[Remote] Senior Designer — Licensed Merchandise & Retail Products

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Warren James is the leading creator commerce partner for top digital talent, specializing in building premium consumer products and brands. They are seeking a highly conceptual and execution-driven Senior Designer to lead creative development across licensed merchandise programs, overseeing the entire creative process from concept ideation to product design and packaging.ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end creative development for licensed merchandise collections across multiple creator and entertainment properties in soft lines and hard linesTranslate IP, brand guidelines, and fan insights into innovative, retail-ready product conceptsIdeate product assortments across categories including apparel, accessories, hard goods, collectibles, and lifestyle merchandiseEnsure concepts balance fan authenticity, trend relevance, and commercial viabilityInterpret brand assets, style guides (when available), channel assets, and content into viable, on-brand/franchise product conceptsDevelop production-ready product mocks across soft goods, cut-and-sew, accessories, and lifestyle categoriesCreate detailed design specifications and tech packs for manufacturing handoffPartner with Product Development and vendors to review samples, materials, and constructionProvide design markups and approvals throughout sampling stages (proto, pre-production, TOP)Ensure product designs meet cost, quality, and licensing standardsDesign structural and graphic packaging for retail and direct-to-consumer environmentsBuild scalable packaging systems supporting multi-SKU collectionsEnsure packaging aligns with licensor requirements, retailer compliance, and brand storytellingPrepare print-ready packaging files and production specsResearch pop culture, fashion, market, and licensing trends to inform product directionAnalyze competitive retail assortments and fan communities to identify whitespace opportunitiesApply trend forecasting to licensed IP in culturally relevant waysBring forward new category, product, and collaboration ideasBuild high-impact creative presentations for internal, licensor, and creator approvalsTranslate early concepts into polished retail pitches and assortment line plansPresent design rationale, fan insights, and trend alignment to stakeholdersSupport sell-in decks and retailer presentations as neededPartner with Brand Managers, Licensing, Product Development, and Sales teamsIncorporate licensor, creator, and retailer feedback while maintaining creative integrityAlign creative vision with production feasibility and go-to-market strategySupport approvals across licensors, creators, and internal stakeholdersOwn creative direction across assigned merchandise programsProvide art direction and feedback to junior designers and freelancersMentor team members on product thinking, mock execution, and brand alignmentElevate overall creative quality across projectsBuild scalable templates for product mocks, packaging, and presentationsContribute to creative process improvements across development pipelinesSupport onboarding and creative guidance for external freelancersHelp establish best practices for licensed product executionSkills5–7+ years in product, graphic, or merchandise designLicensed consumer products, entertainment, or creator merchandise experience preferredExperience designing for retail assortments and product launchesStrong product mock examples across multiple categoriesPackaging design samplesLicensed or IP-driven work preferredPresentation/pitch deck examples a plusAdobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesignProduct mock development (apparel + accessories)Tech pack creation and production specsPackaging dielines and print productionDeep understanding of fan communities and pop cultureStrong product storytelling and assortment buildingHigh taste level and trend awarenessAbility to balance creativity with commercialityStrong presentation and communication skillsAbility to art direct freelancers in the creation of original assets for licensed propertiesAbility to represent Creative in client-facing meetings and lead client approval discussionsDetail-oriented with production follow-throughWork within a team dynamic with multiple internal and external stakeholders managing varying points of viewBenefitsPerformance bonusHealth, dental, and vision coverage401(k) with company matchFully remoteCompany OverviewWarren James develop brands, products, websites, and fulfillment solutions for the internet's most popular creators and properties. It was founded in 2018, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, USA, with a workforce of 51-200 employees. Its website is https://www.warrenjames.org/.