Toy Designer - Pokémon Plastics

Jazwares Careers • Los Angeles, CA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

As The Product Designer, you will successfully design and develop plastic products for one of the most engaging brands, Pokémon. In this role, you will demonstrate creative thinking and execute on a wide variety of projects to support and align with brand strategies and objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of product design experience in the toy industry, with a proven track record in hard plastics, action figures, and companion playsets.
• 1+ years of experience collaborating directly with global manufacturing vendors (Asia preferred), with a strong understanding of plastic injection molding, assembly, and creating precise turn-over specification packages.
• Deep understanding of creating cohesive systems of play (compatibility, articulation, and usability) within strict licensed brand style guides (experience with Pokémon or entertainment properties is a huge plus).
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and expertise in creating highly detailed control drawings and rendered illustration concepts.
• Proficiency in G-Suite/MS Office.
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills for pitching concepts to licensors and cross-functional teams.
• Highly adaptable critical thinker who can seamlessly manage multiple shifting priorities and deadlines while keeping projects moving forward.
• Collaborative team player who can also work independently to problem-solve and execute design goals.

Nice To Haves

• experience with Pokémon or entertainment properties is a huge plus

Responsibilities

• Instrumental in generating new toy concepts and designing new play experiences for new and/or existing brands and product lines
• 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
• Create systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences
• Builds consensus between members throughout the design process
• Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and other internal team partners to create product that is the best fit for the brand and meets licensor requirements
• Attend Brand and licensing meeting and 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
• Support the overall strategic goals of product, provide direction and feedback during the development process that is attentive to licensor and for brand assurance
• 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
• Champion high quality designs and products that are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• 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
• a 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
• Time Off for vacation and sick leave
• opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level