Associate Product Designer - Pokémon Plastics

The Associate Product Designer – Pokémon Plastics plays a key role in designing and developing innovative, high-quality plastic toys, action figures, and playsets for major licensed properties—specifically taking the lead on Pokémon plastic product initiatives. Combining creative ideation, a deep appreciation for the Pokémon universe, and technical hard-goods problem-solving, you will turn fan-favorite Pokémon, Trainers, and battle environments into compelling physical toys that resonate with collectors and kids alike.

What You Will Do: 

• Instrumental in generating new toy concepts to enhance new and/or existing brands
• Champion great design in our high-quality products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• 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                                                                     
• 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                                                                                                               
• 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                                                                                           
• Communicate with packaging design team to assure product and packaging are aligned 

What We Are Looking For: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering, or industry relevant field is a plus. 
• 0–3 years of experience in product design, hard goods/plastic toy development, or action figure design.
• 0–3 years of experience collaborating with overseas manufacturing partners (Asia preferred).
• Genuine passion for the Pokémon universe, characters, region lore, and aesthetics, with a strong pulse on what the collector and kid communities look for in plastic figures and playsets.
• Exhibit interest and knowledge of the current trends/innovations as well as an understanding the competitive marketplace in the toy industry         
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite   
• Strong proficiency in adobe creative suite (illustrator, photoshop, and InDesign)                
• Able to work cross functionally and reciprocally with multiple departments
• Able to work independently or collaboratively
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes
• 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  
• Excellent attention to detail
• Lifelong Learner
• Adaptable
• Effective problem solver and critical thinker; proactive in resolving issues
• Ability to