Product Design and Development Associate (Fixed-term contract)

Product Design and Development Associate (Fixed-term contract)

About The Role & Team

In conjunction with the Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Manager, own and execute the product development, design and approval process for specific categories. Support with the development of trend and brand right products for licensees and DTRs, providing technical product design direction, inspiration and support.

This is a fixed-term contract position located at our London office in Hammersmith, requiring four days of on-site attendance per week.

What You Will Do

• Execute the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner, ensuring all product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval (OPA) system as per global product integrity guidelines
• Provide product design and trend direction, inspiration and feedback to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions in order to drive product quality
• Train and develop all new and existing licensees on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets and approval systems
• Responsible for ensuring licensees have the appropriate creative assets for product development
• Develop and maintain successful working relationships with licensees and other internal and external stakeholders
• Create product pitches, new product design visuals, and dedicated core design mock ups under supervision of Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Manager
• Develop and maintain a good knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets in order to assist in their usage on consumer products
• Support the needs of the wider team at regional, local and global level as required including involvement in design projects, as directed
• Ensure products comply with corporate policies and legislation
• Maintain contemporary knowledge of product design and graphic trends (in relevant category), leading brands and relevant pop culture
• As required, attend ‘inspiration’ trips to broaden understanding of the EMEA marketplace, seeking out ideas and new creative solutions in order to better understand the industry and drive innovation and creativity

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree educated in related field (product design, etc.) and/or equivalent experience in lifestyle product company
• Proven commercial product development experience in relevant categories or product design role at a licensee, retail head office or supplier, beneficial
• Some packaging experience, and understanding of style guides for the Online Product Approval (OPA) system, desirable
• Proven experience creating prototypes or models
• Knowledge of trends within the industry of relevant category and the broader world of design with working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production
• An ability to communicate a clear product design brief and basic design ideas using CAD drawing, computer techniques and/or third-party design resources
• An ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgets as directed
• Strong design and conceptual skills
• Understanding of fabric, colour and product design
• Presentation skills with the ability to effectively present design ideas to internal/external stakeholders at all levels
• Understanding of production techniques and graphic applications with an eye for colour and shape, preferred
• In depth knowledge of fabrics and stitching techniques, preferred
• Ability to influence and support change amongst stakeholders
• Computer literate including Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MS Office
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group – ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.