Senior Designer, Apparel & Accessories - Licensed Product Development and Design

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Universal Brand Development Group is seeking a Senior Designer of Product Design Development for the Universal Products & Experiences Consumer Products division. This senior creative role leads development of apparel and fashion accessories, including bags, headwear, and footwear, translating Universal intellectual property such as Jurassic World, Minions, and Shrek into trend-setting products. The designer provides technical expertise and supports the Supervisor while collaborating with licensees and internal stakeholders. The role develops fashion-forward concepts and trend-led stories, provides design direction and feedback, adapts style guides for complex constructions, and manages creative workflows and licensee submissions from concept through final sample. Under the Manager’s direction, the designer also supports cross-functional work with Category Management, Legal, and Franchise teams. Travel may be required. The position currently follows a hybrid schedule requiring work from the office at least four days per week; the company may change in-office requirements. Applicants must submit a professional portfolio showing original work and individual contributions across the product development lifecycle, from concept to shelf. Examples should include sketches, trend research, graphics and logos, pattern and print development, overlays or redlines, technical design packages, sampling iterations, and final products. The role offers company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, discounts, and other perks.

Requirements

At least 4 years of senior-level design experience in the fashion industry, such as apparel, bags, or footwear.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
Deep understanding of fashion tech packs.
Ability to translate 2D graphics into 3D garment constructions.
In-depth knowledge of fabric properties, washes, and embellishment techniques such as embroidery, patches, and screen printing.
Exceptional color sense and material sourcing skills.
Ability to communicate design intent logically and professionally, support the Manager, and facilitate consensus with external partners.
Proactive mindset and ability to drive results.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
Confidence advocating for design decisions and collaborating toward shared goals.
Proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator.
Working knowledge of InDesign, Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
Professional portfolio demonstrating fashion-trend translation into commercially relevant, character-driven licensed products; full lifecycle examples; and clear evidence of the candidate’s original work and individual contributions.

Responsibilities

Analyze and synthesize market trends, including streetwear and luxury, to develop innovative product concepts that combine character aesthetics with modern fashion.
Present creative directions to the Manager for alignment.
Lead the translation of macro and micro fashion trends into cohesive, trend-led storytelling and seasonally relevant apparel and accessory concepts.
Provide technical and aesthetic foundations for apparel and accessory lines.
Give licensees detailed design feedback on textiles, specialty construction, and graphic placement to support the Manager’s final approvals.
Adapt and expand Universal style guides for complex garment and accessory constructions.
Review licensee submissions through Lunchpad and manage daily creative workflows.
Provide clear, actionable design feedback from concept through final sample, maintaining a balance between fashion-forward design and IP brand consistency.
Under the Manager’s direction, collaborate with Category Management, Legal, and Franchise teams and coordinate design-side work to help deliver competitive products to retail.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Travel as required.