Hasbro ups in-house designers

Toys and games firm Hasbro is looking to increase its in-house creative services team by 20 per cent, as its product range widens to include recent acquisitions such as construction toy K’nex and Tiger Toys, maker of Furbies.

The American firm’s European arm is looking for eight designers and artworkers to work on brand packaging at its Stockley Park base near Uxbridge, Middlesex. Recruitment ads were placed last week (DW 26 February).

Hasbro owns a range of global toy brands including Action Man, Mr Potato Head and My Little Pony, plus games like Monopoly, Risk and Taboo.

Gary Stock, Hasbro director of packaging development, says the intention is to increase both the competency and capacity of his department. “We always like to place new work in-house, and this will increase the scope for us doing so,” he says. “We will never be able to handle all our work in-house – our range is just too vast and we will continue to use outside consultancies.”

Creative manager Jules Jones adds: “The pressure is on design to be really innovative, and we want to develop a creative team that will strengthen our brands.”