith, London.

What You Will You Do

• Facilitate the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner, ensuring all product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval (OPA) system in accordance with global product integrity guidelines, with a particular focus on Hardlines and Toys.
• Offer product design and trend direction, inspiration, and feedback to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions to enhance product quality, especially within the Hardlines and Toys category.
• Educate and support all new and existing licensees on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets, and approval systems.
• Ensure licensees have access to the appropriate creative assets for product development.
• Foster and maintain successful working relationships with licensees and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop product pitches, new product design visuals, and dedicated core design mock-ups under the guidance of the Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Manager.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage, and creative assets to assist in their application on consumer products.
• Collaborate with the wider team at regional, local, and global levels as required, including participation in design projects as directed.
• Ensure products adhere to corporate policies and legislation.
• Stay updated on contemporary product design and graphic trends (in the relevant category), leading brands, and relevant pop culture.
• Participate in ‘inspiration’ trips as needed to broaden understanding of the EMEA marketplace, seeking out ideas and new creative solutions to better understand the industry and drive innovation and creativity.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Hold a degree in a related field (such as product design) and/or possess equivalent experience in a lifestyle product company.
• Demonstrate proven commercial product development experience in relevant categories, particularly Hardlines and Toys, or have experience in a product design role at a licensee, retail head office, or supplier.
• Have some packaging experience and an understanding of style guides for the Online Product Approval (OPA) system, which is desirable.
• Show demonstrated experience in creating prototypes or models.
• Possess knowledge of trends within the Hardlines and Toys industry and the broader world of design, with a working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production.
• Communicate a clear product design brief and basic design ideas using CAD drawing, computer techniques, and/or third-party design resources.
• Deliver against set deadlines and budgets as directed.
• Exhibit strong design and conceptual skills.
• Understand fabric, color, and product design.
• Present design ideas effectively to internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Understand production techniques and graphic applications with an eye for color and shape, preferred.
• Have in-depth knowledge of fabrics and stitching techniques, preferred.
• Influence and support change amongst stakeholders.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English for business use; other European languages are beneficial.
• Be computer literate, including Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and MS Office.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.