Director, Design - Games

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Opportunity: 

The Director owns end-to-end product and packaging design execution for the Games portfolio, partnering closely with the Brand Marketing & Product Development teams to translate brand strategy and marketing objectives into compelling, scalable, and cost-effective design solutions. 

This role is uniquely positioned to: 

• Integrate brand strategy, visual identity, and gameplay experience 
• Drive shelf impact and consumer conversion via packaging
• Ensure consistency across product, packaging, and marketing touchpoints in collaboration with Marketing & Brand Creative teams 

The Director serves as the creative bridge between Brand/Marketing and Product Development, helping to ensure alignment from concept through commercialization.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

Integrated Product & Packaging Leadership 

• Lead cohesive design development across all lines of Games businesses & physical product formats, in additional to collaborating with Franchise LOBs 
• Ensure alignment between: 
• Product design 
• Packaging  
• Translate brand positioning into clear, compelling physical and visual experiences. 

Packaging Design Excellence 

• Lead structural and graphic packaging design across formats. 
• Establish scalable packaging systems for global deployment. 
• Ensure packaging achieves: 
• Strong shelf presence and brand blocking 
• Clear and intuitive gameplay communication 
• Balance sustainability goals with cost, materials, and retail requirements. 
• Oversee instructions, iconography, and visual hierarchy for clarity and accessibility. 

Product Design & Gameplay Experience 

• Partner with Game Design and Inventor Relations to bring gameplay concepts to life that deliver on innovation, fun & brand purpose 
• Drive excellence in: 
• Card design systems (layout, typography, iconography) 
• Component design and usability 
• Instruction clarity and onboarding experience 
• Ensure accessibility and inclusivity in gameplay design. 
• Support rapid prototyping and iteration cycles, including championing adoption of the latest technologies & tools 

Licensed & Promotional Product Integration 

• Partner closely with key Licensors to integrate IP across games  
• Ensure compliance with licensor guidelines and approval processes. 

Commercial & Operational Accountability 

• Design to cost targets, margin requirements, and print/production constraints. 
• Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to ensure production readiness & global scalability. 
• Ensure on-time delivery through stage-gate processes. 

Cross-Functional Leadership 

Collaborate across: 

• Brand/Franchise – translate brand strategies to physical product & packaging; partner with Franchise LOBs via Brand/Franchise marketing 
• Product Development – manufacturability and execution 
• Consumer Insights – consumer behavior, play testing & usability 
• Global Supply Chain – production and logistics 
• Regional Teams – localization and retail channel needs, via collaboration with the Brand & Marketing teams 

Team Leadership & Creative Direction 

• Lead and develop a team of product and packaging designers. 
• Manage external agencies, illustrators, and creative vendors. 
• Establish clear creative direction, processes, and feedback loops. 
• Build a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable design culture. 

What We’re Looking For:

Experience & Education 

• 8–12+ years in product design, packaging design, or related field (games, toys, consumer products). 
• Experience in card-based, tabletop, or print-driven categories strongly preferred. 
• Proven success delivering integrated product + packaging solutions. 
• Experience working closely with Marketing/Brand teams. 
• Exposure to licensed products and approval processes preferred. 

Skills 

• Strong graphic design and visual systems expertise (typography, layout, iconography). 
• Knowledge of structural packaging and print production. 
• Ability to translate gameplay into intuitive visual communication. 
• Strong storytelling and presentation skills. 
• Commercial awareness (cost, margin, retail dynamics). 
• Strong leadership skills with proven track-record of leading global teams spanning multiple locations 
• Excellent communication skills & ability to influence multiple stakeholders 
• Strong executive presence & ability to deliver presentations/narratives to a variety of audiences 
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Packaging Design, or related field required. 

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

How We Work:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Who We Are:
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy