Design Lead

Job Overview

As Design Lead you have expertise in developing Kids/Family games and puzzles. Executes concepts from hands‑on ideation through the entire development cycle. Leads projects with minimal guidance. Understands the modern tabletop gaming environment. Attends creative and milestone meetings to stay informed and provides support on projects. Works with Design Lead on higher complexity items/needs.

Brainstorm, ideate, sketch, create concept boards and mockups that focus on innovation and support brand strategy and consumer needs. Develop and create artwork for game components and puzzles using industry software tools. Partner with cross‑functional teams on a variety of games and puzzle formats addressing all aspects of product development for licensed, non‑licensed, and owned IP brands – Marketing, Engineering, Content, Packaging, Asia counterparts.

Maintain a consistently high level of quality, thoroughness and attention to detail. Ensure integrity of design in final deliverables. Effectively communicate all project‑related progress, issues or concerns to the team and to Project Management in a timely and professional manner. Interact with multiple licensors, understand briefs, and navigate assets and processes as necessary to facilitate product development and licensor approval process.

• Passion for Games – Ideation & Conceptualization: develop multiple concepts and create 2D concept boards and 3D mockups.
• Play Pattern Development – strong familiarity with general game mechanisms and the functions that make a game work to construct new games and mechanics, including the trading card game space.
• Play testing – experience play testing games and identifying issues; proactively leads play testing sessions to solicit targeted feedback and develop solutions; offers ideas and troubleshoots for solutions.
• Rules writing – familiarity with rules writing and laying out instructions with the user interface as a primary focus; writes and maintains rules documents.
• Graphic design – strong composition to create puzzle artwork and game components; ability to present toy and game concepts in a clear and engaging manner to stakeholders.
• Command of industry design software:
  Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchbook Pro, InDesign (CAD a plus).
• File set‑up and requirements for print‑ready graphics production for game boards, cards, instructions, and puzzles artwork.
• Specification & documentation – create accurate specs with manufacturing considerations; partner with PD for costing and engineering issues; proficient understanding of special documentation needs including navigating licensor assets, style guides, and asset management systems for licensor approvals.
• Product life cycle – completed many rounds of product life cycles and understands how schedule influences each stage and intuitively anticipates next steps and challenges, then plans for them.
• Manufacturing understanding – historical knowledge of manufacturing processes; applies sound principles during all stages of development; thorough understanding of manufacturing capabilities within their category.

Anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in New York City: $100,000 to $120,000 per annum.

Spin Master strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Everyone is welcome in our sandbox and we are committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants.