Innovation Designer - New Player Growth

Socket.dev; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Time Off to Recharge

Financial Well-being

Life & Family Support

Volunteer and Community Initiatives

Learning & Development

Exclusive Perks

Job summary

Wizards of the Coast in Renton, WA is seeking an Innovation Designer for New Player Growth to shape the onboarding journey for Magic experiences.

You will prototype physical, digital, and connected products, run playtests, and collaborate with design, product, and insights teams to turn early ideas into validated concepts.

Qualifications

• Minimum experience in game design or product design.
• Portfolio demonstrating iterative concept development.
• Ability to create prototypes and gather player feedback.
• Strong visual storytelling and design presentation.
• Experience presenting ideas to cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and prototype new physical, digital, and connected products for onboarding.
• Apply game design principles to learning experiences and rules.
• Explore product forms and occasions to reach broader audiences.
• Improve onboarding and engagement through testing and iteration.
• Turn player needs into testable concepts and pilot experiences.
• Plan and facilitate playtests and translate findings into concepts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements.
• Present concepts and findings to senior leaders and teams.
• Evaluate post-launch success and recommend improvements.

Skills

Game design

Product design

UX design

Innovation

Portfolio display

Prototype creation

Cross-functional communication

Job description

We take play seriously. We’re looking for curious adventurers ready to find their party, fueled by imagination and drive to build what’s never been built before. At Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, you’ll collaborate with passionate teams to reimagine our iconic brands and create experiences that spark joy, connection, and community through the magic of play. This is your chance to shape legendary play that lasts a lifetime.

At Wizards of the Coast, we connect people around the world through play and imagination. From our genre-defining games like Magic: The Gathering® and Dungeons & Dragons® to our growing multiverse, we continue to innovate and build new ways to foster friendship and connection. That’s where you come in!

Magic’s future depends on welcoming new players and helping them build a lasting connection with the game. As the Innovation Designer for New Player Growth, you will do the hands‑on design work behind new products and experiences that make Magic easier to discover, learn, and enjoy.

You will turn early ideas into tangible concepts that teams can play, test, and improve. Your work will include light game design, rapid prototyping, and player testing. You will explore introductory products, solo and cooperative experiences, new ways to learn, and offerings that extend beyond traditional Magic products.

Working closely with the Product Architect, you will translate growth priorities and player insights into experiences that welcome broader audiences. You will also partner with Game Design, Consumer Insights, Creative Design, Digital, and Production to move promising concepts from discovery toward launch.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and prototype new physical, digital, and connected products that help people begin and continue their Magic journey.
• Apply game design principles to develop gameplay concepts, learning experiences, rules, content structures, and new modes of play.
• Explore product forms, play patterns, partnerships, and occasions that can introduce Magic to audiences beyond established trading card game players.
• Improve introductory and acquisition‑focused products by making them welcoming, engaging, and easy to navigate.
• Turn player needs and business opportunities into testable concepts, prototypes, and pilot experiences.
• Plan and facilitate playtests. Observe player behavior, gather feedback, and revise designs based on what you learn.
• Design experiences that help new players feel capable, make meaningful choices, and connect with other people.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to assess feasibility, define requirements, and prepare validated concepts for development.
• Establish clear learning goals and success measures for prototypes. Use research, product data, and player feedback to guide decisions.
• Present concepts, prototypes, findings, and recommendations to cross‑functional teams and senior leaders.
• Evaluate products after launch and recommend improvements that strengthen onboarding, engagement, and long‑term participation.

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience in game design, product design, UX design, innovation, or a related creative field.
• A portfolio or examples showing how you developed, tested, and improved concepts through an iterative design process.
• Ability to create prototypes that communicate an idea and generate useful player feedback.
• Graphic design skills and the ability to create clear, compelling visual presentations, prototypes, and design materials.
• Experience presenting ideas and facilitating productive discussions with groups, including cross‑functional teams and senior leaders.
• Understanding of game systems, player motivation, learning design, or interactive experiences.
• Experience working with partners across creative, technical, research, and business disciplines.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to share the vision of design choices to varied audiences.
• Knowledge of and passion for Magic: The Gathering or experience with similarly complex games and systems.
• Empathy for new players and curiosity about the barriers that affect learning, participation, and belonging.

You will have opportunities to grow your design practice across physical, digital, and experiential products. If your experience does not align with every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply.

#WIZARDS

The pay transparency range for this role is listed below. The hiring range will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location and market conditions. Additionally, employees may be eligible for annual and long‑term incentives as part of their overall compensation package.

Pay Range

$112,000 — $168,000 USD

• Health & Wellness
• Time Off to Recharge
• Financial Well‑being
• Life & Family Support
• Volunteer and Community Initiatives
• Learning & Development
• Exclusive Perks

Please review our Applicant Privacy Notice to learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information in connection with the application process.