Lifestyle Design Futurist - Innovation, Global Product Design Studio

Job Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Universal Products & Experiences Overview:
Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal's iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company's extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and 3rd party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E's three lines of business include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, as well as Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/
Universal Products & Experiences is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honor the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague.
It is the policy of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal's affiliated businesses to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Job Description
Role Summary:
The Lifestyle Design Futurist will be responsible for pioneering lifestyle product innovations in advance of the traditional commercial design cycle. This role will push the boundaries of lifestyle product innovation by ideating, conceptualizing, and prototyping groundbreaking product advancements. Working closely with the VP Innovation, the innovation team's, and Lifestyle's inline teams from across the regions, this individual will explore the future of Lifestyle Design to influence brand direction, category strategies, and future scalable commercial offerings. This is a future-shaping position at the intersection of storytelling, innovation, and product design exploration. As a lifestyle Design Futurist, you will help redefine the boundaries of lifestyle products, push new creative frontiers, and inspire the future of the brand.

Key Responsibilities:
Innovation & Concept Development
• Lead ideation, conceptualization, and prototyping of groundbreaking apparel innovations beyond traditional market cycles.
• Develop and execute forward-thinking design concepts informed by emerging cultural, technological, and material trends.
• Drive apparel advancements for both short-term commercial impact and long-term brand transformation initiatives.
Collaboration & Partnership
• Partner with cross-functional teams-including the VP Innovation, Cultural Curtor, and Fashion Design Teams-to drive innovation narratives and bring concepts to life.
• Work closely with multi-category apparel factories, suppliers, and R&D teams to oversee all stages of product development, from concept inception to production-ready prototypes.
• Provide clear and precise design technical drawings and specification packages to ensure smooth execution of ideas.
Trend & Consumer Research
• Stay at the forefront of fashion, culture, and innovation trends, analyzing their potential impact on future apparel development.
• Conduct deep dives into consumer insights, global trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging materials/technologies to inform design strategies.
• Present seasonal and long-term trend direction reports to the inline design team and innovation partners.
Storytelling & Presentation
• Translate complex ideas into compelling mood boards, concept sketches, and presentation assets that inspire and guide cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with the VP Innovation to craft narratives around innovative concepts that resonate both internally and externally.
Execution & Project Management
• Balance multiple innovation timelines, ensuring both near-term commercial readiness and long-term strategic disruption.
• Navigate dynamic, deadline-driven environments while maintaining a high level of creativity, precision, and executional excellence.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the needs of the team
Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.
Qualifications
• 6+ years of experience in apparel design, innovation, or advanced concept development, ideally in a future-focused or experimental design setting.
• Strong apparel prototyping, technical design, and material innovation expertise.
• Proven ability to translate emerging cultural and technological shifts into tangible, future-forward apparel concepts.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in design, storytelling, materials innovation, and technology.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and technical CAD development.
• Ability to synthesize complex research into clear, inspiring presentations and reports.
• Strong project management and multi-tasking skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent presentation skills and relationship-building skills.
• MS Office Suite, Keynote
This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.
Salary range: $115,000 - $130,000 (bonus eligible)

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-eoo3e7-216-73-216-50-42 in your application.