Director, Design - Games

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

18h•$175,000 - $219,000

About The Position

The Opportunity: The Director owns end-to-end product and packaging design execution for the Games portfolio, partnering closely with the Brand Marketing & Product Development teams to translate brand strategy and marketing objectives into compelling, scalable, and cost-effective design solutions. This role is uniquely positioned to: Integrate brand strategy, visual identity, and gameplay experience Drive shelf impact and consumer conversion via packaging Ensure consistency across product, packaging, and marketing touchpoints in collaboration with Marketing & Brand Creative teams The Director serves as the creative bridge between Brand/Marketing and Product Development, helping to ensure alignment from concept through commercialization.

Requirements

8–12+ years in product design, packaging design, or related field (games, toys, consumer products).
Strong graphic design and visual systems expertise (typography, layout, iconography).
Knowledge of structural packaging and print production.
Ability to translate gameplay into intuitive visual communication.
Strong storytelling and presentation skills.
Commercial awareness (cost, margin, retail dynamics).
Strong leadership skills with proven track-record of leading global teams spanning multiple locations
Excellent communication skills & ability to influence multiple stakeholders
Strong executive presence & ability to deliver presentations/narratives to a variety of audiences
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Packaging Design, or related field required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in card-based, tabletop, or print-driven categories strongly preferred.
Proven success delivering integrated product + packaging solutions.
Experience working closely with Marketing/Brand teams.
Exposure to licensed products and approval processes preferred.

Responsibilities

Integrated Product & Packaging Leadership
Lead cohesive design development across all lines of Games businesses & physical product formats, in additional to collaborating with Franchise LOBs
Ensure alignment between: Product design Packaging
Translate brand positioning into clear, compelling physical and visual experiences.
Packaging Design Excellence
Lead structural and graphic packaging design across formats.
Establish scalable packaging systems for global deployment.
Ensure packaging achieves: Strong shelf presence and brand blocking Clear and intuitive gameplay communication
Balance sustainability goals with cost, materials, and retail requirements.
Oversee instructions, iconography, and visual hierarchy for clarity and accessibility.
Product Design & Gameplay Experience
Partner with Game Design and Inventor Relations to bring gameplay concepts to life that deliver on innovation, fun & brand purpose
Drive excellence in: Card design systems (layout, typography, iconography) Component design and usability Instruction clarity and onboarding experience
Ensure accessibility and inclusivity in gameplay design.
Support rapid prototyping and iteration cycles, including championing adoption of the latest technologies & tools
Licensed & Promotional Product Integration
Partner closely with key Licensors to integrate IP across games
Ensure compliance with licensor guidelines and approval processes.
Commercial & Operational Accountability
Design to cost targets, margin requirements, and print/production constraints.
Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to ensure production readiness & global scalability.
Ensure on-time delivery through stage-gate processes.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Collaborate across: Brand/Franchise – translate brand strategies to physical product & packaging; partner with Franchise LOBs via Brand/Franchise marketing Product Development – manufacturability and execution Consumer Insights – consumer behavior, play testing & usability Global Supply Chain – production and logistics Regional Teams – localization and retail channel needs, via collaboration with the Brand & Marketing teams
Team Leadership & Creative Direction
Lead and develop a team of product and packaging designers.
Manage external agencies, illustrators, and creative vendors.
Establish clear creative direction, processes, and feedback loops.
Build a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable design culture.