Lead Consumer Products Designer

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, entertain 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.

Team:

The Mattel Global Consumer Products team manages licensed product development around the world for Mattel brands.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Designer to join our Global Creative team, working with retailers on DTR accounts in the Middle East region.  As a Lead Designer you will be responsible for leading the design process, creating innovative designs, and ensuring the successful execution of Mattel brands are translated into trend led & brand appropriate collections.

The ideal candidate for this position will be hired externally through third-party agency.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Research and analyse current fashion trends, consumer preferences, and competitor offerings to inform design decisions and creating mood boards with product, colour and print direction
• Produce regular directional, competitive shopping & develop reports to share with key stakeholders & partners
• Lead the design process from concept development to final product, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and market trends, sharing this with the global creative teams
• Provide creative strategic direction and support to priority brands/programs
• Translate Mattel intellectual property into global trends in an appropriate, on-brand and commercial manor.
• Work at a fast pace and create exclusive asset packs for retailers ensuring this has been shared internally with creative manager /global creative
• Be commercially aware of costing implications, retailer critical paths & factory capabilities
• Prepare creative product boards for partners for approval and review by Regional creative teams.
• Prepare marketing product boards for partners for approval and review by Regional creative teams.
• Develop original and innovative designs and mock ups for kids and adult retailer collections, including apparel, footwear, accessories, health and beauty, home and some hardlines products
• Work fully with Brand Style guides and assets
• Coordinate product development/approvals process for partners liaising with the Franchise PD teams
• Design and review the quality of products for all licensed DTR Mattel Intellectual properties.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, partners and stakeholders
• Give regular creative updates to Partners, including face to face meetings and travel when necessary, to share new creative & give updates on Mattel properties
• Communicate design direction and creative materials with Mattel Global Franchise Creative Teams and Regional Consumer Product Commercial Teams
• Work with the Marketing Teams across the Region to ensure on-brand marketing execution and adherence
• Work closely with the Consumer Product Business Teams to act as partners to our external Licensees
• Understand licensed product carried on each licensee contract and ensure that each licensee complies with the product specifications that have been agreed upon in their licensing contract.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience in designing 7 + years in fashion / home, with experience of working with brand style guides and assets
• Some knowledge of hardlines is preferable
• Solid and proven years of relevant experience in graphic design, preferably in fashion.
• Experience of working in Licensing is essential
• Understanding and awareness of design, and building brands.
• Degree in Graphic/ Product Design or Art related disciplines
• Understanding of garment manufacturing & critical paths
• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat
• Confident in Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint
• Cultural understanding

Skills & Competencies Required:

• Ability to work autonomously and in a team environment
• Ability to build strong meaningful relationships with key stakeholders and partners
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, as well as presentation skills required
• An understanding of the latest consumer and digital trends
• Team-player with “can do” and highly collaborative mindset with willingness to share best practice.
• Independent, detail-oriented with excellent communication skills
• Creative and committed to excellence
• Able to demonstrate a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves
• Open to feedback & willingness to learn

What It’s Like to Work Here

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower the next generation 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.

Our Approach to Hybrid Work

We embrace a hybrid work model to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where everyone can deliver on our shared purpose and realize their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with tech-enabled hybrid work, our focus is to provide flexibility while enabling collaboration for moments that matter.

Who We Are:

Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries 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 children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel is recognized for the second year in a row as a Great Place to Work™ and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.

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

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.