Pet Toy and/or Apparel Designer

About fabdog®

Founded in New York City in 2002, fabdog® is a leading company in the pet industry, designing toys and apparel that celebrate the bond between dogs and the humans who love them. We’re a fast-paced, dog-friendly environment (yes, bring your pup to work) hiring a recent grad or experienced designer to work across toys and apparel, collaborating directly with our CEO and design team from concept through production.

Role Description

This is a full-time, hybrid role for a Pet Toy and/or Apparel Designer. In this role, you will oversee the design and development of toys and apparel, from concept creation to final production. Responsibilities include leading brainstorming sessions, managing design workflows, collaborating with cross-functional teams such as marketing and production, and ensuring the brand identity remains consistent across all designs. Additionally, this position will research current trends in the pet and fashion industries, develop tech packs and construction specs for overseas manufacturing partners, and provide creative direction to ensure product quality meets the company’s standards.

Qualifications

• BFA or BA preferably but not limited to Toy Design, Fashion Design, Knitwear, Children’s Wear, or a related design discipline
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
• Ability to create production-ready tech packs
• Hands-on experience with soft goods or plush construction
• Patternmaking experience (manual or CLO 3D)
• Working knowledge of knit and woven construction
• Strong written communication skills, ideally with experience working with overseas vendors or factories
• Strong portfolio across toys and apparel — or strong work in one with clear cross-category curiosity
• A genuine love for dogs (cats too!)