Lead Designer – Consumer Products (Dolls Style Guide)

Job description

The Opportunity: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Designer to join the Global Franchise Creative team supporting our Dolls Style Guide team. This role is responsible for developing best-in-class style guide assets, visual systems, and creative toolkits that inspire licensed consumer products across a wide range of categories. The ideal candidate has exceptional graphic design skills, a strong fashion sensibility, and a sophisticated design eye. They are a self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can take a creative brief and independently drive projects from concept through final execution, and consistently delivers thoughtful, brand-right creative with minimal direction. This role partners closely with the Creative Manager, Franchise Creative Director, Brand, Licensing, Product Development, Creative Operations, and external creative vendors to develop compelling visual assets that translate seamlessly across a variety of licensed consumer products. What Your Impact Will Be: Own the creative development of style guide assets from concept through final execution across Mattel's Dolls portfolio. Translate creative briefs into compelling visual solutions with minimal direction while maintaining brand integrity. Apply strong graphic design fundamentals and fashion-inspired thinking to create trend-forward style guide assets and visual collections. Develop graphics, patterns, typography, iconography, layouts, illustrations, and visual storytelling assets that support global style guides. Understand how style guide assets will be applied across licensed consumer products including apparel, accessories, footwear, home décor, beauty, stationery, publishing, toys, and more. Art direct external artists, illustrators, and design vendors to ensure exceptional creative quality, consistency, and brand alignment. Research and incorporate fashion, lifestyle, color, print, graphic, and consumer trends. Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Present concepts and design rationale clearly and confidently to internal stakeholders. Collaborate closely with Brand, Product Development, Licensing, Creative Operations, and fellow designers. Maintain exceptional attention to detail while upholding the highest standards of creative excellence. Key Partnership/Relationship Areas Partner closely with the Creative Manager and Franchise Creative Director to execute the creative vision for the Dolls portfolio. Collaborate with Brand, Licensing, Product Development, and Creative Operations teams throughout the creative process. Build strong working relationships with internal cross-functional teams and external creative vendors. Provide thoughtful creative direction and feedback to freelance artists, illustrators, and design partners. Foster open communication and collaboration while contributing to a highly creative, supportive team environment. What We’re Looking For: 7+ years of professional experience in graphic design, style guide development, fashion graphics, consumer products, entertainment, or a related creative field. Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fashion Design, or equivalent experience. Exceptional graphic design skills with a refined eye for typography, composition, color, layout, and visual storytelling. Strong understanding of fashion, graphic, and lifestyle trends. Proven ability to take a creative request, work independently, and drive projects from concept through final execution with minimal oversight. Experience developing style guide assets, brand systems, or visual toolkits that support licensed consumer products. Strong understanding of how creative assets translate across a wide range of consumer product categories. Experience art directing external vendors, illustrators, photographers, or creative partners. Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat. Strong presentation, communication, organization, and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple brands and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Licensing, entertainment, or consumer products experience is highly preferred. Personal Attributes Exceptional taste level with a strong passion for fashion, graphic design, and visual storytelling. Self-motivated and able to work autonomously while confidently making creative decisions. Collaborative, curious, and open to feedback. Strong problem solver with a positive, solution-oriented mindset. Organized, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities. Demonstrates a growth mindset by staying curious, embracing challenges, and continuously evolving creatively. *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. Our Approach to Flexible Work: We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter. 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 and . 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 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 Team: The Mattel Global Franchise Creative team develops style guides, manages global licensed product development, creative marketing communications, and supports other franchise lines of business for Mattel brands. The Dolls Style Guide team creates premium creative assets, visual systems, and creative toolkits that inspire licensed consumer products across a wide range of categories and global markets.