Product Design and Development Associate - Apparel & Accessories (Fixed-Term Contract)

About the Role & Team

At Disney Consumer Products (DCP), we bring the stories, characters and creativity of The Walt Disney Company to life through inspiring, high‑quality products enjoyed by consumers around the world. Within Global Product Creation (GPC), our teams work closely with licensees, partners and internal stakeholders to ensure every product reflects the strength of our brands and meets the highest creative and technical standards. As a Product Design and Development Associate in the softlines team, you will play a key role in developing trend‑right, brand‑appropriate products across apparel and accessories. You will provide hands‑on technical product design direction, creative inspiration and guidance to licensees, supporting the end‑to‑end product design, development and approval process. This role is a fixed‑term contract, running until the end of September 2026. The position will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or a Friday working from home.

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values guide how we create, how we partner, and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

• Execute the product approval process from initiation through to production, ensuring all submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval (OPA) system in line with global product integrity guidelines.
• Provide product design and trend direction, inspiration and constructive feedback on both 2D applications and 3D product submissions to drive product quality.
• Train and support new and existing licensees on Disney brands, properties, creative assets and approval systems.
• Ensure licensees have access to the appropriate creative assets to enable effective product development.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with licensees and internal and external stakeholders.
• Create product pitches, design visuals and core design mock‑ups under the guidance of senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain a strong knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets to support their thoughtful use on consumer products.
• Support regional, local and global design projects as required, contributing to wider team initiatives.
• Ensure products comply with corporate policies and relevant legislation.
• Stay up to date with product design and graphic trends, leading brands and relevant pop culture within your category.
• Participate in inspiration trips, as required, to broaden understanding of the EMEA marketplace and spark new creative solutions.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in a related field (such as product design) and/or equivalent experience within a lifestyle product environment.
• Experience in commercial product development or product design, ideally within a licensee, retail head office or supplier environment.
• Knowledge of product design trends, manufacturing techniques and their application in production.
• Ability to communicate clear product design briefs and ideas using CAD, computer‑based techniques and/or third‑party design resources.
• Strong design and conceptual skills, with an eye for colour, shape and form.
• Experience creating prototypes or models.
• Ability to manage deadlines and work within agreed budgets.
• Confident presentation skills, with the ability to share design ideas effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency in Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MS Office.
• Strong written and spoken English for business use.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of diverse local markets across EMEA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Packaging experience and familiarity with style guides used within the OPA system.
• Understanding of production techniques, graphic applications, fabrics and stitching.
• Ability to influence and support change across stakeholder groups.
• Additional European language skills.

Training and Professional Development

At Disney, your growth matters. In this role, you will:

• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations, on‑the‑job learning and access to learning platforms such as D Learn and instructor‑led courses.
• Operate as part of an inclusive and supportive team, valuing different perspectives and sharing knowledge and best practices.
• Proactively contribute ideas to improve team performance and processes, including through the use of technology.
• Build strong connections across The Walt Disney Company to develop a broader understanding of the business.
• Champion diversity, equity and inclusion, helping to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave.
• Private medical insurance and dental care.
• Free Park Entry for you, your family and friends.
• Discounts on selected Disney products, resorts, food & beverage and ticketing.
• Excellent parental and guardian leave.
• Employee Resource Groups including WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED and TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our audiences and where everyone feels they belong. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond.