Toy Designer

About the Role

Toy Designer

At Blue Marble, we harness the power of play to inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. We create innovative toys and experiences enjoyed by kids—and kids at heart—around the world.

Our team is collaborative, curious, and hands-on—we value big ideas, open communication, and a willingness to jump in and make things happen. We move quickly, support each other, and take pride in seeing our work come to life in meaningful ways.

We’re looking for a creative, driven Toy Designer to lead the development of engaging STEAM products from concept through production. In this role, you’ll shape product vision, partner cross-functionally, and bring thoughtful, user-centered play experiences to life. If you thrive in a fast-paced, idea-rich environment and love turning concepts into tangible products, you’ll fit right in.

What You’ll Do

Core Responsibilities:

Design Leadership & Innovation

• Lead the development of high-quality, functional, and visually compelling products that align with Blue Marble’s mission, brand, and strategic goals.
• Drive innovative concepts that push creative boundaries while meeting cost, manufacturing, and margin requirements.
• Apply user-centered design principles to enhance product usability, durability, and learning value.
• Conduct trend research, competitive analysis, and material exploration to inspire product direction and maintain design relevance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, Sales, and overseas teams to define requirements and ensure seamless execution from concept through production.
• Present design concepts, prototypes, and recommendations to stakeholders with clarity and conviction.
• Lead and participate in brainstorms, design reviews, and iterative refinement cycles.
• Manage communication with all cross-functional departments, as well as overseas teams, in a prompt and timely manner.

Design Process, Thinking & Methodology

• Utilize design thinking methodologies to solve complex challenges and develop effective, engaging product solutions.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to elevate design strategy and process.
• Translate insights from user research and testing into design improvements and new product opportunities.
• Work diligently to manage development and turnover of key deliverables and materials within stated delivery schedules.

Product Management

• Create detailed product documentation, including CAD files, CMF specifications, and assembly notes.
• Evaluate and comment on factory samples to ensure design integrity, manufacturability, and cost effectiveness.
• Troubleshoot production challenges and collaborate with manufacturing partners to maintain quality and meet deadlines.

Technical Expertise & Compliance

• Use SolidWorks, Keyshot, and Adobe Creative Suite to develop, visualize, and present designs and animations.
• Maintain and update CMF brand libraries and specification documents.
• Ensure all products meet required safety regulations and industry standards for children’s toys, working closely with the Compliance Team.

Intellectual Property

• Collaborate with patent attorneys to prepare detailed IP documentation, including claims and vector illustrations.
• Ensure designs comply with licensor brand guidelines and international product marking requirements.

What You Bring

Must-Haves:

• Experienced in STEAM toys or educational products, and/or children’s toys.
• Strong sketching, visualization, physical prototyping, and model-making skills.
• Knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes relevant to toys and consumer products.
• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies and user-centered design practices.
• Excellent verbal, visual, and written communication skills.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and KeyShot for rendering.
• A portfolio demonstrating product design expertise, technical excellence, and successful project outcomes is required.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Expertise in 3D CAD; SolidWorks preferred.

Education & Experience:

We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Toy Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in toy design, with a strong preference for candidates experienced in STEAM toys, educational products, or children’s toys.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with additional tools such as Rhino, Alias, ZBrush, or Creo, is a plus.
• Experience designing licensed product lines is a plus.

Where You’ll Work:

• Location: Onsite in Ashland, Oregon
• Work Style: Collaborative, hands-on, and fast-paced
• Travel: less than 10%

Why You’ll Love It Here:

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, life)
• 401(k) to help you plan for the future
• Flexible paid time off—we trust you to recharge when you need it
• Employee Assistance Program
• A creative, collaborative, and yes—playful culture
• The chance to help shape iconic and emerging toy brands
• Real opportunities to develop within a dynamic, high-growth organization.

A Few More Things

This job description isn’t meant to cover everything—you may jump into other projects as we grow and evolve.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Blue Marble is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status.

Ready to build something fun with us?

Apply today and let’s create something amazing together.