Design Lead, Design Systems - Freelance

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Lead, Design Systems - Freelance

Company: AKQA

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Contract, Temporary

Category: Design Operations / Design Systems Management

Date Posted: 2026-09-22T21:02:04

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with required onsite client visits)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and inspire a team of designers to deliver exceptional digital product experiences for a globally recognized consumer brand.

• Drive the evolution and maintenance of complex, scalable design systems, ensuring consistency and craft across all digital touchpoints.

• Shape the creative vision and strategic direction for digital platforms, aligning with client objectives and user needs.

• Foster a culture of creative excellence and innovation within the design team, pushing for distinctive and effective solutions.

• Collaborate closely with UX, strategy, and development teams to ensure cohesive and high-quality integrated solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is presented as a freelance/contract position, emphasizing the need for immediate impact and adaptability. The "Hybrid" work arrangement, coupled with "regularly scheduled onsite client visits," indicates a need for candidates comfortable with a mix of remote work and in-person collaboration, particularly with the client's team. The focus on "Design Systems" for a "globally recognized consumer brand" suggests a high volume of work with a critical need for consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on creative direction and leadership to a team of designers, ensuring the delivery of world-class digital product experiences.

• Oversee the comprehensive creation, maintenance, and strategic evolution of intricate design systems, focusing on scalability, consistency, and aesthetic craft.

• Define and champion the creative vision for digital platforms and products, ensuring alignment with overarching client goals and the specific needs of a large, loyal user base.

• Engage in close collaboration with UX designers, strategists, and development teams to ensure the seamless delivery of cohesive, high-quality, and integrated solutions.

• Present creative concepts and detailed design solutions to clients and stakeholders with a high degree of clarity, confidence, and strategic insight.

• Actively mentor, guide, and support junior and mid-level designers, cultivating a collaborative environment that emphasizes accountability and professional growth.

• Contribute significantly to a culture of creative excellence, consistently pushing the team towards the most distinctive, impactful, and effective solutions at every stage of the project lifecycle.

• Ensure the design system supports efficient product development workflows and facilitates rapid iteration for a high-volume digital product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a leadership role focused on both strategic oversight and tactical execution. The emphasis on "complex design systems" and "scalability" points to a need for robust design operations management. The requirement to "present creative concepts and design solutions to clients" highlights the importance of strong communication and stakeholder management skills, typical for senior design operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Fine Arts, or a related field is highly beneficial.

Experience: 6+ years of progressive experience in UI design, Art Direction, or a closely related field, with a demonstrated track record of success in leading design initiatives for digital platforms and products.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and mentor design teams, with a tangible track record of elevating designers' skills and output.

• Deep and comprehensive expertise in the creation, implementation, and strategic evolution of sophisticated design systems, with a keen focus on scalability, consistency, and innovation.

• Strong working knowledge of core user interface (UI) design principles, application design, mobile-first design strategies, and responsive design methodologies.

• Expert proficiency in Figma, encompassing advanced capabilities in component creation, library management, and collaborative workflows.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the demonstrated ability to articulate and defend creative work and strategic rationale to clients and diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration, effectively partnering with UX designers, strategists, and development teams to deliver integrated and cohesive solutions.

• A proactive, adaptable mindset with the capacity to navigate and thrive within the ever-changing landscape of technology and design trends.

• A well-defined point of view on design and the ability to foster and encourage conceptual thinking and creative exploration across the entire team. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with large-scale consumer brands or in high-volume product environments.

• Familiarity with design operations principles and best practices for managing design systems at scale.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate smoother collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience with user research methodologies to inform design decisions and system improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced component and library management" is a critical technical skill. The emphasis on "6+ years of experience" and "proven ability to lead and inspire teams" positions this as a senior-level role requiring significant operational and leadership experience within design. The "strong portfolio showcasing digital platforms and products" is a non-negotiable requirement for demonstrating practical application of these skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio demonstrating significant experience in UI design and Art Direction for complex digital platforms and products.

• Clear examples of leadership in design projects, showcasing the ability to guide teams and drive creative vision.

• Dedicated case studies illustrating the development, implementation, or evolution of sophisticated design systems, highlighting challenges, solutions, and impact.

• Demonstrations of how design systems were leveraged to ensure scalability, consistency, and craft across multiple digital touchpoints or products.

• Evidence of collaborative workflows, showing successful partnerships with UX, strategy, and development teams.

• Work samples that showcase a strong command of user interface, application, mobile, and responsive design principles. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design systems were maintained and updated, detailing version control and change management processes.

• Documentation or case studies showing the integration of design systems into development workflows, emphasizing efficiency gains.

• Evidence of processes used to gather feedback on design systems and user experiences to drive iterative improvements.

• Demonstrations of how design system documentation was created and maintained for internal and external consumption.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Systems Lead, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just visual design to showcase strategic thinking, system architecture, and operational management of design assets. The emphasis on "scalability, consistency, and craft" implies a need for portfolio pieces that detail how these were achieved through systematic processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The expected weekly compensation is between 3,600 to 4,000 USD. This translates to an estimated annual salary range of approximately 187,200 to 208,000 USD, assuming consistent full-time work.

Benefits: As a freelance/contract position, benefits typically differ from full-time employment. Candidates should clarify specific offerings directly with AKQA, but common arrangements for such roles include:

• Potential for extended contract duration based on performance and project needs.

• Access to AKQA's collaborative work environment and cutting-edge industry projects.

• Opportunities for professional development through challenging projects and exposure to leading brands.

• Flexibility in remote work arrangement (while adhering to client visit requirements).

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated weekly compensation is specific and unusually high for a freelance role, suggesting a very senior and in-demand skillset. The calculation to an annual range is provided for context. As it's a freelance role, standard benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans are typically not included, but candidates should confirm any specific contract provisions. The "40 hours/week" indicates a full-time commitment for the contract duration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising & Marketing / Digital Services (WPP is a global leader in advertising and marketing services). AKQA operates at the intersection of creativity, technology, and strategy, focusing on crafting innovative digital experiences.

Company Size: AKQA is part of WPP, a massive global network of agencies. AKQA itself is a large, international digital agency with multiple offices and a significant number of employees worldwide, indicating a structured yet dynamic work environment.

Founded: AKQA was founded in 2001 (as AKQA) and has grown significantly, becoming a prominent player in digital transformation and experience design. This history suggests a company that has evolved with the digital landscape, fostering innovation and adaptability.

Team Structure:

• The role likely involves being part of a larger design discipline within AKQA, with potential specialization in design systems or product design.

• Reporting will likely be to a Design Director or Head of Design within AKQA, with direct day-to-day guidance and collaboration with a client-side team.

• Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with UX, Strategy, Project Management, and Development teams, both within AKQA and at the client organization. Methodology:

• AKQA emphasizes an "imaginative application of art and science," suggesting a blend of creative exploration and data-informed decision-making.

• Their approach is described as "entrepreneurial and collaborative," indicating a culture that values initiative, teamwork, and shared problem-solving.

• Focus on designing "adaptive digital services and applications" points to agile methodologies and a commitment to iterative development and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.akqa.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: AKQA's positioning within WPP suggests access to resources and a broad range of expertise, while AKQA itself maintains a distinct focus on innovation and digital experience. The "entrepreneurial and collaborative" culture implies a fast-paced environment where individual initiative is valued. The mention of "adaptive digital services" hints at a need for flexibility and responsiveness in design operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a "Design Lead," indicating a senior-level position. It requires not only advanced design skills but also leadership, mentorship, and strategic oversight of design systems and team output. This level typically involves significant autonomy and responsibility for driving key project outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The Design Lead will report to a senior leader within AKQA (e.g., Design Director, Executive Design Director) while working closely with client-side stakeholders and potentially managing a small team of designers assigned to the project.

Operations Impact: The Design Lead's operations impact is critical, particularly in managing a complex design system for a large consumer brand. Their work directly influences the efficiency of product development, the consistency of brand experience across millions of users, and the overall quality and scalability of digital products. Effective design operations in this role can lead to significant cost savings, faster time-to-market, and improved user satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems management, becoming a recognized authority in the field.

• Leadership Expansion: Transition to higher leadership roles within AKQA or client organizations, managing larger teams or broader design portfolios.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the design community through speaking engagements, writing, or developing new methodologies for design operations and systems.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop strong client relationships, potentially leading to longer-term engagements or strategic advisory roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior freelance role, the "growth" is less about traditional internal promotions and more about expanding influence, expertise, and the scope of projects managed. The impact on "millions of people" highlights the scale and significance of the operational responsibilities for the design system.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Remote (United States only)" with "regularly scheduled onsite client visits and meetings." AKQA also mentions a "hybrid approach including required in-office days" generally, suggesting that while this specific contract is remote-first, there's an expectation of in-person collaboration at AKQA offices when not on client visits. This implies a flexible yet structured environment.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the mention of "Seattle-based candidates are especially welcome" suggests a strong client presence or AKQA office in that region. However, the primary location listed is New York, and "onsite client visits" are required, meaning candidates must be willing and able to travel to client locations as needed, potentially in New York or other designated areas.

Workspace Context:

• The remote aspect allows for individual workspace flexibility, but the need for "regularly scheduled onsite client visits" requires adaptability to different professional settings.

• Collaboration will heavily rely on digital tools for communication and design system management, necessitating a reliable remote setup.

• The client is a "globally recognized consumer brand," implying that interactions will be with large, professional organizations, requiring a high degree of polish and professionalism.

• The "hybrid approach" at AKQA suggests opportunities for in-person brainstorming, critiques, and team building when not client-facing.

Work Schedule: A commitment of 40 hours per week is expected, indicating a full-time engagement. The freelance nature may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, provided deliverables and meetings are met, but the core expectation is consistent availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hybrid" aspect for a remote role is nuanced. It means the candidate works remotely but must be available for client site visits and potentially for in-office AKQA collaboration days, suggesting a need for geographic flexibility within the US and willingness to travel.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership, and design system expertise. Emphasis will be on tangible results and scale of previous work.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present a curated selection of their work, focusing on design system case studies, leadership examples, and strategic thinking. Be prepared to discuss your process, challenges, and how you've driven impact.

• Team & Client Interviews: Meetings with AKQA leadership and potentially client stakeholders to assess fit, collaboration style, and ability to present and defend creative work.

• Skills Assessment: Potentially a practical exercise or deep dive into Figma capabilities, component management, and design system strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate specific sections to your design system work. Detail the problem, your approach, the components/guidelines created, the tools used (especially Figma), and the measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements, reduced design debt).

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you've led design teams, mentored junior designers, and influenced stakeholders. Quantify your leadership where possible (e.g., "Managed a team of 5 designers," "Improved team velocity by X%").

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Articulate the "why" behind your design decisions and system architecture. Connect your work to business objectives and user needs.

• Focus on Scale and Complexity: Given the client's profile, emphasize projects that involved large-scale applications, complex user bases, or intricate systems.

• Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates advanced Figma skills, including complex component structures, variants, auto-layout, and library management.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach evolving a large-scale design system for a new project or addressing common design system challenges (e.g., adoption, governance, scalability).

• Prepare to articulate your philosophy on design system documentation and communication.

• Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and persuasively, anticipating questions about your decision-making process and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "design systems," "Figma," and "leadership" for a "globally recognized consumer brand" means the interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on both technical proficiency and strategic operational thinking. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their experience with managing design at scale.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly stated as a requirement for "expert proficiency." Candidates must be adept at advanced features such as component creation, variants, auto-layout, interactive prototyping, collaborative workflows, and library management.

• Design System Management Platforms: While not explicitly named, tools or methodologies for organizing, documenting, and versioning design system components and guidelines will be essential. This could include Figma's built-in features, specialized documentation tools, or internal client systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with user analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude) may be beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design system improvements, though not a primary requirement for this role.

• Proficiency in presenting data-driven insights to justify design decisions and system evolution. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design systems integrate with product development pipelines and potentially marketing platforms (which may use CRM data) is advantageous.

• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) is likely expected for collaboration with development and project teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the core tool for this role. The "expert proficiency" required implies more than just basic usage; it means deep understanding of its capabilities for building and maintaining robust, scalable design systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality, innovative, and impactful design solutions that push creative boundaries.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships to achieve collective goals.

• Craftsmanship: A dedication to detail, precision, and aesthetic quality in all design deliverables and system components.

• Innovation: A forward-thinking mindset that embraces new technologies, methodologies, and creative approaches to solve complex problems.

• User-Centricity: A deep understanding of user needs and behaviors, driving design decisions that enhance user experience and satisfaction.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on creating design systems and processes that are efficient, maintainable, and scalable to meet the demands of a large-scale digital product.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly working with UX, Strategy, and Development teams, acting as a bridge between design and engineering.

• Client Partnership: Building strong, collaborative relationships with clients, understanding their business objectives and translating them into design solutions.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing expertise, mentoring junior designers, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and mutual support within the design team.

• Constructive Critique: Engaging in and providing constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work and drive design system improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: AKQA's culture emphasizes artistry and science, suggesting a balance between creative freedom and data-driven execution. The "entrepreneurial and collaborative" ethos means candidates should be proactive and team-oriented.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Design System Adoption: Ensuring widespread and consistent adoption of the design system across multiple product teams and developers.

• Balancing Innovation and Consistency: Evolving the design system to incorporate new trends and features while maintaining core consistency and stability.

• Cross-Team Dependencies: Navigating complex dependencies with various internal teams and client stakeholders to ensure alignment and timely delivery.

• Remote Collaboration at Scale: Maintaining strong team cohesion and creative synergy in a remote/hybrid environment, especially for a freelance role.

• Client-Specific Constraints: Working within the specific brand guidelines, technical limitations, and strategic priorities of a major global consumer brand.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Design Systems Expertise: Gain unparalleled experience managing a large-scale design system for a prominent brand, mastering best practices in governance, tooling, and strategy.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing senior stakeholders and driving strategic design decisions at a high level.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for a specific, high-impact consumer industry.

• Mentorship Development: Hone leadership and mentorship skills by guiding and developing a team of designers.

• Adaptability in Dynamic Environments: Enhance ability to adapt to evolving client needs, project scopes, and technological advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior design operations roles, especially those managing design systems for large clients. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding influence and expertise within specialized design operations fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on building and evolving a scalable design system for a global brand. What are the key pillars of success?" (Prepare to discuss governance, documentation, component strategy, and adoption).

• "How do you ensure consistency and maintain brand integrity across a vast digital product ecosystem using a design system?" (Focus on processes, tools, and collaboration).

• "Walk us through a time you had to convince stakeholders or a development team to adopt a new design system or a significant change to an existing one. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills).

• "How do you balance the need for innovation and new features within a design system against the need for stability and consistency?" (Discuss your approach to feature requests, prioritization, and release cycles). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on AKQA's description, what do you believe will be the biggest cultural fit considerations for you in this role?" (Research AKQA's values and approach).

• "How do you foster a collaborative and creative environment within a design team, especially in a remote or hybrid setting?" (Share examples of your leadership style and team-building initiatives).

• "What are your expectations regarding client collaboration and the 'onsite client visits' requirement?" (Demonstrate your understanding of client-facing roles and adaptability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear problem-solution-impact structure. Emphasize your role and contributions, especially in leadership and system design.

• Quantify Your Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your design systems and leadership (e.g., "Reduced design time by X%", "Increased component reuse by Y%", "Achieved Z% user satisfaction improvement").

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Visually demonstrate your advanced Figma skills. Highlight complex component structures, variants, auto-layout usage, and how you manage libraries and collaboration within the tool.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design decisions, technical implementation considerations, and how you've handled challenges.

• Tailor to AKQA and the Client: Frame your experience and portfolio examples in the context of AKQA's ethos and the specific needs of a large consumer brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also operational acumen, leadership capabilities, and a strategic understanding of how design systems function within a larger business context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the AKQA careers portal (linked via Greenhouse).

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that specifically highlight your experience in leading design teams, managing complex design systems, and showcasing advanced Figma proficiency. Ensure these demonstrate impact and scale.

• Optimize Your Resume: Clearly articulate your 6+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing leadership roles, design system expertise, and key achievements using operations-focused language (e.g., "drove consistency," "improved efficiency," "scaled design assets").

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on telling a compelling story about your process, strategic thinking, and measurable results. Be ready to discuss your approach to design system governance and team leadership.

• Research AKQA & WPP: Understand their mission, values, and recent work. Prepare to articulate how your skills and approach align with their culture and the client's needs.

⚠️ 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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