Product Design & Development Associate - Home Textiles (Fixed-Term Contract)

About The Role & Team

At Disney Consumer Products (DCP), our Global Product Creation (GPC) team brings beloved stories to life through thoughtfully designed products that delight fans of every age. As a Product Design and Development Associate, you’ll help shape trend‑right, brand‑right products for our licensees and DTR partners, guiding creative from first spark to final sign‑off.

This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with 1 day a week working from home. This is a Fixed-Term Contract position, running until June 2027.

What You Will Do

Steer best‑in‑class product creation

• Run the approvals journey end‑to‑end, moving submissions swiftly through Disney’s Online Product Approval (OPA) system and ensuring alignment to global product integrity guidelines.

• Provide clear product design and trend direction to licensees across 2D applications and 3D product, raising the bar on quality, storytelling and brand fit.

• Train and develop licensees on the Disney brand, our property portfolio, creative assets and approval systems, so partners are set up for success.

• Make sure the right creative assets are in partners’ hands at the right time to enable great product development.

• Build and nurture effective relationships with licensees and internal/external stakeholders, collaborating to solve problems and unlock new possibilities.

• Create product pitches, design visuals and core mock‑ups (under the guidance of your manager) that inspire stakeholders and bring ideas to life.

• Maintain an active knowledge of Disney characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets, translating that understanding into joyful consumer products.

• Support regional, local and global initiatives as needed, contributing to cross‑market design projects and priorities.

• Safeguard that all products comply with corporate policies and relevant legislation.

Stay curious and trend‑led

• Keep a sharp eye on product and graphic trends, leading brands and pop culture, bringing fresh, relevant insights to your category.

• Join occasional “inspiration” trips to broaden EMEA market understanding and spark innovative, consumer‑loved solutions.

• Be a champion for smarter ways of working, proactively suggesting process and tooling improvements that help the team fly.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in a related field (e.g., product design) or equivalent experience in a lifestyle product company.

• Proven experience creating prototypes or models.

• Up‑to‑date knowledge of category trends and the broader world of design, with working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production.

• Ability to communicate a clear product design brief and visualize ideas using CAD, digital tools and/or third‑party design resources.

• Strong conceptual and design skills with an eye for colour, shape and detail; understanding of fabric, stitching and graphic applications preferred.

• Organised, with the ability to deliver to deadlines and budgets as directed.

• Confident presenter, able to tailor messages to varied internal/external audiences.

• Skilled at influencing and supporting change across stakeholders.

• Written and spoken English for business use is essential; other European languages are a plus.

• Culturally sensitive with understanding of diverse EMEA markets.

• Proficient with Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MS Office.

• Commercial product development experience in relevant categories, or experience in a product design role at a licensee, retail head office or supplier, is beneficial.

• Some packaging exposure and familiarity with style guides for the OPA system are desirable.

Additional Information

• Flexibility for UK, European or international travel may be required.

• Flexible hours may be needed at times to meet business needs.

Not sure you meet every requirement? At Disney, we know great talent comes in many forms. If you’re excited by the role and believe you can make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave

• Private medical insurance & dental care

• Free Park Entry for you, your family and friends

• Disney Discounts on selected products, resort F&B and ticketing

• Excellent parental and guardian leave

• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED (disability & neurodiversity), and TRUST (Mental Health & Wellbeing)

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.