Senior Product Designer - Bedding

Jazwares, LLC • Minneapolis, MN

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Product Designer will lead the strategic design and development of innovative, high-quality products for our exciting new bedding brand, SquishPillow. This senior role requires a visionary thinker who can translate character IP and brand strategies into premium, comfort-driven textile products. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, cutting-edge soft-goods ideation, and advanced technical problem-solving abilities, overseeing the entire design lifecycle from initial concept to retail-ready product.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive design experience, with a proven track record in soft goods, plush, bedding, or children's home furnishings.
• 1+ years of experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred).
• Exhibit interest and knowledge of the current trends/innovations as well as an understanding the competitive marketplace in the bedding or home decor industry.
• Proactively observes and gains a deep understanding of the competitive marketplace, including current trends and innovations in home textiles, sleep wellness, and the toy/licensing industries.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) or other similar tools.
• Strong project management skills.
• Able to work cross functionally and reciprocally with multiple departments.
• Able to work independently or collaboratively.
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of working with licensed brands.
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Able to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Demonstrates a strong design sense, including a well-developed sense of aesthetics.
• Can easily adapt to shifting priorities, and can manage multiple priorities at one time, while also demonstrating vigilance in keeping projects moving forward and hitting deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Design, Industrial Design, Toy Design, or a related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive the creation of next-generation bedding, plush pillow, and home-textile concepts, establishing a distinct design language for the SquishPillow brand while maximizing comfort and aesthetic appeal.
• Deliver end to end product design including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing.
• Champion great design in our high-quality products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements.
• Oversees the product design process.
• Architect innovative comfort and bedding collections centered around premium material integrity, tactile usability, and exceptional consumer experiences.
• Builds consensus between members throughout the design process.
• Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, engineering, packaging, and other internal team partners to create product that is the best fit for the brand.
• Attend Brand brainstorming to obtain enough information for product design.
• Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor teams.
• Ensure delivery of precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications and ensure they fully understood by the international team/factory.
• Work with outside vendors.
• Provide expert direction on fabric selection, textile construction, pattern-making, and fill specifications to ensure all SquishPillow products meet top-tier standards for softness, durability, and manufacturing scalability.
• Responsible for completing, reviewing, documenting specification changes, submitting for licensor approval, and providing comments for illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews.
• Work closely with brand/management teams to resolve development issues, while assuring designs meet the target cost, schedule, and brand standards.
• Participate in the entire life cycle of project development from a concept through initial ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turn over packages to development teams.
• Collaborate with packaging design team to assure product and packaging are aligned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Basic medical insurance that is 100% company-paid for employees and their children
• Employee basic life and AD&D insurance
• 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals
• Short and long-term disability
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible work schedule
• Monday through Thursday on-site, with an optional WFH on Fridays
• Up to 20 workdays fully remote each year
• Time Off for vacation and sick leave
• Opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects through Jazwares Cares

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree