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Design Manager, Toys and Collectibles - Consumer Products

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a Design Manager to join our Consumer Products department for the hardline product categories. The Consumer Products team extends Blizzard games to best-in-class products ranging across action figures, weapon replicas, collectible pins, licensed board & card games, statues and vinyl figures. This position is responsible for overseeing design approval of licensed partner submissions and working with an internal Creative Development group of sculptors and artists in the design of direct manufacture products featured through the Blizzard Gear Store.

We are seeking someone with extensive toy design experience that has worked for top entertainment companies. The position will require working with our internal product approval programs, being supremely knowledgeable of the pantone color system and being able to easily communicate brand guidelines to external partners. The ideal candidate possesses one or more of the following creative skill sets at a professional level: digital sculpting, illustrative talent, and graphic design.

This position will report to the Director of the Product Development team and work closely with the hardlines category and manufacturing directors, internal franchise stakeholders and other product designers. The position requires the need to be or become an expert of Blizzard game franchises.

Responsibilities

Licensed Product Approvals – Hardline Categories

• Hardline categories includes but are not limited to action figures, model kits, construction toys, vinyl figures, weapon replicas, capsule toys, statues, enamel pins and other related consumer products
• Actively collaborate on all aspects of product design from trend research, design strategy, product development, quality management, and brand assurance
• Provide written feedback and digital mock-ups to illustrate requested changes on licensed product submissions
• Provide external partners with franchise approved assets, logos and legal lines guidelines
• Work with internal franchise teams to communicate brand values and design aesthetics to external licensing partners
• Provide suggestions for new partner and product line proposal reviews to hardlines category director

Internal Product Design – Hardline Categories

• Collaborate on the design and development of new hardline consumer products
• Maintain master character checklists for multi-unit product lines
• Work with internal manufacturing team to provide product concept briefs, digital design files and pre-production QA audits
• Contribute to annual product development line lists for hardline categories & internal approvals with franchise stakeholders

Hardlines Category and Blizzard Franchise Expertise

• Extensive experience designing and approving toys and collectibles
• Broad knowledge of varying hardline product construction and manufacturing techniques
• Working knowledge of all key Blizzard franchise characters, classes and logos
• Experience creating and implementing product strategies for multiple segments and product lines

Professional Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts clearly across different audiences with varying levels of subject expertise
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to provide clear and concise feedback
• Creative, innovative, and solution oriented
• Ability to work and thrive in a highly iterative, team environment
• Ability to manage constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and consistently meet deadlines

Education Requirements

• BA/BS (Designer focus) with a minimum of 7 years job experience in toy licensing and product development
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Power Point and 3D model programs (Maya, 3DS Max, Zbrush)