Matt Gunter Email & Phone Number

Developed concept designs for the toy, gift, and amusement products industry, for both domestic and international companies.Conceptualized, sketched, and rendered numerous in-store marketing campaigns for Barkbox, featuring detailed concept sketches highlighting POP displays, corrugate concepts, labels, new toys, and large graphics with humorous and distinctive themes.Created compelling and entertaining visual presentations for sales calls and buyers, effectively showcasing the potential of the brands and generating excitement for product offerings.List of clients include - Basic Fun, Kids Preferred, Kids2, A to Z Toys, Kids HitsLicensed collaborations encompass renowned brands such as Star Wars, Marvel, MLB, NHL, NFL, WWE, Thomas the Tank Engine, Sesame Street, Disney, Nintendo, Five Nights at Freddy's, Chuck E Cheese, Yo Kai Watch, Dollywood, and Nickelodeon.

Spearheaded the design and development of an entirely new and original line of products at Hearthsong, focusing on IP building and cost-efficiency without compromising fun and entertainment value for kids.Utilized the newly redesigned brand look to create innovative and engaging products, aligning with brand standards.Enhanced brand visibility and market presence by preparing comprehensive pitch decks and conducting presentations to sales representatives to generate interest and secure new partnerships.Designed new packaging concepts to complement the aesthetics of the product designs to achieve a more cohesive brand.Created extensive product tech packs liaised with vendors in Asia to ensure accurate production and high-quality output.Fostered strong vendor relationships by communicating daily to convey product intent and to ensure quality standards.Held regular meetings with internal stakeholders and leadership to provide process updates and solicit feedback for continuous improvement, fostering collaboration and alignment.Produced 3D printed product examples and packaging mock-ups for sales presentations, showcasing product concepts effectively.Facilitated brainstorming sessions to explore new product categories and potential collaborations with strategic partners.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Led the conceptualization and development of new and existing products for The Elf on the Shelf brand, overseeing the entire product life cycle from idea to manufacturing with a strong emphasis on brand identity and IP integration.Contributed to the Story Team by helping develop new intellectual properties (IPs), fostering brand growth and innovation.Supported the Licensing Team by creating character overlays, suggesting new products, and brand references for presentations.Engaged in all facets of product development, ensuring alignment with brand vision and consumer preferences.Created detailed technical packages (tech packs) for vendors and maintained daily communication to ensure product quality.Participated in frequent product design reviews with leadership, providing updates on project progress and soliciting feedback.Ensured adherence to The Elf on the Shelf brand guidelines by facilitating collaboration across creative disciplines (packaging, licensing, entertainment, digital) and leading coordination efforts within the Product Design team.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Designed and developed products for a diverse product line with a strong brand and Intellectual Property (IP) focus. (The Elf on the Shelf) This often included supporting the licensing team with character overlays, product suggestions, CAD models for presentations, etc.Engaged in and responsible for delivering upon all aspects of the product development process, including concept sketching, concept development, research and development, and product design.Created detailed technical packages for vendors (tech packs), communicated daily with vendors throughout the product development process and participated in frequent product design reviews with leadership and stake holder teams to keep them informed on progress.Ensured that all designs and development work conformed and upheld The Elf on the Shelf brand guidelines by maintaining heavy collaboration with all disciplines across the creative team (packaging, licensing, entertainment, digital, etc.) as well as leading the collaboration across the Product Design team.

Greater Atlanta Area

Managed and mentored a team of four Industrial Designers that ranged from mid-level to senior designers in both the Home and Play categoriesLead, planned, tracked, developed, and managed the ideation and development of all Home Division toy products throughout all stages of the design process - from the initial idea creation all the way to the product finally hitting the store shelvesSculpt detailed and refined 3D CAD toy models in order to send overseas for prototyping, costing, safety analysis, and eventually mass productionUtilize an expert level knowledge of infant development and play patterns in order to create meaningful and age appropriate toy experiences for babies to interact with and enjoy

Greater Atlanta Area

Using a renowned expert level knowledge in play patterns, I was single-handedly accountable for the management and development of all new toy product ideas, as well as improvements to existing products, across multiple brands and categories within the Home division (including entertainers, infant seats, door jumpers, walkers, swings, etc.)Worked extensively with licensed products often collaborating directly with the licensor includingDisney, Ford, John Deere, and Sesame Street by traveling off-site to visit and participate in brainstorming sketching sessions at their headquarters.Helped lead the development of a new Bright Starts and Baby Einstein visual design language (including character creation and sculpt) in order to maintain a consistent look and feel to our products. Created CAD models and renderings of various assets in order to be used in the production of a new Kids II owned BE TV show pilot episode.Collaborated with cross functional creative teams in order to develop blue sky assets and design visions by creating "pitch books" to present to potential licencors with the goal of gaining new partners.Mentored entry, mid-level, and Principal Designers in both technical and general aspects of product design in order to raise the teams overall quality level of the design staff. Collaborated daily with our Trend & Surface team in order to guide and recommend color application, theme development, and character on all new entertainer and infant seating platformsFrequently traveled to and participated in relevant trade shows (New York and Nuremberg Toy Fairs, etc.) in order to stay up to date on the competitive landscape as well as industry trends and innovations.Biggest wins include the Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Jumper, Bright Starts 3 Ways to Play Ford F-150 Walker, Baby Einstein Neighborhood Symphony Activity Jumper, and the Disney Minnie Peekaboo JumperRecipient of Kids II Shining Star Award 2017

Atlanta, Ga

Responsible for the innovation and conceptualization of new toy designs for the Bright Starts Toddler team, as well as, lead the design of toys for multiple in-house and licensed brands and categories within the Home division. In addition, I had to evaluate and ensure each of the products age appropriateness, playability, marketability, safety, engineering, and general cost feasibility of all of the Home teams toy concepts across all categories.Collaborated frequently with Disney counterparts to create many licensed gear toys and platformsLead designer for the successful creation and launch of the Bright Starts Giggling Gourmet toddler toy lineDesigned, visualized, and implemented the best selling Bright Starts Hide N' Spin MonkeyBiggest Home team wins include the Baby Neptune Activity Saucer, Baby Neptune Ocean Explorer Walker, BS Up UP & Away Bouncer, and Disney Cars Race to First Place Walker

Atlanta, Ga

Responsible for the innovation and conceptualization of new toy designs for the Baby Einstein and Bright Starts brands across all BABY toy categories (up to 40 SKUs annually) Main responsibility was to interpret these ideas into drawings, sketches, renderings, and CAD models in order to convey the concept to the engineering, marketing, and management teams for review.Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams on the first ever line of Kids II toddler toys by designing and creating the Bright Starts Having a Ball Pop & Roll RoadsterBiggest wins include the Take-Along Tunes Update, Neptune Ocean Adventure Play Gym, NeptuneOcean Orchestra, Caterpillar &Friends Play Gym, Sea Dreams Soother, Discovering Music Activity Table, Roller-Piller Activity Balls, Discover and Play Piano, and Press & Play Pals

Greater Memphis Area

Designed and implemented various print, web, and video materials in order to promote and recruit for the colleges many organizations and campuses. This included maintaining the campus TV announcement channel, as well as, designing the layout and functionality of recruitment DVDs to hand out to future students.Designed and delivered a series of classes for 100+ local teachers, professors, and students, educating them on basic techniques of Photoshop, PowerPoint, and various other computer applications. In addition, I also regularly tutored undergrads in all areas of study, ranging from English to Calculus.Designed and created the school's new official Greyhound logo for use on all sports gear, shirts, buses, basketball courts, banners, etc. The logo is still currently in use to this day.