Hardlines Product Design & Development Placement (12 Months) – London

Hardlines Product Design & Development Placement (12 Months) – London

Location: Hammersmith, London (Hybrid: 4 days office / 1 day home)

Salary: £28,000 per annum

Duration: 12 Months (Starts June 2026)

Deadline: 8th December 2025

The Role at a Glance

This is a dream opportunity for aspiring Industrial Designers and Product Designers to join the world's largest licensor of intellectual property. You will work within the Disney Consumer Products creative team, helping to bring iconic characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney to life as physical products.

From concept sketching and 3D visualisation to sample refinement, you will see the full product lifecycle. You will work with internal teams and external licensees to design best-in-class products that sit on shelves globally.

Where You Could Work

We have multiple roles available under this single application. You will be matched to one of the following teams based on your portfolio and interests:

🧸 Soft Toys & Plush

• Focus on character translation into plush materials.
• Work on fabric selection, form, and character accuracy for global retail.

🚀 Action & Vehicle Play (Star Wars Focus)

• Categories: Infant, Preschool, Vehicles, Role Play, and Action Toys.
• Focus: Technical design and play-pattern development, with a specific focus on Star Wars development alongside other major franchises.

🎨 Lifestyle & Specialty Categories

• Categories: Party, Dress-up, Arts & Crafts, Games & Puzzles, Dolls, and Role Play.
• Focus: Developing immersive play experiences and promotional products.

(If you have a passion for a specific category, please mention it in your cover letter or portfolio!)

Eligibility & Requirements

• Must be a current undergraduate student in your second year, returning to study in Autumn 2027.
• Right to Work: You must already have the right to work in the UK.
• Availability: Ready to start full-time in June 2026.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Please apply to ONLY ONE internship across The Walt Disney Company. Applying to multiple roles will not increase your chances.

About You:

• Design Skills: Strong ability in analogue/digital sketching and 3D product visualisation.
• Software: Competent in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Mindset: A creative storyteller with attention to detail and a passion for trends.

Why Disney? (The Perks)

• Salary: £28,000 annual salary.
• Time Off: 25 days' holiday + bank holidays.
• Discounts: Exclusive discounts on Disney products, parks, and tickets.
• Community: Join a large network of interns and Employee Resource Groups.
• Wellbeing: Access to Unmind app and health vouchers.

Interested?

Deadline to Apply: Midnight, 8th December 2025. (Apply early—applications may close if volumes are high.)

Application Checklist:

1. CV & Cover Letter: Mandatory.
2. Portfolio (Crucial): We strongly encourage you to include a link to your portfolio on your CV or upload a PDF copy. We want to see your sketching and design process!
3. Cover Letter Prompts (approx. 400 words):
   • Why Disney?
   • Why this specific internship?
   • Why should we choose you?

Next Steps: Successful candidates will be contacted within 14 days for a blended online assessment.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.