Retail Product Designer / Product Developer – Children’s Products

Job Overview

The Retail Product Designer / Product Developer is responsible for developing creative, innovative, and commercially viable children’s products for mass-market retail.

This position focuses on concept development, graphic design, illustration, product development, packaging design, and production artwork for children’s printed products, paper novelties, stickers, activity products, seasonal collections, promotional items, and related consumer products.

The Retail Product Designer / Product Developer combines creative vision with practical knowledge of printing, packaging, manufacturing processes, and retail product requirements. This position is responsible for taking products from initial concept through design, development, prepress, and final production, ensuring that finished products meet customer expectations, quality standards, target costs, and production schedules.

The ideal candidate is highly proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, has a strong understanding of children’s trends and retail markets, and can translate creative ideas into engaging, age-appropriate products that capture attention at the retail shelf.

The position requires strong graphic design skills, attention to detail, organizational abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

The Retail Product Designer / Product Developer works closely with Sales, Marketing, Project Management, Production, Purchasing, outside vendors, and company leadership to develop products that balance creativity, functionality, manufacturability, cost, and marketability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop original product concepts, artwork, and designs for children’s seasonal and everyday products, including stickers, activity products, paper novelties, promotional products, and other printed consumer goods.
• Research and identify current and emerging trends in children’s products, including themes, colors, graphics, characters, illustration styles, activities, and popular retail categories.
• Create engaging, age-appropriate designs that appeal to children across various age groups while meeting customer specifications and market expectations.
• Develop coordinated product lines, themed collections, seasonal programs, and complementary product assortments for mass-market retail.
• Create original artwork, illustrations, graphics, layouts, and production files using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Design retail packaging, labels, inserts, displays, and merchandising concepts that communicate product features and enhance shelf appeal.
• Develop products that align with customer requirements, target retail price points, brand guidelines, and established product specifications.
• Prepare accurate, production-ready artwork, including file setup, color specifications, typography, image placement, dielines, and other applicable prepress requirements.
• Manage artwork through the prepress and production process, reviewing proofs and making revisions to ensure accuracy, consistency, and print readiness.
• Collaborate with Production and printing and packaging teams to evaluate design feasibility, materials, printing methods, finishing processes, and manufacturing requirements.
• Modify designs, materials, specifications, and production methods as needed to meet cost targets, improve manufacturability, and support desired profit margins.
• Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Project Management, and company leadership to develop products that meet customer needs, sales objectives, and market opportunities.
• Interpret customer briefs, reference materials, product specifications, artwork requirements, and other project documentation to ensure design objectives are met.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing assignments and meeting established development, artwork, approval, and production deadlines.
• Review product samples, proofs, prototypes, and production samples to verify design accuracy, color consistency, quality, and adherence to approved specifications.
• Maintain organized artwork files, product information, design assets, specifications, and supporting documentation within designated company systems.
• Coordinate with overseas manufacturers, sourcing partners, and outside vendors when applicable to support product development, artwork preparation, sampling, and production.
• Identify opportunities to improve product designs, reduce production complexity, optimize material usage, and enhance product quality and retail appeal.
• Stay informed about printing technologies, packaging innovations, materials, manufacturing capabilities, and industry best practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product design, development processes, artwork management, production efficiency, and quality.
• Maintain confidentiality of customer information, proprietary artwork, product concepts, pricing, and company business information.

Quality, Product Safety & Compliance Responsibilities

• Follow all applicable company quality policies, procedures, product specifications, and work instructions.
• Ensure product designs, artwork, packaging, and specifications meet applicable customer requirements and established quality standards.
• Consider age appropriateness, product functionality, labeling, warnings, and applicable product safety requirements during the design and development process.
• Coordinate with appropriate internal departments and external partners to address applicable regulatory, labeling, material, and product compliance requirements.
• Ensure artwork, packaging, and product documentation are accurate, complete, and consistent with approved specifications.
• Review proofs, samples, and production materials to identify potential quality issues before final production approval.
• Promptly communicate design errors, product quality concerns, specification discrepancies, or potential compliance issues to the appropriate personnel.
• Support corrective actions and continuous improvement efforts related to product quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Product Design, Illustration, Visual Communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Three or more years of professional experience in graphic design, retail product design, product development, packaging design, or a related field preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop required.
• Experience designing and developing children’s products for mass-market retail is strongly preferred.
• Experience with imported products, overseas sourcing, international vendors, or global manufacturing partners is a plus.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating children’s product design, illustration, graphic design, packaging, printed products, or related consumer products required.
• Strong understanding of typography, color theory, composition, layout, illustration, and visual communication.
• Experience developing printed products, stickers, activity products, paper novelties, promotional items, or similar consumer products preferred.
• Experience developing seasonal and everyday product programs for mass-market retailers preferred.
• Ability to prepare accurate, production-ready artwork and understand file preparation requirements for commercial printing and packaging.
• Ability to interpret design briefs, customer specifications, dielines, technical information, and production requirements.
• Understanding of materials, printing methods, finishing processes, and manufacturing constraints.
• Ability to balance creative design objectives with production feasibility, target costs, retail pricing, and profitability.
• Strong understanding of children’s trends, themes, visual preferences, and age-appropriate product development.
• Illustration, character development, cartooning, or hand-drawing skills are a plus.
• Working proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to use applicable project management, artwork management, and ERP systems.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and consistency in design and production files.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and able to utilize to communicate with other languages.
• Strong creative thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated reliability, positive attitude, strong work ethic, flexibility, and commitment to quality.
• Willingness to learn new software, systems, design techniques, manufacturing processes, and industry practices.
• Regular and dependable attendance onsite is an essential function of the position.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.
• Frequent use of computers, keyboards, monitors, graphic design software, and other office equipment.
• Ability to review detailed artwork, printed proofs, product samples, and packaging materials.
• Ability to occasionally walk through manufacturing and production areas if needed.
• Ability to safely navigate a manufacturing environment on occasion, including areas with moving equipment, noise, dust, inks, paper, packaging materials, and other production-related conditions.
• Occasional lifting or movement of product samples, prototypes, documents, or materials as required.

Work Environment

• Primarily an office-based and computer-based position.
• Regular interaction with Sales, Marketing, Project Management, Production, Purchasing, and company leadership.
• Periodic interaction with outside vendors, manufacturers, sourcing partners, and other business partners.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Commitment to creative excellence, product quality, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to adapt to changing customer needs, project priorities, product trends, and production requirements.
• Willingness to perform other related duties as assigned by the VP of MelloSmello Sales to support operational and business needs.

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the VP of Sales for Mello Smello to support product development, creative operations, customer requirements, and overall business objectives.

Pay: $95,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Minneapolis, MN 55430