MICHAEL BERLING: Design Lead, Global Consumer Product & Licensing in Los Angeles, CA

Responsibilities: Management/Mentoring of Product Developers and Graphic Designers assigned to licensed product and product designs. Provide high level guidance, iterative reviews, and product approvals to Consumer Product teams. Work with game development Art Directors to ensure products adhere to franchise values. Integration of design and feature components of Blizzard games into products and packaging. Ownership of product approvals from start to finish while keeping multiple partners informed and engaged. Collaborate with Category Managers on product lines and help communicate release strategies across internal departments. Build positive relationships with internal and external partners; Identify key creative leaders and instill shared creative values and goals around Blizzard Consumer Products.

Responsibilities: Managing the daily operations of a studio providing Product Design and Business Development services for the consumer goods industry. Clients: Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master, Jakks Pacific, Disney, Loudpack Inc

Responsibilities: Management and growth of twenty in house 3D Designers as well as Vendor/China partners. Managed the Design and Development of product for clients within the entire Mattel portfolio as well as internal budget analysis. Brands: IP segments including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Monster High, Matchbox, Ever After High, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Max Steel and Little Mommy. Licensed segments including Disney, Warner Bros., Dreamworks, Pixar, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, WWE and DC Comics.

Responsibilities included the mentoring and management of sixteen Designers and Engineers, while directing the execution of services for clients in the consumer product industries. Clients: Development for Hasbro, Fisher-Price, Disney, Jakks Pacific, Cartoon Network, DC Direct, Funimation, Tomy International, Procter & Gamble and various clients.

Responsibilities included the daily management of operations in providing Design and Development solutions for clients in the consumer product industry. Clients: Included development for Hasbro, Hasbro Toy Group (Kenner), Irwin Toys, Warner Bros., DC Direct, Funimation, etc

Responsibilities included the interpretation of product concepts provided by the 2D Design teams. Experience gained in materials and processes, tooling, engineering, licensing, and cross functional collaboration. Brands: Total Justice, Elseworld Batman, Movie Masters Batman, Animated, Batman, Gargoyles, G.I. Joe, Superman, Star Wars, Aliens and creation of various style and form factor guides.

Assisted Sr. Designer in the design and development of product, from conception through management approval. Experienced gained in ideation, rendering, pattern drawing, product presentation and tooling. Brands: DC Figures and Vehicles, Battletech, Mask, Color Blasters, Nerf and Play Doh.

Assisted Project Designer in the design and development of product, from conception through management approval. Experience gained in ideation, rendering, pattern drawing, product presentation and tooling. Brands: Tonka Vehicles, Turbo Tricksters, Willow and various advanced concept projects.