Sr Designer, Design & Development (Seasonal)

NBCUniversal•Universal City, CA

2h•$90,000 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

NBCUniversal’s Universal Destinations & Experiences Franchise, Products & Partnerships team is seeking a highly creative, trend-driven Senior Designer to lead the development of product collections across Seasonal Merchandise, In-theater, and Lifestyle categories. The role drives concept creation, product design, trend forecasting, and category strategy, partnering with merchandising, sourcing, product development, and other cross-functional teams. The designer will translate market trends into customer-focused products that balance strong aesthetics with commercial awareness and business results. The position leads seasonal product design and development from concept through production, including creating original concepts and design assets, preparing technical design packages, reviewing prototypes and production submissions, and ensuring consistency, quality, functionality, and cost objectives. It also involves trend and market research, collaboration with global vendors and manufacturing partners, support for line reviews and presentations, and other duties assigned to support the team. The role currently follows a hybrid schedule requiring work from the office at least four days per week; the company may change in-office requirements. Travel may be required. The position is eligible for company-sponsored benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, discounts, and other perks. The listed annual salary range is $90,000–$105,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.
At least 4 years of product design experience in home décor, seasonal products, gifting, or lifestyle categories.
Strong portfolio demonstrating commercial product development and trend-forward design.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Advanced proficiency with CAD tools and Microsoft Office or presentation software.
Experience working with global sourcing partners and manufacturing processes.
Strong understanding of materials, finishes, textiles, trims, packaging, and product construction.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear direction.
Ability to prioritize and multitask in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment with multiple product development calendars.
Highly organized and proactive, with a self-starter approach, strong attention to detail, and resourcefulness in troubleshooting.
Solution-oriented and able to work as a team player.
Professional portfolio showing product ideation, sketching, creative problem-solving, and design development; submitted work must be original and clearly identify the candidate’s individual contributions.
Portfolio should demonstrate the product development lifecycle from concept to shelf, including examples such as sketches, trend research, pattern and print development, overlays or redlines, technical design packages, sampling iterations, and final products.
Travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with mass retail, specialty retail, private label, or licensing programs.
Background in home décor, tabletop, soft goods, gifting, novelty, or seasonal assortments.
Knowledge of trend forecasting platforms and consumer research tools.
Experience managing multiple categories simultaneously in fast-paced environments.
Portfolio examples in home décor, seasonal merchandise, gifting, lifestyle, or other three-dimensional product design are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end design development for seasonal product categories, from concept through production.
Create original product concepts, mood boards, color palettes, prints, patterns, assets, and product specifications.
Develop seasonal collections aligned with brand direction, market opportunities, and customer needs.
Maintain design consistency and quality across multiple categories and product lines.
Use creative assets expertise to provide accurate product-development feedback.
Conduct ongoing research into consumer trends, color direction, materials, lifestyle shifts, and the competitive landscape.
Identify opportunities in home décor, gifting, seasonal events, and lifestyle products, and translate trend insights into commercially viable product strategies.
Partner with merchandising, sourcing, suppliers, manufacturers, business teams, and retail leadership to align product execution with design vision, cost objectives, and timelines.
Collaborate with overseas vendors and manufacturing partners on product refinements, material selection, and production approvals.
Support line reviews, assortment planning, and product presentations.
Prepare design packages, including CADs, specifications, colorways, materials, and artwork files.
Review prototypes, samples, and production submissions.
Ensure products meet quality standards, functionality requirements, and cost objectives.
Perform other related duties assigned to support the needs of the team.