Designer of Collectables , Consumer Gifts & Toys

Reporting Location: London - 16 Hatfields

Workplace Type: Hybrid

ABOUT US

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world’s leading brands. With 1,200+ employees across 26 countries, we offer an impressive range of solutions – from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery. Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald’s, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas.

WHAT MATTERS THE MOST

Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving. tms is a place where brilliant people are better together.

WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE

This is so much more than just a toy design role. We’re seeking out a creative product designer/developer with a strong fandom for collectibles, gaming, lifestyle and fashion products at their core. An interest in how sport, music and entertainment influences culture would also be welcomed. Someone who understands that modern collectability, play and brand engagement live far beyond just the toy and games aisle.

You will help shape product-led ideas and experiences that resonate with older kids, teens, Gen-Z and kidult audiences, while remaining grounded in manufacturable, scalable reality for mass market promotions. You will support and influence the International Family Business Unit, across the end-to-end process, from early ideation through development and production, with a particular emphasis on early-stage concept generation, visual storytelling and sell-in thinking.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE AGENCY

• Generate fast, original concepts that consider collectability mechanics – series logic, rarity, variants, completion and display, alongside play and function.
• Craft fast-thinking and conceptual sprints in response to campaign strategy briefs, dovetailing your thinking with cultural moments, trends, brand and consumer insights.
• Bring a deep understanding of fandom behaviours, sub-cultures and hero-driven storytelling into ideation: from gaming and anime to sport, music and street culture.
• Help identify global and local market trends and translate them into relevant product opportunities.
• Immerse yourself in the worlds of retail brands, licensing and IP to support internal teams and client understanding.

Design, Visualisation & Storytelling

• Confident, expressive sketching and rapid visualisation skills to communicate early ideas.
• Translate speed of thought into expressive explorations to define iconic silhouettes and character-led products.
• Fluent with switching between mixed-media tools; from mood boards and sketches, to digital visuals and proof-of-concept renders and physical prototypes.
• Write clear, compelling copy that explains design thinking rationalise and strategic intent.
• Balance creativity with real-world commercial checks including cost, manufacturing, safety and sustainability.

Collaboration and Development

• Solve complex design and engineering challenges with cross-functional teams.
• Produce red-line draw-overs, 3D prints and prototype/sketch models to communicate solutions effectively.
• Work alongside peers across account, strategy, creative, digital, engineering, delivery and supply chain and partnerships teams.
• Support senior leaders on larger programs while confidently owning smaller workstreams end-to-end.

CORE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design or Illustration or another relevant creative discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3-6 years’ agency or in-house product/industrial design experience within collectibles, toys, games, lifestyle/fashion, sport, entertainment or adjacent categories.
• Knowledge of global retail brands, licenses, and studios in the consumer product, toy, games, and entertainment categories.
• Strong presenter and storyteller, with the ability to deliver concise and engaging presentations using various media.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating collectible thinking, cultural awareness, depth and range in concept thinking, visual storytelling and early-stage concept visualisation (including sketch work).
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat).
• Familiar with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
• Foundational knowledge of 3D modelling, printing, and rendering software (e.g., Fusion 360, Blender, ZBrush, SolidWorks, Freeform, Keyshot, or similar).
• Foundational understanding of manufacturing processes, safety considerations and sustainability principles.

BONUS SKILLS, WAYS OF THINKING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Deep personal engagement with collectibles, pop-culture and fandoms, with an ability to articulate why certain IP, characters or formats resonate.
• Understanding of play patterns, child development, and safety standards (EN71/ASTM) as creative and commercial enabler.
• Curiosity about how consumers engage with both mainstream brands and emerging IP.
• Comfortable and confident working in a fast-moving, hybrid and cross-functional environment.

If you have any questions about the job, we are open to discussing this role further, so please feel free to get in touch.