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Educational Insights · 22 hours ago

Senior Industrial Designer

Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, IL, US

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$100K/yr - $108K/yr

6+ years exp

Educational Insights is a family-owned company dedicated to bringing learning to life through innovative educational toys. The Senior Industrial Designer will lead the design and prototyping of a variety of toy products, ensuring they are playful, durable, and innovative while mentoring junior designers and collaborating across teams.

Card and Board GamesEducation

Comp. & Benefits

Responsibilities

Lead the design and prototyping of 15–20 Learning Resources toy products annually, ensuring concepts are playful, durable, and innovative

Drive the design and prototyping of 10–14 Brightkins and Hunger for Words pet products per year, with a strong focus on toy design principles and child development

Develop sketches, 3D models, renderings, and specification documents to communicate toy concepts to internal teams and external vendors

Operate 3D printers with ability to fix and troubleshoot printing errors

Create CAD models in Rhinoceros (expert level) for toy prototypes, assembly reviews, and user testing

Demonstrate deep experience in toy design, including knowledge of play patterns, safety standards, and current trends in the toy industry

Prepare finished renderings for presentations, product reviews, and sales pitches, showcasing innovative and on-trend toy designs

Participate in cross-functional brainstorming sessions, contributing creative toy ideas and solutions

Incorporate feedback from collaborative sessions, showing adaptability and refinement in toy design concepts

Support user testing and online surveys to validate toy designs with children, parents, and educators

Provide mentorship to junior designers, focusing on toy design principles, project execution, and career development

Foster an inclusive, supportive, and creative culture within the design team

Deliver 100% of assigned toy designs within project deadlines, maintaining a 95% approval rate from design and marketing teams

Ensure 100% of toy designs align with product and brand guidelines, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet project milestones

Support the professional growth of junior designers, contributing to a positive team environment

Qualification

Toy DesignRhinoceros3D PrintingAdobe Creative SuiteConsumer Product DevelopmentProactiveResourcefulDeadline-OrientedIndependent ThinkerEffective CommunicationCreative ThinkingTeam PlayerDetail-Oriented

Required

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of toy design work that demonstrates creativity, innovation, and an understanding of the toy industry and retail space

BS/BA in Industrial Design, Toy Design, or equivalent

6+ years of consumer product development experience with a focus on children or pet toys

Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), Rhinoceros, KeyShot, and 3D printing

Strong prototyping skills in a variety of skillsets

Intimate knowledge of plastic materials, design for manufacturing, and general toy manufacturing processes

Effective communicator with stakeholders, including colleagues, executives, vendors, and customers

Creative Thinker: Generates innovative toy concepts that stand out in the market

Team Player: Collaborates well across departments and communicates ideas clearly

Proactive and Resourceful: Takes initiative and solves problems independently

Deadline-Oriented: Manages multiple projects and meets deadlines

Detail-Oriented: Maintains high standards for quality, compliance, and functionality

Independent Thinker: Approaches challenges with originality and resourcefulness, proactively identifying solutions and solving problems with minimal supervision