Senior Designer, Apparel & Accessories - Licensed Product Development and Design

Role Summary

The Universal Brand Development Group is looking for a Senior Designer of Product Design Development for the UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS & EXPERIENCES Consumer Products division. As a Senior Designer, you will lead the creative development of apparel and fashion accessories, including bags, headwear, and footwear.

Bringing over 4+ years of industry experience, you will enhance world-class IPs such as Jurassic World, Minions, and Shrek into trend-setting products. This role is a key creative position on the team, providing vital support to the Supervisor with technical expertise and ensuring smooth collaboration with licensees and internal stakeholders.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Key Responsibilities

• Fashion-Forward Concepting: Analyze and synthesize current market trends (streetwear, luxury, etc.) to develop innovative product concepts that merge character aesthetics with modern fashion. Pitch these creative directions to the Manager for alignment.
• Trend Forecasting & Concept Development: Lead the translation of macro and micro fashion trends into cohesive, trend-led storytelling. Provide the technical and aesthetic foundation for apparel and accessory lines, ensuring every collection is anchored in seasonal relevance.
• Design Direction: Provide detailed feedback to licensees based on fashion expertise-covering textiles, specialty construction, and graphic placement-to strongly support the Manager's final approvals.
• Style Guide: Flexibly adapt and expand Universal's style guides for complex garment and accessory constructions to ensure they serve as high-utility design assets.
• Licensee Communication & Submission Review: Manage daily creative workflows by reviewing licensee submissions via Lunchpad. Provide clear, actionable design feedback from concept to final sample, ensuring every product achieves a high-level balance between fashion-forward sensibility and IP brand consistency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Support: Under the Manager's direction, partner closely with Category Management, Legal, and Franchise teams. Act as the design-side coordinator to help deliver competitive products to the retail market.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the needs of the team.

Qualifications & Requirements

• PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION GUIDLINES: Please submit a professional portfolio demonstrating a proven track record of translating fashion trends into compelling, character-driven licensed products with a sophisticated and commercially relevant aesthetic. Portfolios must showcase the full product development lifecycle, from concept to shelf, and include examples of sketches, trend research, graphics/logos, pattern and print development, overlays/redlines, technical design packages (tech packs), sampling iterations, and final produced products. All submitted work must be the candidate's original work, with clear examples of their individual design contributions.
• Experience: 4+ years of senior-level design experience within the fashion industry (apparel, bags, footwear, etc.).
• Technical Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Deep understanding of Fashion Tech Packs and a sharp eye for translating 2D graphics into 3D garment constructions.
• Fashion Expertise: In-depth knowledge of fabric properties, washes, and embellishment techniques (embroidery, patches, screen printing). Exceptional color sense and material sourcing skills.
• Communication: Ability to articulate design intent logically and professionally to support the Manager and facilitate consensus with external partners.
• Proactive mindset to drive results.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident in advocating design decisions and collaborating toward shared goals.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and working knowledge of InDesign, Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.

Additional Requirements

• Travel may be required
• Hybrid: This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.

Universal Products & Experiences Overview

At Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), we don't just create products-we create a universe that fans can hold in their hands, wear, play, read, and experience every day. From Jurassic World's roaring adventures to the playful charm of Minions and the timeless wonder of Back to the Future, we transform stories into unforgettable moments that spark joy across the globe.

UP&E has grown rapidly while keeping the energy, agility, and inventive spirit of a start-up. Our mission is bold: to take imagination beyond the screen and into the real world through innovative products, immersive retail moments, and extraordinary theme park destinations.

We bring both Universal-owned and third-party worlds to life across expansive theme park destinations, e-commerce platforms, live entertainment venues, and global retail partnerships-fueling fandom everywhere it lives. Whether it's iconic toys, fashion collaborations, books, collectibles, lifestyle products, or cutting-edge video games, we work with world-class licensees and creators to make our universe tangible.

Here, creativity meets technology, and strategy meets storytelling. We connect design, commercial excellence, and fan passion to deliver experiences that millions cherish-inside the parks and far beyond them. As part of Universal Destinations & Experiences, you'll join a global team that thrives on collaboration, imagination, and the power of culture-shaping ideas. Your work will inspire fans, uplift communities, and leave a lasting mark on entertainment history.

We believe in a workplace where every voice matters, every perspective is valued, and every colleague can shine. That's how we strive to be an employer of choice for talent and a partner of choice for retailers, licensees, and creators who share our passion for world-class storytelling. If you're ready to bring imagination to life and create moments that resonate worldwide-your next adventure starts here.

Join us and help create moments that matter.

Universal Products & Experiences is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honor the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague.