Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI) - Remote | US & Canada

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI)

Company: Kanopi

Location: Remote (US & Canada)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: UX/UI Design & Web Development Operations

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead end-to-end visual and UX design for complex website projects, driving client and internal team decision-making from discovery through launch.

• Develop user-centered, accessible design solutions including wireframes, user flows, UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems.

• Articulate and defend design choices with clarity and confidence to diverse audiences, translating technical concepts into understandable terms.

• Collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to ensure cohesive, technically sound, and accurately implemented designs.

• Contribute to business development by representing Creative Services in client pitches and sales processes, showcasing strong design thinking and presentation skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is categorized under UX/UI Design & Web Development Operations due to its focus on translating user needs and business objectives into functional, visually appealing web experiences. The operations aspect involves the structured processes of design, collaboration, and client management within a project lifecycle, ensuring efficient delivery and stakeholder alignment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete visual and UX design lifecycle for intricate website projects, from initial discovery and research phases to final launch and post-launch review.

• Craft accessible, user-centered design solutions, including detailed wireframes, comprehensive user flows, intuitive UI designs, high-fidelity interactive prototypes, and robust, scalable design systems that ensure long-term visual and functional consistency.

• Present and articulate design rationale clearly and confidently to clients and internal stakeholders, effectively explaining the 'why' behind design decisions and adeptly incorporating feedback while maintaining project integrity.

• Plan and lead discovery workshops, translating user research, analytics, and stakeholder input into actionable UX deliverables such as sitemaps, detailed user journeys, and user personas.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers, ensuring design solutions are synergistically integrated with content, technically feasible, and implemented according to specifications, including providing design reviews during the development phase.

• Act as a key representative for Creative Services in client pitches and sales engagements, leveraging strong design thinking and compelling presentation skills to secure new business opportunities.

• Contribute to Kanopi’s broader marketing and thought leadership initiatives through participation in webinars, public presentations, and content creation, showcasing company expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role requiring not just design execution but also strategic leadership, client-facing communication, and cross-functional team integration. The emphasis on "end-to-end" and "leading" indicates significant autonomy and project ownership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Web Design, or a related field is highly beneficial. Demonstrated expertise through a comprehensive portfolio is prioritized over formal degrees.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in designing responsive web experiences, with a minimum of 3 years specifically within an agency environment, is required.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio Excellence: A strong, curated portfolio showcasing thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design for responsive websites, with clear examples of accessibility, usability, and visual craft.

• Presentation & Communication: Proven ability to present and defend design work to diverse audiences (clients, internal teams), incorporating feedback constructively while maintaining clear design direction and rationale.

• UX/UI Design Proficiency: Expertise in creating accessible, user-centered solutions including wireframes, user flows, UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems.

• Figma Fluency: Demonstrated mastery of Figma for modern design workflows, including component libraries and collaborative design practices.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Project Management Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple complex website projects simultaneously, adapt to evolving requirements, and work effectively within both agile and waterfall development methodologies.

• Remote Work Acumen: Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness working remotely within a distributed team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-End Understanding: Working knowledge of front-end development best practices and how designs translate into development.

• Analytics & Research Tools: Familiarity with analytics and research tools such as Google Analytics 4 (GA4), heatmapping platforms, and user testing tools.

• Mission-Driven Client Experience: Experience working with mission-driven or nonprofit organizations.

• Direct Coding Experience: While not required, direct coding experience is considered a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio, client presentation, and Figma fluency points to a role that requires both technical design skills and strong soft skills for client interaction and team collaboration. The agency experience requirement specifically targets candidates accustomed to fast-paced, client-driven environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Detailed case studies are crucial, showcasing the end-to-end design process for at least 2-3 complex responsive website projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (discovery, wireframing, UI, prototyping), user-centered considerations (accessibility, usability), and the final outcome or impact.

• Visual Craft & Accessibility: Explicit examples demonstrating strong visual design aesthetics, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of web accessibility standards (WCAG) integrated into the design process.

• UX Deliverables: Inclusion of examples of wireframes, user flows, sitemaps, personas, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your approach to user experience architecture.

• Design System Examples: If available, showcase examples of design systems, style guides, or component libraries you have developed or contributed to, highlighting their scalability and consistency benefits.

• Client Presentation Samples: If possible, include anonymized examples or descriptions of how you have presented and defended your design work to clients, demonstrating clarity and persuasive communication.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Research: Examples of how you plan and conduct user research, facilitate discovery workshops, and translate findings into actionable design strategies.

• Workflow Design: Documentation of your typical design workflow, from initial concept to final handoff, including how you manage iterative feedback and revisions.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Evidence of how you collaborate with developers and project managers, including your process for design handoff and quality assurance during development.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior-level design role, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as a direct demonstration of problem-solving abilities, design thinking, technical proficiency, and client-facing readiness. The emphasis on process documentation within the portfolio is key for showcasing a structured and repeatable approach to design challenges.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The hourly rate for this contract position is between $60/hour and $80/hour, commensurate with experience and skills.

Benefits: As a contract role, specific benefits will differ from full-time employment. However, Kanopi offers:

• Fully Remote Flexibility: The ability to work from anywhere within the US or Canada, promoting work-life balance and autonomy.

• Flexible Scheduling: Opportunity to work when and where you do your best work, fostering a highly adaptable schedule.

• Access to Top Talent: Collaboration with a strongly skilled and diverse team, fostering continuous learning and professional growth.

• Project-Based Engagement: Opportunity to work on a variety of mission-driven projects with expert teams.

Working Hours: This is a contract position with variable hours depending on project needs. While a standard full-time equivalent of 40 hours per week is common for project scoping, minimum hours are not guaranteed. Flexibility in scheduling is a key aspect of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate for contract roles in the US and Canada for a Senior UX/UI Designer. This estimation considers the specified range ($60-$80/hour), the "senior" title, and the required 5+ years of experience. For Canada, this range generally aligns with competitive contract rates for experienced design professionals in major tech hubs, though local variations exist. For the US, this range is competitive for contract roles, especially in remote settings, but can vary significantly by state and specific market demand. The benefits listed are typical for contract positions, emphasizing flexibility and access to a strong professional network rather than traditional employee benefits like health insurance or paid time off.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Kanopi Studios operates within the Digital Agency sector, specializing in Design, Development, and Support for Drupal & WordPress platforms. Their focus is on serving mission-driven clients, indicating a commitment to social impact and purposeful work.

Company Size: Kanopi is a fully distributed team, implying a lean, agile, and potentially growing organization that values remote collaboration and self-sufficiency. The specific size isn't stated but "fully distributed team" suggests a size that allows for specialized roles and a close-knit, albeit virtual, community.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly provided, the company's focus on Drupal and WordPress suggests a maturity in its market presence and expertise. The emphasis on "mission-driven" clients and team well-being points to a company culture that prioritizes purpose and people.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a reporting line within the creative and strategic leadership of the agency.

• The design team likely consists of other designers (visual, UX, UI) and content strategists, working collaboratively on client projects.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core methodology, emphasizing the creation of accessible, usable, and inclusive digital experiences that meet user needs.

• Agile & Waterfall: The ability to work within both agile and waterfall project management frameworks demonstrates flexibility in adapting to different client project structures and development cycles.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing analytics and research tools to inform design decisions and measure impact, aligning with a data-driven approach to operations.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's emphasis on "mission-driven" clients and a "fully distributed team" suggests a culture that values purpose, collaboration, and employee well-being. This context is crucial for candidates to understand how design decisions are made and how teams operate, particularly in a remote setting.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level Contract position. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and leadership in visual and UX design. Senior designers are expected to lead projects independently, mentor junior team members (even on a contract basis), and contribute strategically to client engagements and business development. The "contract" nature means work is project-based, offering diverse experiences but without the long-term guarantees of a full-time role.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative. This suggests a clear line of communication for strategic direction, project oversight, and performance feedback, placing the designer within the core creative leadership of the agency.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact extends beyond aesthetics. They are instrumental in shaping user experiences that drive client mission success, improve accessibility, and enhance usability. Their contributions directly influence client satisfaction, project outcomes, and Kanopi's reputation for quality design work. Furthermore, their involvement in client pitches and thought leadership activities directly supports business growth and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Project Diversity: Exposure to a wide range of mission-driven clients and project types, offering continuous learning and portfolio expansion.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced accessibility, design systems, or client workshop facilitation.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Close collaboration with developers and content strategists provides insights into other disciplines, fostering a more holistic understanding of web development operations.

• Thought Leadership: Contribution to webinars and presentations offers a platform to build personal brand and industry recognition.

• Potential for Future Engagements: Successful contract performance can lead to repeat engagements and longer-term project opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior contract role, growth is less about traditional hierarchical advancement and more about expanding expertise, project portfolio, and professional network. The impact is measured by the success of client projects and Kanopi's business development efforts.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position. Kanopi operates as a distributed team, meaning there is no central physical office for this role. Employees work from their own home offices or chosen remote workspaces.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must reside and be able to legally work in the United States or Canada. This is crucial for contractual and tax purposes.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: The workspace is primarily digital, relying heavily on communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Slack, Google Workspace) to connect with team members and clients.

• Autonomy and Self-Management: The remote setup requires a high degree of self-discipline, time management, and proactive communication to maintain productivity and connection with the team.

• Technology Infrastructure: Employees are expected to have a reliable internet connection and a suitable home office setup to perform their duties effectively.

Work Schedule: The role offers significant flexibility, allowing individuals to "work where and when you do your best." While project deadlines and client meeting times will necessitate adherence to specific schedules, the overall work structure is designed to accommodate individual productivity patterns. This flexibility is key for balancing work with personal life and optimizing design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role is a significant aspect, requiring candidates to be comfortable with self-management, digital collaboration, and maintaining professional connections without physical proximity. The restriction to US & Canada is a practical requirement for contract engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Initial screening of resumes and cover letters, with a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and relevance.

• Initial Questions: A short set of questions may be sent to gauge initial fit and understanding of the role's core requirements.

• Interviews: Multiple interviews with various team members, likely including the Director of Strategy and Creative, and potentially other designers or project managers, to assess design skills, collaborative approach, and cultural fit.

• Skills Assessments: Candidates may be asked to complete one or two short design tasks or challenges to demonstrate their approach to specific design problems and their proficiency with design tools.

• Final Evaluation: Comprehensive assessment based on all previous stages, focusing on design craft, strategic thinking, communication abilities, and overall suitability for the contract role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Ruthlessly: Select only your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your skills in UI/UX design for responsive websites, accessibility, and visual craft. Aim for 3-5 in-depth case studies.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, challenges faced, and the positive outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Accessibility: Explicitly demonstrate how you considered and implemented accessibility best practices throughout your design process.

• Showcase Process: Include examples of wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and how you collaborated with developers. This shows your operational approach.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, positive user feedback).

• Practice Your Presentation: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio confidently, explaining your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully read and understand the objectives, constraints, and target audience.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your thought process. It's often more important than the final pixel-perfect output. Explain how you arrived at your solutions.

• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a given timeframe, simulating the pressure of a real project or assessment.

• Accessibility & Usability: Ensure your challenge solutions consider accessibility and user-centered design principles.

• Clear Rationale: Be ready to articulate the reasoning behind your design choices, especially concerning user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a thorough evaluation of both design skills and behavioral competencies. The portfolio is the central piece of evidence, and preparation for presenting it effectively, along with potential design challenges, is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all UI/UX design work, prototyping, and collaborative design sessions. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Likely used for asset creation, image editing, and potentially other design tasks (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Google Workspace: Standard for document creation, spreadsheets, presentations, and team collaboration (e.g., Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Familiarity is preferred for understanding user behavior and design performance.

• Heatmapping Platforms (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg): Preferred for understanding user interaction patterns on websites.

• User Testing Tools (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze): Preferred for gathering qualitative and quantitative feedback on designs.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for this design role, an understanding of how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms used by clients is beneficial. The company likely uses project management tools for internal workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design and collaboration tools. Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. Familiarity with analytics and user research tools is a significant plus, highlighting the data-informed aspect of modern UX/UI design operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Focus: A strong emphasis on working with clients whose goals align with positive social impact or purpose, fostering a sense of meaningful work.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to designing for the user, prioritizing accessibility, inclusivity, and usability in all digital products.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: Dedication to high-quality design and development work, with attention to detail and technical excellence.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Valuing open communication, teamwork, and shared learning within a distributed team environment.

• Growth & Well-being: Commitment to supporting team members' professional development, well-being, and overall success.

Collaboration Style:

• Distributed & Asynchronous: While real-time collaboration exists, the primary mode is often asynchronous, requiring clear communication, documentation, and proactive engagement.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Close partnerships are expected between design, content strategy, development, and project management to ensure holistic project success.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture for giving and receiving feedback is essential for iterative design and continuous improvement.

• Client-Focused Partnership: Working closely with clients, building trust, and guiding them through the design process with clarity and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's culture appears to be a blend of purpose-driven work, high professional standards, and a supportive, collaborative environment tailored for a distributed workforce. This is crucial for candidates to gauge if their personal work style and values align with the company's ethos.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Projects: Effectively managing workload, priorities, and deadlines across several client projects simultaneously in a remote setting.

• Client Management & Communication: Navigating diverse client expectations, feedback styles, and achieving consensus on design direction, especially when remote.

• Maintaining Design Integrity: Advocating for user needs and best practices while balancing project constraints and client preferences.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with web design trends, accessibility standards, and new tools in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Ensuring effective communication and strong working relationships within a fully distributed team without in-person interaction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working with a variety of mission-driven organizations offers broad learning experiences and exposure to different challenges and industries.

• Mentorship & Peer Learning: Opportunities to learn from and collaborate with experienced developers, content strategists, and fellow designers within the Kanopi team.

• Industry Best Practices: Continuous engagement with current trends in UX/UI design, accessibility, and web development methodologies.

• Client Pitch Experience: Developing and honing skills in business development and client relationship management.

• Thought Leadership Contribution: Building expertise and public profile through contributions to webinars and company content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior-level remote contract roles in agencies, emphasizing project management, client interaction, and adaptability. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding practical experience and professional network rather than formal career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Rationale: "Walk us through a complex website project from your portfolio. What was the core problem, your specific role, your design process, and how did you ensure accessibility and usability in your solutions?" (Prepare to detail your approach, decision-making, and problem-solving.)

• Client Presentation: "Describe a time you had to present a design concept that faced significant client pushback. How did you handle it, what was the outcome, and what did you learn?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and advocacy for user needs.)

• Problem-Solving & Adaptability: "Imagine a client wants a feature that you believe compromises usability or accessibility. How would you approach this situation?" (Demonstrate your ability to balance client goals with user-centered principles and offer alternative solutions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "Kanopi works with mission-driven organizations. What motivates you about this type of work, and how do you see your design skills contributing to client missions?" (Research Kanopi's clients and articulate your passion for purposeful design.)

• Remote Collaboration: "How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration with a remote team and clients?" (Highlight your experience with remote tools, proactive communication strategies, and self-management skills.)

• Design Impact: "How do you measure the success of your web designs beyond visual appeal?" (Discuss metrics, user feedback, and how design contributes to client objectives like engagement, conversions, or accessibility compliance.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, challenges, and outcomes. Use a consistent structure.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. Ensure they are clear and easy to understand.

• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to explain the reasoning behind every significant design decision. Connect your choices back to user needs, business goals, and accessibility principles.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice delivering your presentation within a reasonable timeframe. Be enthusiastic and confident.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, decisions, and how you handle feedback. Have thoughtful answers ready.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation for this role should heavily focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strong communication, client-facing capabilities, and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, especially concerning accessibility, within a remote operations context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Use the 'Apply for this Job' button located toward the bottom of the page.

• Fill out all required fields on the Application page.

• Please upload a resume and cover letter, ensuring your resume is optimized for operations roles by highlighting achievements in process optimization, efficiency gains, and cross-functional collaboration.

• In your cover letter, specifically answer the question: "What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?" Tailor your answer to showcase your understanding of user experience, innovation, or problem-solving related to technology.

• Prepare to present your portfolio during the interview process, focusing on clear storytelling, demonstrating your design process, and articulating the impact of your work. Practice walking through your case studies, emphasizing how you addressed user needs and business objectives.

• Research Kanopi Studios thoroughly, understanding their mission-driven approach, their work with Drupal and WordPress, and their fully distributed team structure to demonstrate cultural fit and genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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