Hawkeye Search Group
Toy Designer
Location:
NYC — Monday–Thursday in office, Friday WFH
About the Role The Toy Designer is a creative visionary who transforms playful ideas into commercially successful products. This role blends design, innovation, product formulation, trend research, and cross-functional collaboration. You will develop and execute new product lines and line plans from concept through production, create prototypes, identify market opportunities, and work hand-in-hand with creative, product development, and sales teams to bring engaging toys to market.
This position requires strong toy design experience, a deep understanding of play patterns and consumer behavior, and the ability to balance creativity with technical feasibility and safety standards.
Key Responsibilities Product & Line Development Conceptualize, brief designers, and develop new toy products, product lines, and seasonal line plans.
Formulate product concepts, materials, features, and play patterns aligned with the brand and consumer needs. Create detailed sketches, prototypes, digital renderings, and/or 3D models to communicate design intent.
Research, Trends & Insights Conduct trend research, consumer insights analysis, competitive reviews, and whitespace exploration. Stay current on emerging technologies, materials, and industry advancements. Attend trade shows and industry events to identify new opportunities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with creative, sales, and marketing teams to support go-to-market efforts, packaging direction, and product launch strategy. Work with engineers, product development, and manufacturing partners to ensure safety, feasibility, functionality, and production quality. Participate in internal presentations, line reviews, and product pitches.
Execution & Production Work with compliance to ensure designs comply with all toy safety standards and regulations. Monitor the development process to ensure final products meet design specifications and quality expectations.
Maintain an organized digital library of assets, inspiration, and research across categories.
Iteration & Improvement Incorporate feedback from playtesting, focus groups, and internal reviews into design refinements. Continuously identify opportunities to improve existing products and expand lines.
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Toy Design, or a related field. 5+ years of experience
in toy design or consumer product design. Strong portfolio demonstrating creativity, innovation, and toy-focused design thinking. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and 3D modeling or rendering tools. Excellent sketching, prototyping, and visual communication skills. Strong understanding of child development, play patterns, ergonomics, and age-appropriate design. Familiarity with toy safety standards and regulatory requirements. Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with strong organizational skills. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Bonus Skills Experience working with
licensed characters , IP adaptation, or designing within brand guidelines. Experience with trend forecasting, whitespace research, or brand storytelling. Understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and production constraints.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
NYC — Monday–Thursday in office, Friday WFH
About the Role The Toy Designer is a creative visionary who transforms playful ideas into commercially successful products. This role blends design, innovation, product formulation, trend research, and cross-functional collaboration. You will develop and execute new product lines and line plans from concept through production, create prototypes, identify market opportunities, and work hand-in-hand with creative, product development, and sales teams to bring engaging toys to market.
This position requires strong toy design experience, a deep understanding of play patterns and consumer behavior, and the ability to balance creativity with technical feasibility and safety standards.
Key Responsibilities Product & Line Development Conceptualize, brief designers, and develop new toy products, product lines, and seasonal line plans.
Formulate product concepts, materials, features, and play patterns aligned with the brand and consumer needs. Create detailed sketches, prototypes, digital renderings, and/or 3D models to communicate design intent.
Research, Trends & Insights Conduct trend research, consumer insights analysis, competitive reviews, and whitespace exploration. Stay current on emerging technologies, materials, and industry advancements. Attend trade shows and industry events to identify new opportunities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with creative, sales, and marketing teams to support go-to-market efforts, packaging direction, and product launch strategy. Work with engineers, product development, and manufacturing partners to ensure safety, feasibility, functionality, and production quality. Participate in internal presentations, line reviews, and product pitches.
Execution & Production Work with compliance to ensure designs comply with all toy safety standards and regulations. Monitor the development process to ensure final products meet design specifications and quality expectations.
Maintain an organized digital library of assets, inspiration, and research across categories.
Iteration & Improvement Incorporate feedback from playtesting, focus groups, and internal reviews into design refinements. Continuously identify opportunities to improve existing products and expand lines.
Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Toy Design, or a related field. 5+ years of experience
in toy design or consumer product design. Strong portfolio demonstrating creativity, innovation, and toy-focused design thinking. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and 3D modeling or rendering tools. Excellent sketching, prototyping, and visual communication skills. Strong understanding of child development, play patterns, ergonomics, and age-appropriate design. Familiarity with toy safety standards and regulatory requirements. Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with strong organizational skills. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Bonus Skills Experience working with
licensed characters , IP adaptation, or designing within brand guidelines. Experience with trend forecasting, whitespace research, or brand storytelling. Understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and production constraints.
#J-18808-Ljbffr