Director Experiential Design - Live Events

Mattel, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive total pay programs

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Mattel, Inc. is seeking a Director of Experiential Design to lead the creative direction of global location-based entertainment projects. This role will focus on translating iconic brands into immersive experiences.

The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in themed entertainment and possess exceptional visual storytelling skills. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects while maintaining brand integrity.

Mattel offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits in El Segundo, California.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in themed entertainment or related fields.
• Proven experience translating intellectual property into immersive experiences.
• Exceptional visual communication and storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative development for location-based entertainment projects.
• Establish creative vision and ensure design solutions reflect brand.
• Guide projects from ideation through execution and opening.

Skills

Creative direction

Experience design

Storytelling

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Mattel is seeking a highly creative and strategic Director, Experiential Design to join the Global Location Based Entertainment (LBE) team. This role will serve as the creative design lead responsible for translating Mattel's world‑class intellectual properties into immersive attractions, hospitality concepts, themed retail, and family entertainment venues around the globe.

What Your Impact Will Be

Creative Leadership & Experience Design

• Lead the creative development of global location-based entertainment projects, translating Mattel intellectual property into compelling, immersive, and guest‑centric experiences.
• Create and oversee experience concepts that integrate storytelling, physical environments, attractions, interactive elements, retail, dining, and entertainment.
• Develop end‑to‑end guest journeys, defining narrative structure, emotional moments, spatial flow, wayfinding, and experiential touchpoints.
• Champion visual and experiential storytelling through environmental design, show design, placemaking, and attraction development.
• Establish creative vision and ensure design solutions authentically reflect the essence of each Mattel brand.

Concept Development & Brand Stewardship

• Develop creative frameworks, concept packages, visual assets, mood boards, presentations, design intent documents, and experiential guidelines for global partners.
• Oversee scalable creative systems that can be adapted across Operations, Marketing and Merchandise arms of Location Based Entertainment while maintaining brand consistency.
• Serve as a key brand steward, ensuring all experiences uphold Mattel’s quality standards, franchise objectives, and guest expectations.
• Review and approve creative deliverables throughout the design and development process.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with commercial, licensing, franchise, and business development teams to align creative vision with business goals, operational realities, and market opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to evaluate new opportunities, attractions, destinations, and experiential concepts.
• Facilitate alignment across multiple disciplines including design, architecture, operations, marketing, retail, and entertainment.
• Present creative strategies and concepts to executive leadership and external partners.

Project Development & Execution

• Guide projects from blue‑sky ideation through design development, fabrication, installation, and opening.
• Partner with external agencies, consultants, architects, media developers, fabricators, and attraction vendors to bring concepts and creative systems to life.
• Provide creative oversight throughout production, ensuring fidelity to design intent and storytelling objectives.
• Support creative reviews, design approvals, and milestone presentations while streamlining decision‑making processes.
• Conduct site visits, mock‑up reviews, vendor evaluations, and field art direction as needed.

Global Partner Management

• Serve as a primary creative liaison for operators, licensees, and development partners across international markets.
• Build strong relationships with external stakeholders to ensure successful execution of Mattel experiences worldwide.
• Evaluate creative proposals and provide strategic guidance to maximize guest engagement and brand impact.
• Support the growth of Mattel’s global LBE portfolio through innovative, scalable, and commercially viable experiential concepts.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Themed Entertainment Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, Industrial Design, Entertainment Design, Interior Design, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in themed entertainment, attractions, experiential design, destination development, hospitality, exhibitions, museums, or location-based entertainment.
• Proven experience translating intellectual property into immersive physical experiences.
• Strong background in creative direction, show design, environmental storytelling, attraction development, or experiential design.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and external partners through complex projects.
• Experience developing attractions, themed environments, entertainment destinations, exhibitions, hospitality experiences, retail environments, or family entertainment centers.
• Exceptional visual communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Ability to balance creative excellence with operational, commercial, and budget considerations.
• Strong understanding of guest experience design, placemaking, narrative development, and physical environment design.
• Experience working with global partners and international projects preferred.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with globally recognized entertainment, consumer, or character brands.
• Knowledge of attraction systems, experiential technologies, themed retail, food & beverage, and entertainment programming.
• Familiarity with design development, fabrication processes, and installation oversight.
• Portfolio demonstrating immersive storytelling, attraction design, and experience development.
• Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits and resources to empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.