Sr. Designer. - Warner Bros. (Los Angeles, CA)
The Senior Designer, PD position will drive the product and creative strategy and execution of product categories for North America. They will review and manage all product submissions, evaluating them for product integrity, brand integrity and character integrity – following all required Brand Assurance and Franchise guidelines. The Senior Designer must be able to work on multiple Creative and Product Development functions, including product design, graphic design, typography, trend research, pitches, and presentations, as well as creative tools to support licensees in their development.
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The role liaises with Creative, Global PD, Licensees, Category, Retail and Franchise counterparts to drive cohesive, synergistic creative materials and strategies to support the brands. Designs presentations to assist in showing the direction of current and future trends for product and their applications. Owns the product development process from a product perspective to ensure property consistency and assists licensees on new and innovative ways to apply WBCP’s assets on products.
Presents creative workshops on a regional level in partnership with Category for licensees. Creates pitch and POV boards for Licensees, Category and Retailers.
Your Role Accountabilities...
Design & Trend Direction:
Identifies and applies trend to product and understands how our franchises work within key market trends.
Translates our IP into market right graphic designs and product, while following franchise guidelines.
Develops and designs Creative/Product Development POV (point of view) boards for top DTRs and licensees, interpreting trend information into salable design concepts, while reinforcing brand image and art application.
Follows established timelines and key dates for the creative deliverables. Adheres to strict production schedules when designing and managing in-house resources and vendors in the creation of all art.
Understands and executes product development strategies, product design, print and pattern development, color, and typography
Product Development:
Provides support on creative brainstorms to present new creative directions, trends and to help licensees in the creation of products in all categories
Holistically manages product development efforts to ensure proper differentiation between licensees, retailers and franchises
Works closely with category managers to produce fresh, compelling designs that meet the business needs / strategies
Understands franchise, category and retail strategies and how it impacts and applies to creative strategy
Product Approvals:
Maintains all Product Feedback and Approvals on schedule using the Starlabs Approval Platform which serves as a legal record of licensee’s product submissions
Follows up with licensees regarding merchandise development and production, and audits licensee compliance to Brand Assurance procedures
Responsible for building and maintaining one-on-one relationship with licensee counterpart, as well as the licensee designers (artists, sculptors, etc.) to ensure collaboration and a smooth working approval process
Partners with Brand Assurance team to ensure feedback to partners are cohesive, consistent and executable
Qualifications & Experience...
Minimum 5-7 years’ experience required in the Licensing business, with a focus on product development and product design
BA or BS in Fine Arts or Design preferred, or 2 years Technical College in a design discipline or equivalent experience required
Adaptive, resilient, measured, high tolerance for ambiguity and comfortable in fast-paced, high-growth environments
Active mindset, self-driven, intellectual curiosity, thrives in an empowering culture
Must be able to interface professionally with department, licensees, and all levels of management on behalf of the department
Must have close attention to detail and understand written and oral instructions
Must practice professionalism in written and verbal communication
Must have knowledge of production techniques used across all licensed manufacturing industries and how final art must be completed
Strong knowledge of Mac applications such as Keynote as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (mainly Illustrator, Photoshop and In Design)
Fluent in English
Apparel or licensed product experience is a plus
Availability to travel
How We Get Things Done…
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
The Legal Bits…
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. $72,240.00 - $134,160.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).