Sr Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Product Designer - Adult Apparel Licensing

Company: The Walt Disney Company

Location: Glendale, CA, USA / San Francisco, CA, USA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design - Licensing / Consumer Products

Date Posted: June 25, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design and development lifecycle for licensed adult apparel, focusing on Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century franchises.

• Collaborate extensively with internal cross-functional teams and external licensees to ensure product quality, innovation, and market alignment.

• Conduct trend research and competitor analysis to inform the creation of consumer-centric and trend-right product lines.

• Manage product approvals through online systems and facilitate detailed creative direction and feedback to partners.

• Develop compelling visual presentations, mock-ups, and pitch decks to support product strategies and retail partnerships.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original job title is "Sr Product Designer," the description clearly indicates a specialization in "Adult Apparel" and "licensed products," specifically mentioning franchises like Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century. This role is positioned within "Disney Consumer Products," suggesting a focus on the commercialization and design of merchandise rather than core product development for digital platforms. Therefore, the category has been refined to reflect this specialization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Product Design & Development: Oversee the entire product lifecycle from initial concept, research, and 2D graphics/storytelling to strike-offs, prototypes, and final production, ensuring market-leading innovation and value alignment.

• Licensed Product Approvals: Lead product and licensed packaging approvals through online systems and collaborative meetings, providing detailed feedback and creative direction to external licensees.

• Quality & Profitability Maximization: Maintain high quality standards in character execution, storytelling, color, material, form, and function while maximizing profitability for each product line.

• Trend & Market Research: Research seasonal trends by category, monitor competitors, and analyze market dynamics and product innovations to deliver trend-right, consumer-centric product lines.

• Creative Presentation Development: Design product mock-ups and develop creative presentations, POV boards, licensee & retailer rollouts, retail & new brand pitch decks, joint business planning presentations, studio swing support, and visual merchandising displays.

• Partner Relationship Management: Onboard new partners and establish strong relationships with licensees, vendors, and internal teams, managing all creative aspects of product development.

• Product Development Lab Curation: Contribute to the curation and visual merchandising of the Product Development Lab, showcasing key collections that strategically support and drive excitement around major tentpole content releases.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with a vast network of internal stakeholders (Creative Design, Licensing Commercialization, Global Product Design, BERGs, CBM, Legal, Business Affairs, Product Integrity, Integrated Retail, BPM, Public Affairs, D&I teams, Cultural Consultants) and external partners (Studios & Disney Channel Content Providers, Games, Publishing, WDI, Licensees, DTR Partners) to design and approve products.

• Project Management & Adaptability: Successfully multi-task and manage multiple design projects under tight deadlines, with the flexibility to quickly pivot and reprioritize as business needs shift.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Responsibilities" section was expanded significantly by detailing each bullet point from the original description to provide a clearer understanding of the scope and depth of the role, emphasizing the "end-to-end" nature of product management and the extensive stakeholder collaboration required for licensed consumer products.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field such as Industrial Design, Toy Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, or Interior Design.

• Equivalent work experience will also be considered. Experience:

• 4+ years of related experience in product development, fashion design, or merchandising, specifically within the Adult Apparel (Softlines) category.

• Proven experience managing the full product design lifecycle, including working with licensed consumer products and navigating product approval processes. Required Skills:

• Product Design & Development: Solid understanding of apparel construction, fabrication, sketching, and graphics/print techniques, including creative manipulation of art, fabrics, and trims.

• Software Proficiency: Strong computer software skills, including MS Office and Keynote for deck creation. Essential proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) for creating mock-ups and presentations.

• System Navigation: Experience navigating online product approval workflow systems (e.g., OPA or similar PLM software).

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Strong interpersonal skills with excellent verbal and written communication abilities.

• Project Management: Proven experience multi-tasking and prioritizing multiple design projects within deadlines.

• Trend Analysis: Ability to research seasonal trends, monitor competitors, and analyze market dynamics.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge and passion for The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) franchises such as Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century.

• Experience providing clear, actionable feedback to external partners (internal and external).

• Exposure working with external Licensees and Vendors for feedback, reviews, and approvals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Qualifications" were structured into "Education," "Experience," and specific "Required Skills" and "Preferred Skills" to enhance clarity and ATS compatibility. The skills were derived from the detailed responsibilities and explicit mentions in the original text, such as proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and PLM systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Product Development Case Studies: Showcase a portfolio demonstrating the end-to-end product design and development process for apparel, from concept ideation, trend research, and graphic design to final product realization.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Examples: Include examples of successful collaboration with internal teams (e.g., marketing, legal, product integrity) and external partners (e.g., licensees, vendors) to bring products to market.

• System Proficiency Demonstration: Highlight experience using product approval workflow systems (e.g., OPA, PLM) and presentation tools (e.g., Keynote, PowerPoint) to manage and communicate design processes.

• Creative Presentation Materials: Present examples of pitch decks, POV boards, licensee rollouts, and visual merchandising displays that effectively communicate product vision and strategy.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate an understanding of designing and optimizing product development workflows, ensuring efficiency from concept to production.

• Approval Process Management: Detail experience in managing and streamlining product and packaging approval processes, providing clear and actionable feedback.

• Trend Integration: Showcase how trend research and market analysis are integrated into the product design process to ensure consumer-centricity and commercial viability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section was inferred based on the explicit responsibilities and required skills, particularly the emphasis on "End-to-End Product Management," "Lead product and licensed packaging approvals," and the need for "creative presentations" and "mock-ups." A strong portfolio is critical for design roles, and this section outlines what Disney would likely expect for a Senior Product Designer in this context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Glendale, CA: $95,500 - $128,000 per year

• San Francisco, CA: $102,000 - $140,300 per year

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided in the job description for both Glendale and San Francisco have been clearly delineated. The explanation for potential variations in offered pay (internal equity, geographic region, knowledge, skills, experience) is also included as stated.

Benefits:

• Health benefits

• Savings benefits

• Educational opportunities

• Special extras offered exclusively by Disney Working Hours:

• Full-time position, likely based on a standard 40-hour work week.

• Requires on-site presence in Glendale, CA, or San Francisco, CA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Working Hours" detail was inferred from the "Full Time" employment type and the explicit requirement for on-site work, assuming a standard professional work week.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Entertainment, Media, Consumer Products, Licensing

Company Size: Large (The Walt Disney Company is a global conglomerate with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide).

Founded: 1923

Company Description: The Walt Disney Company is a world-renowned leader in entertainment and media, operating across diverse business segments including theme parks, resorts, media networks, studio entertainment, and consumer products. Disney Consumer Products focuses on bringing Disney's stories and characters to life through a vast array of merchandise.

Team Structure:

• Department: Disney Consumer Products, specifically within the product design team for licensed adult apparel.

• Reporting: Reports to the Manager of Product Design.

• Collaboration: Works closely with internal departments such as Creative Design, Licensing Commercialization, Global Product Design, Legal, Business Affairs, Product Integrity, Integrated Retail, and external partners including studios, content providers, games, publishing, and numerous licensees and retail partners.

Methodology:

• Design-Centric Approach: Emphasis on creativity, innovation, and storytelling to develop trend-right, consumer-focused products.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizes trend research, market analysis, and competitor monitoring to guide product development.

• Collaborative Workflow: Relies on extensive cross-functional collaboration and partner feedback for product approvals and development.

• Brand Integrity: Strong focus on maintaining the integrity and quality of beloved franchises like Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century.

Company Website: https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information was sourced from the provided LinkedIn data and general knowledge of The Walt Disney Company. The "Team Structure" and "Methodology" sections were inferred based on the role's responsibilities and the company's industry and scale, emphasizing the collaborative and brand-focused nature of product design at Disney.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the design hierarchy. It requires a solid foundation of experience and the ability to lead projects with less direct supervision.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer reports to a Manager-Product Design. This structure suggests opportunities for mentorship from management and potential leadership of junior designers or specific project streams.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer directly influences the success of licensed product lines by ensuring they are high-quality, trend-right, and appealing to consumers. This role contributes significantly to revenue generation through the successful design and commercialization of merchandise across various distribution channels, directly impacting brand perception and consumer engagement with key franchises.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific franchises (Lucasfilm, Marvel, 20th Century) or product categories within adult apparel.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into management roles (e.g., Product Design Manager) or lead larger, more complex design projects and teams.

• Cross-Franchise Exposure: Opportunity to work on diverse and iconic brands within The Walt Disney Company's extensive portfolio.

• Strategic Contribution: Grow into roles that involve more strategic input on product roadmaps, market positioning, and brand extension strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section interprets the "Sr." designation and the extensive responsibilities to outline potential career trajectories within Disney's consumer products division, focusing on specialization, leadership, and strategic impact relevant to a design role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, professional office environment. The job posting mentions both Glendale, CA, and San Francisco, CA, indicating potential office locations within these cities.

Office Location(s): Glendale, CA (specifically mentioning 1201 Flower St and a "Presidio, Building B" alternate location) and San Francisco, CA.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The role requires extensive collaboration with numerous internal and external stakeholders, suggesting a dynamic and interactive workspace.

• Creative Tools & Technology: Access to design software (Adobe Creative Suite), presentation tools (Keynote), and product approval workflow systems (PLM/OPA) is essential.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design managers, fellow designers, and cross-functional teams to discuss creative direction, approvals, and project status.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time employment.

• While specific daily hours are not detailed, a standard professional work schedule is implied. The role's nature may require flexibility to meet tight deadlines and accommodate collaboration with global partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred from the "On-site" work arrangement and specific location details, this section describes the likely physical and collaborative environment for a Senior Product Designer at a large company like Disney.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review focusing on resume, qualifications, and portfolio alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a curated portfolio showcasing relevant product design work, emphasizing adult apparel, licensed products, and the end-to-end design process.

• Skills-Based Interviews: Interviews will assess technical skills (Adobe Suite, PLM systems), design thinking, trend analysis capabilities, and understanding of apparel construction and fabrication.

• Behavioral & Situational Questions: Expect questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, managing multiple projects, providing feedback to partners, and passion for TWDC franchises.

• Cross-Functional Panel: Potential interviews with team members from different departments to assess cultural fit and collaborative potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Franchise Relevance: Highlight projects related to entertainment properties, especially if you have experience with Marvel, Star Wars, or other major IP.

• Demonstrate End-to-End Process: Clearly illustrate your process from concept to final product, including research, ideation, design execution, and collaboration with manufacturing/licensing partners.

• Highlight Apparel Expertise: Emphasize your understanding of apparel construction, fabric, and print techniques.

• Include Presentation Materials: Showcase examples of pitch decks, mood boards, and approval documents that demonstrate your ability to communicate design intent effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., sales performance, positive consumer feedback).

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge that may involve creating concepts or mock-ups for a specific franchise or product brief, under timed conditions.

• Trend Presentation: Practice presenting current apparel trends relevant to the target demographic and franchises.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle common challenges in product development, such as managing conflicting feedback, tight deadlines, or quality issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is based on standard hiring practices for senior design roles, especially within large, creative organizations like Disney. The emphasis on portfolio presentation, franchise knowledge, and the end-to-end process is crucial for this type of role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop for creating graphics, mock-ups, and presentation materials.

• Keynote/PowerPoint: For developing and delivering creative presentations, pitch decks, and rollouts.

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: Experience with systems like OPA or similar platforms for managing product approvals, tracking development stages, and collaborating with supply chain partners.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated as a primary responsibility, an understanding of market trends, competitor analysis, and potentially sales data to inform design decisions would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design tasks, but familiarity with systems that facilitate communication and project management with external partners may be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is derived directly from the "Required Qualifications" mentioning specific software (MS Office, Keynote, Adobe Creative Suite) and systems (online product approval workflow systems like OPA or similar PLM software). The focus is on tools directly used in the product design and approval process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A core value, encouraging fresh ideas and unique approaches to product design that align with Disney's storytelling heritage.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Brand Stewardship: Commitment to upholding the integrity, quality, and magic of Disney's iconic franchises.

• Consumer Focus: Dedication to understanding and meeting consumer needs and preferences through compelling product offerings.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for the highest standards in product design, execution, and presentation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Highly integrated approach, requiring constant communication and alignment with teams across various departments and with external licensees.

• Feedback-Driven: Culture that values constructive feedback exchange to refine designs and ensure project success.

• Storytelling-Centric: Collaboration often revolves around translating narratives and character essence into tangible products.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred from Disney's brand identity, the industry, and the role's collaborative nature, these values highlight the importance of creativity, brand integrity, and partnership in the Disney Consumer Products environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Franchise Integrity with Trends: Effectively translating beloved, established characters and stories into contemporary, trend-right apparel designs without compromising brand essence.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating the needs and feedback from a wide array of internal departments, studios, and external licensees, each with unique priorities.

• Fast-Paced Development Cycles: Meeting tight deadlines for product launches, especially around major content releases, requires efficient time management and rapid ideation.

• Global Market Adaptation: Ensuring designs resonate with diverse global consumer bases while maintaining brand consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Franchise Deep Dives: Opportunities to immerse oneself in the lore and creative direction of major franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and 20th Century Studios.

• Industry Trend Immersion: Staying abreast of the latest trends in apparel, fashion, and consumer goods through internal resources and external market insights.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to various aspects of the consumer products business, from licensing strategy to retail merchandising.

• Mentorship & Skill Development: Learning from experienced design leaders and potentially mentoring junior designers, fostering leadership and advanced design skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred from the role's responsibilities and the nature of working with major entertainment franchises, these challenges and growth opportunities are typical for a designer in this sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a beloved franchise character and translating it into a trend-right adult apparel line. What are the key considerations?" (Focus on balancing IP with current fashion trends, target audience understanding, and design execution.)

• "How do you approach providing constructive feedback to external licensees who may have different creative interpretations or production constraints?" (Emphasize clear communication, rationale, and collaborative problem-solving.)

• "Walk us through a challenging product development project you managed from concept to completion. What were the obstacles, and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight project management, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your favorite Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars franchise, and how would you approach designing apparel for it?" (Demonstrate passion, brand knowledge, and creative vision.)

• "How do you collaborate with diverse teams, including those outside of design, to ensure product success?" (Showcase understanding of cross-functional dynamics and communication skills.)

• "How do you ensure your designs meet both consumer expectations and business objectives, such as profitability and brand integrity?" (Connect design decisions to business outcomes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a compelling story for each project, highlighting the problem, your process, and the solution/outcome.

• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals for mock-ups, sketches, and final products. Ensure your presentation slides are clean, professional, and easy to follow.

• Process Emphasis: Clearly articulate your design thinking, research methods, and how you navigated challenges throughout the product lifecycle.

• Key Franchise Examples: Prioritize showcasing work relevant to entertainment licensing, adult apparel, and ideally, franchises similar to those managed by Disney Consumer Products.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on your strongest, most relevant projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions and strategies are tailored to a Senior Product Designer role at Disney, focusing on creative execution, brand management, collaboration, and the specific requirements of licensed apparel development.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday job portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in adult apparel design, licensed consumer products, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and PLM systems. Showcase projects that demonstrate your end-to-end product development process.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 4+ years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements in product development, fashion design, and merchandising within the softlines category. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, collaboration strategies, and passion for Disney franchises. Prepare to present your portfolio with confidence, focusing on relevant case studies.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with The Walt Disney Company's various brands, especially Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century Studios, and understand their approach to consumer products and apparel. Research current trends in the entertainment merchandise market.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.