NICI GmbH, headquartered in Altenkunstadt, Upper Franconia, currently employs approximately 150 people worldwide and is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality plush toys and gift items. Our products stand for innovation, quality, and attention to detail. We are looking for motivated and dedicated employees (m/f/d) who share our passion and want to grow with us.
Become part of the NICI family! The market leader is seeking creative support for the design department: Character Designer & Illustrator (m/f/d). To strengthen our design team, we are looking for an experienced, creative individual who not only designs characters but also successfully translates them into products. At NICI, ideas and illustrations become real cuddly toys, and this is precisely where the focus of your role lies.
As a Character Designer & Illustrator (m/f/d), you will develop new characters for our collections and oversee their implementation from the initial concept to the finished plush product. You will contribute your design experience to ensure that character design, shaping, material selection, and product impact work together perfectly. You understand how to design characters in such a way that they not only work as illustrations, but also impress as three-dimensional products – emotionally, in keeping with the brand, and of high quality.
Tasks
* Development of new character worlds, conception and design of new plush toy characters, and further development of existing designs and collections.
* Product-oriented character design: Development of characters with a view to their later implementation as a product – including proportions, design language and material effect.
* Illustration and design development: Creation of detailed character illustrations and views as a basis for product development.
* Support for product development: Professional support for prototype development from the first sample to final production release.
* Material, fabric and color concepts: Selection of suitable fabrics, materials and colors for our plush products
* Design of environment and packaging, development of supplementary illustrations and graphic elements, and creation of the packaging design.
* Collaboration within the development team: Close coordination with product management and product development for the successful implementation of new product ideas.
Profile
* Several years of experience in character design and illustration – ideally combined with product design
* Experience in translating characters into real-world products
* Excellent sense of shapes, proportions, colors, materials and design trends
* Ideally, know-how regarding plush, toy, or consumer goods design.
* Safe handling of the Adobe Creative Suite
* Creative conceptual strength as well as a structured and independent working style.
* Teamwork and communication skills
* Good German and English skills
We offer
* A creative work environment with plenty of creative freedom.
* The opportunity to actively shape new characters and product worlds.
* A varied range of tasks with a high degree of creative responsibility.
* A collegial working atmosphere in a dedicated team
* Flexible working hours (37-hour week), every other Friday off
* 30 days of vacation plus 2 days of working from home per month
* Attractive social benefits such as travel allowance, employee savings plan, company bike, free drinks and private parking space
Bring your experience and help us shape the next generation of NICI plush toys.
Important note:
Please be advised that a valid work permit for Germany is required for non-EU citizens. Unfortunately, applications without a valid work permit and sufficient German language skills cannot be considered.LNKD1_DE