I am a Product Development leader with over 15 years of experience bringing complex ideas to life, from the initial concept to global retail. My background in Industrial Design allows me to bridge the gap between creative vision, engineering, and manufacturing. A key milestone in my career was co-founding IKITOI, a toy company where I served as Product Director. I led the development of 25 product lines that were sold in 4 countries. This role gave me a 360-degree view of the industry, as I was responsible not only for the design but also for ensuring compliance with international safety regulations, managing the supply chain, and representing the brand at major fairs like the Nuremberg Spielwarenmesse. In my most recent experience at IDEA, I specialized in managing the end-to-end product lifecycle while working remotely with factories in China. I am highly experienced in technical communication with overseas suppliers, cost negotiation—achieving a 13% reduction in production costs—and ensuring that global logistics align with market launch dates. I believe my profile is a perfect match for this role because I combine deep knowledge of the toy industry with the hands-on operational experience required to manage large-scale production in Asia.

Manuel Saintotte

I am a Product Development leader with over 15 years of experience bringing complex ideas to life, from the initial concept to global retail. My background in Industrial Design allows me to bridge the gap between creative vision, engineering, and manufacturing. A key milestone in my career was co-founding IKITOI, a toy company where I served as Product Director. I led the development of 25 product lines that were sold in 4 countries. This role gave me a 360-degree view of the industry, as I was responsible not only for the design but also for ensuring compliance with international safety regulations, managing the supply chain, and representing the brand at major fairs like the Nuremberg Spielwarenmesse. In my most recent experience at IDEA, I specialized in managing the end-to-end product lifecycle while working remotely with factories in China. I am highly experienced in technical communication with overseas suppliers, cost negotiation—achieving a 13% reduction in production costs—and ensuring that global logistics align with market launch dates. I believe my profile is a perfect match for this role because I combine deep knowledge of the toy industry with the hands-on operational experience required to manage large-scale production in Asia.

Available to hire

I am a Product Development leader with over 15 years of experience bringing complex ideas to life, from the initial concept to global retail. My background in Industrial Design allows me to bridge the gap between creative vision, engineering, and manufacturing.

A key milestone in my career was co-founding IKITOI, a toy company where I served as Product Director. I led the development of 25 product lines that were sold in 4 countries. This role gave me a 360-degree view of the industry, as I was responsible not only for the design but also for ensuring compliance with international safety regulations, managing the supply chain, and representing the brand at major fairs like the Nuremberg Spielwarenmesse.

In my most recent experience at IDEA, I specialized in managing the end-to-end product lifecycle while working remotely with factories in China. I am highly experienced in technical communication with overseas suppliers, cost negotiation—achieving a 13% reduction in production costs—and ensuring that global logistics align with market launch dates.

I believe my profile is a perfect match for this role because I combine deep knowledge of the toy industry with the hands-on operational experience required to manage large-scale production in Asia.

See more

Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

Consultant of Design and Product Strategy at EMPATHY
August 1, 2024 - Present
Led design and product strategy through co-creation workshops to define innovation strategies for products and services.
Head of Product / Director of Design at IDEA ILUMINACION
February 1, 2023 - July 1, 2024
Led end-to-end product development, defined roadmaps and market positioning for lighting products; managed cross-functional teams across China and Europe; coordinated international launches.
Co-Founder & Director of Product at KITOI
September 1, 2014 - October 1, 2022
Led development of 25 toy products, distributed in 4 countries; defined product roadmap; managed suppliers and cross-functional teams; drove international go-to-market strategies.
Senior Industrial Designer at TECLA STAR
September 1, 2011 - August 1, 2014
Integrated design for consumer products; achieved 40% reduction in material usage and improved automation readiness; collaborated across teams in a manufacturing environment.

Education

Industrial Design at Universidad de Buenos Aires
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2010
Effective Project Management at PMI Argentina
January 1, 2012 - February 2, 2026
Design Management Training at HIDA Tokyo
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013

Qualifications

Effective Project Management
January 1, 2012 - February 2, 2026
Design Management Training
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services