Designer, Design & Development (Toys)

confidential; United States; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

NBCUniversal is seeking a design professional to partner with toy licensees, translating characters into product concepts and leading development from concept to production in a hybrid work model in the United States.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of design and development experience, a degree in toy/product design, proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Keynote, and strong communication and organizational skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of design and development experience.
• Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree, preferably in toy design, industrial design, product design or graphic design
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to provide thoughtful, clear, creative art direction to partners and vendors.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment that revolves around multiple product development calendars.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Strong inter-personal skills to navigate situations across multi-functional departments
• Understanding of age-appropriate play patterns, and Experience with but not limited to preschool, plush, playset, action figures, vehicles, role play, collectibles, or related toy categories
• Demonstrated curiosity about consumer behavior, emerging toy trends, technology, innovation, and new ways to play.
• Skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and all relevant software for product development, including Keynote.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with toy licensees throughout the full product-development process, from initial concept through production, providing clear, actionable creative direction through draw-overs, visual references, and design notes.
• Translate characters, stories, and franchise attributes into compelling product features, play patterns, and collectible experiences.
• Develop toy concepts & presentation through concept sketches, product renderings, mood boards, and visual storytelling that clearly communicate form, function, play pattern, and innovation.
• Manage product submissions through Universal’s product approval systems, delivering timely, constructive, and solutions-oriented creative feedback to partners.
• Lead design projects in collaboration with internal and external cross-functional teams, balancing product objectives, consumer needs, and timelines.
• Co-create design strategies with the Manager and Director, using research, trends, and consumer insights to inform new product opportunities.
• Partner with Category, Retail, Franchise, and other cross-functional teams to ensure licensees have the creative direction, assets, insights, and information needed to develop compelling products.
• Identify consumer, category, and portfolio white-space opportunities and translate those insights into new product concepts and emerging opportunities through consumer insights, global toy trends, competitive products and cultural influences.
• Support the UP&E product development process through clear, timely communication and participation in key development reviews and meetings.
• Support additional creative initiatives ranging from blue-sky ideation, content exploration to product innovation.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the team and business.
• Ability to travel as required to support business and operational needs.

Skills

Design experience

Communication skills

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Understanding of play patterns

Curiosity about trends

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree in toy design, industrial design, product design, or graphic design

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Keynote

Job description

Company Description:

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit for more information. Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

AboutUDX FRANCHISE,PRODUCTS &PARTNERSHIPS:

Universal Destination & Experiences'Franchise, Products & Partnershipsteam(UDX FPP)extends NBCUniversal's iconic brands, characters andstories throughglobalconsumer productsandgames,theme parkmerchandiseandretail,in addition tothe UDX enterprise function of franchisemanagementand strategicpartnerships. SupportingNBCUniversal'sownedportfolioof propertiesas well as third-party partnersacrossthe theme park business, UDXFPP createsproducts,experiencesandpartnershipsthatdeepen fandom and connectsaudiencesaround the worldwith thecharacters, stories and worlds that define Universal.

Description:

• Primary focus: Partner closely with toy licensees throughout the full product-development process, from initial concept through production, providing clear, actionable creative direction through draw-overs, visual references, and design notes.
• Translate characters, stories, and franchise attributes into compelling product features, play patterns, and collectible experiences.
• Develop toy concepts & presentation through concept sketches, product renderings, mood boards, and visual storytelling that clearly communicate form, function, play pattern, and innovation.
• Manage product submissions through Universal’s product approval systems, delivering timely, constructive, and solutions-oriented creative feedback to partners.
• Lead design projects in collaboration with internal and external cross-functional teams, balancing product objectives, consumer needs, and timelines.
• Co-create design strategies with the Manager and Director, using research, trends, and consumer insights to inform new product opportunities.
• Partner with Category, Retail, Franchise, and other cross-functional teams to ensure licensees have the creative direction, assets, insights, and information needed to develop compelling products.
• Identify consumer, category, and portfolio white-space opportunities and translate those insights into new product concepts and emerging opportunities through consumer insights, global toy trends, competitive products and cultural influences.
• Support the UP&E product development process through clear, timely communication and participation in key development reviews and meetings.
• Support additional creative initiatives ranging from blue-sky ideation, content exploration to product innovation.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the team and business.
• Ability to travel as required to support business and operational needs.

Portfolio

PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION GUIDLINES: Please submit a professional portfolio demonstrating strong product ideation, sketching, creative problem-solving, and design development is highly preferred. Examples of toy, children's product, character-based product, or other three-dimensional product design are strongly preferred. Portfolios must showcase the full product development lifecycle, from concept to shelf, and include examples of sketches, trend research, pattern and print development, overlays/redlines, technical design packages (tech packs), sampling iterations, and final produced products. All submitted work must be the candidate's original work, with clear examples of their individual design contributions.

Hybrid

Hybrid: This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $72,000 - $85,000

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of design and development experience.
• Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree, preferably in toy design, industrial design, product design, or graphic design
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to provide thoughtful, clear, creative art direction to partners and vendors.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment that revolves around multiple product development calendars.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Strong inter-personal skills to navigate situations across multi-functional departments
• Understanding of age-appropriate play patterns, and Experience with but not limited to preschool, plush, playset, action figures, vehicles, role play, collectibles, or related toy categories
• Demonstrated curiosity about consumer behavior, emerging toy trends, technology, innovation, and new ways to play.
• Skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and all relevant software for product development, including Keynote.
• Preferred Experience working with licensed entertainment IP, style guides, and character-driven product development.
• Understand and willing to learn and integrate company approved AI workflow.

Additional Information:

NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to .