Design Manager (Digital)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager (Digital)

Company: Fresh Consulting

Location: Bellevue, Washington, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Digital Design Management / Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-05

Experience Level: 8+ Years (Implied Seniority)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead multiple concurrent client engagements from discovery through delivery, ensuring high-quality digital product and service experiences.

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of designers, fostering their professional development and project contributions.

• Drive operational efficiency within the design studio by improving processes, documentation, and delivery practices.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Development, Industrial Design) to ensure strategic alignment and successful project outcomes.

• Contribute to business development efforts, including project planning, staffing, estimates, and client presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Design Manager (Digital)," the responsibilities and required experience strongly indicate a role that blends traditional design leadership with significant operational oversight of design projects and teams. The emphasis on "improving how we work," "balancing workload," and "removing bottlenecks" positions this as a hybrid role requiring strong operational acumen alongside design craft. The "CONTRACTOR" employment type suggests a project-based or fixed-term engagement, which often requires a proactive and self-sufficient approach to project management and client relations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Guide multiple concurrent client engagements from initial discovery phases through final delivery, ensuring strategic alignment with user needs, technical realities, and business objectives.

• Maintain and elevate a high bar for UX quality, interaction design, visual execution, and overall user experience across all digital products and services.

• Partner closely with Project Management to effectively balance project scope, schedules, budgets, and quality standards, proactively identifying and mitigating risks.

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and constructive critique to individual designers, facilitating their growth and project success.

• Manage individual designers, conduct performance reviews, and actively support their career development and skill enhancement.

• Foster a studio environment that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement in design methodologies and practices.

• Balance workload across projects, proactively identify resource needs, and collaborate with leadership on staffing and project planning.

• Lead design critiques, workshops, and alignment sessions to ensure cohesive and high-quality design output.

• Drive improvements in studio processes, documentation standards, and overall delivery practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Facilitate seamless collaboration across disciplines including Product Management, Development, Industrial Design, Motion Design, Business Development, and Program Management, ensuring alignment on shared goals and informed design decisions.

• Contribute to studio growth by supporting project planning, staffing, estimates, proposals, and client presentations, ensuring exceptional work delivery and fostering long-term client relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are a comprehensive expansion of the provided core responsibilities, detailing the operational and leadership aspects crucial for a design manager in a consulting environment. The emphasis on balancing multiple projects, managing resources, and improving studio processes highlights the operational demands of this role, which are critical for candidates to understand.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 8+ years of experience designing digital products, software, or services, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Digital Product Design: Extensive experience in designing digital products, software, or services.

• UX/Interaction Design: Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in user experience (UX) and interaction design principles.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design complex systems, ensuring coherence and scalability.

• Product Strategy: Experience in developing and executing product strategies aligned with business goals.

• Design Leadership: Proven experience leading design teams within a consulting, agency, or product environment.

• Project Leadership: Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders from conception to completion.

• Facilitation & Communication: Excellent facilitation, verbal, and written communication skills for engaging with diverse teams and clients.

• Presentation Skills: Strong ability to present design concepts, strategies, and project outcomes effectively to stakeholders.

• Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to mentor designers, fostering their growth and improving their craft.

• Consulting Acumen: Understanding of consulting engagements, client relationship management, and business development support.

Preferred Skills:

• Visual Design Execution: Proficiency in ensuring high standards of visual execution.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and how design integrates within them.

• Design Operations: Experience in defining and optimizing design processes, tools, and workflows.

• Client Relationship Management: Experience building and maintaining strong client relationships.

• Team Building: Ability to contribute to hiring and onboarding new design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8+ years designing digital products, software, or services" requirement, combined with "Experience leading designers," suggests a seniority level that goes beyond individual contribution. The "CONTRACTOR" status implies a need for candidates who can hit the ground running with minimal ramp-up, making direct leadership and project execution experience paramount. The "Systems Thinking" and "Product Strategy" are key differentiators for senior design roles that bridge design craft with business impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 8 years of digital product design experience.

• Demonstrations of systems thinking, illustrating the ability to design comprehensive and interconnected digital experiences.

• Clear examples of UX and interaction design expertise, detailing problem-solving approaches and user-centered solutions.

• Evidence of product strategy development and execution, linking design decisions to business objectives.

• Case studies that highlight experience leading complex, cross-functional projects, detailing your role, challenges, and outcomes.

• Examples of how you have mentored or managed designers, showcasing leadership and development capabilities.

• Documentation of your approach to balancing strategic thinking with practical execution in project delivery. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have improved studio processes, documentation, or delivery practices within previous roles.

• Demonstrate your ability to lead design critiques, workshops, and alignment sessions, providing insight into your facilitation methods.

• Illustrate how you have partnered with Project Management to balance scope, schedules, budgets, and quality on client engagements.

• Provide examples of your collaborative approach across disciplines, showing how you’ve integrated design with product, development, and other teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role, especially in consulting, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just showcasing visual design; it must demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and operational capability in managing projects and people. The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "product strategy" indicates a need for designs that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also functionally robust and strategically sound.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $145,000 USD per year.

Explanation: This range is provided for Washington-based roles and reflects the specified salary range in the job description. It is competitive for a Design Manager role with 8+ years of experience in a high-cost-of-living area like Bellevue, WA, particularly within the consulting industry. The "CONTRACTOR" employment type may influence how benefits are structured, with contractors often receiving a higher base rate or a stipend in lieu of traditional employee benefits.

Benefits: As a contractor, benefits may differ from full-time employee packages. Typical contractor benefits or considerations include:

• Competitive Hourly/Annual Rate: The provided salary range reflects the compensation for the contracted services.

• Potential for Project-Based Bonuses: Depending on client project success and performance.

• Access to Company Resources: Potentially access to internal training, workshops, and studio resources.

• Networking Opportunities: Exposure to a diverse range of clients and projects within Fresh Consulting.

• Flexibility: While this role is on-site, contractor roles can sometimes offer more flexibility in work arrangements or project scope.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours during critical project phases or client deadlines, typical for a consulting environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly stated. For a contractor role, it's important to note that benefits are often handled differently. While the job description doesn't explicitly list benefits for contractors, the provided range is a strong indicator of compensation. Candidates should clarify benefit structures, payment terms, and contract duration during the interview process. The "40 hours per week" is a baseline, and consulting roles often require flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Digital Transformation, Design & Engineering Services. Fresh Consulting operates at the intersection of technology and human-centered design, partnering with clients to build innovative digital products and experiences.

Company Size: Fresh Consulting is a growing practice, implying a dynamic environment where individual contributions can have a significant impact. The exact size isn't specified, but the structure suggests a medium-sized firm with specialized studios.

Founded: Founded in 2007 (based on LinkedIn data), Fresh Consulting has over 15 years of experience in the tech consulting space, suggesting a mature yet agile organization with established methodologies and a forward-thinking approach.

Team Structure:

• Multidisciplinary Studio: The design team is part of a larger multidisciplinary studio environment that includes strategists, developers, industrial designers, and engineers.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: This role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Management, Development, and other design disciplines.

• Reporting: The Design Manager will likely report to a Studio Director or Head of Design, managing a team of individual designers.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: A core philosophy that blends human ingenuity with technology to create optimized experiences.

• Iterative Development: Implied through the discovery-to-delivery lifecycle and focus on continuous improvement.

• Cross-Disciplinary Approach: Leveraging diverse expertise to tackle complex problems.

• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly stated for design, the emphasis on "testing our assumptions" and "striving for growth" suggests a data-informed approach where possible.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as people-centric, focused on growth, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving. For a Design Manager, understanding this culture is key to fitting in and leading effectively. The consulting nature means a focus on client success and continuous improvement is paramount.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the design function, focusing on both design craft and operational management. It's a step beyond Senior Designer or Lead Designer, requiring people management and process improvement responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will manage individual designers and likely report to a higher-level design or studio leader. They will collaborate closely with Project Managers and other discipline leads.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the operational efficiency of the design studio, the quality of client deliverables, and the professional development of the design team. Successful performance directly contributes to client satisfaction, project profitability, and Fresh Consulting's reputation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into roles like Head of Design, Studio Director, or practice lead, overseeing larger teams and broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of digital design, design operations, or client management within the consulting framework.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop strong leadership and coaching skills by guiding and growing a team of designers.

• Strategic Contribution: Influence the evolution of design practices and methodologies at Fresh Consulting.

• Diverse Project Exposure: Gain experience across a wide array of industries and digital product challenges through client engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor role, "growth" might be more project-specific or focused on skill development rather than a traditional linear career path within the company. However, demonstrating strong performance can lead to extensions, future projects, or even full-time opportunities if available. The role offers significant opportunities to refine leadership and operational management skills within a fast-paced consulting environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" in Bellevue, WA, indicating a physical office presence is required. This suggests a collaborative workspace designed for teamwork and client interactions.

Office Location(s): Bellevue, Washington, United States (98006). This location is in a major tech hub, offering access to talent and industry connections.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studio: The environment is designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, with designers working alongside developers, strategists, and industrial designers.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to industry-standard design tools and potentially a technology stack that supports efficient workflow and communication.

• Client Interaction: The role involves direct client engagement, meaning the workspace should support client presentations and workshops.

• Dynamic Pace: Consulting environments are typically fast-paced, requiring adaptability and efficient use of time within the office.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with the understanding that project demands may require flexibility and occasional extended hours to meet deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is a key piece of information, especially for candidates considering remote work. The description of the workspace emphasizes collaboration, which is crucial for a management role in a multidisciplinary consulting firm.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience and qualifications.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, discussing case studies, your approach to design leadership, project management, and operational improvements. Expect to elaborate on your systems thinking and product strategy experience.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with potential peers and collaborators from Product Management, Development, and other design disciplines to assess collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Leadership/Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion focusing on leadership philosophy, people management approach, operational strategies, and cultural fit with Fresh Consulting.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate leadership, systems thinking, UX/interaction design, product strategy, and operational impact.

• Highlight Leadership: For each project, clearly articulate your role in leading the design effort, managing designers (if applicable), and influencing project direction.

• Showcase Operational Improvements: Include examples where you improved design processes, documentation, or delivery workflows. Quantify the impact if possible.

• Detail Cross-Functional Collaboration: Explain how you worked with PMs, developers, and other stakeholders, demonstrating your ability to navigate complex team dynamics.

• Focus on Outcomes: For each project, discuss the business objectives, the design solutions, and the tangible results or impact achieved.

• Be Prepared for "How": Beyond showing the "what," be ready to explain the "how" – your decision-making process, methodologies, and why you made specific choices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Leadership Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would handle common team challenges, such as managing underperforming designers, resolving team conflicts, or driving adoption of new processes.

• Project Management Scenario: Anticipate questions about how you balance scope, budget, and timeline, and how you manage client expectations and feedback.

• Operational Improvement Scenario: Think about a time you identified and implemented a process improvement within a design team or workflow. Be ready to articulate the problem, your solution, and the results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a management role in consulting will heavily weigh your ability to lead, manage projects operationally, and collaborate. The portfolio review is a critical component, and candidates should meticulously prepare to showcase not just design skills but also leadership and operational effectiveness.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and potentially tools like InVision or Axure for prototyping.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for team communication and project coordination.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing project workflows and tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Understanding of how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience using or contributing to reports generated from dashboard tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to communicate project status and design outcomes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for a Design Manager, familiarity with CRM concepts (e.g., Salesforce) and how design integrates with customer journeys could be beneficial.

• Understanding of workflow automation principles as they relate to design processes and team efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't list specific tools, the role implies the need for proficiency in standard digital design software and project management tools. The emphasis on collaboration and operational efficiency suggests experience with communication and workflow management platforms is important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across disciplines to achieve common goals.

• Growth Mindset: Continuous learning, experimentation, and a commitment to improving skills and processes.

• Client Focus: Delivering exceptional value and building strong, long-term relationships with clients.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Maintaining a high standard for design execution and overall user experience.

• Human-Centered Approach: Prioritizing user needs and well-being in all design decisions.

• Efficiency & Optimization: Constantly seeking ways to improve workflows and delivery practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills to align different perspectives.

• Open Feedback Culture: A willingness to give and receive constructive critique to elevate the quality of work and foster team development.

• Knowledge Sharing: An environment that encourages sharing best practices, learnings, and insights across disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture values people, growth, and collaboration. For a manager, embodying these values and fostering them within their team is crucial for success. The consulting aspect means a strong client-centric approach is also a core value.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Engagements: Effectively managing priorities, resources, and client expectations across several concurrent projects.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Leading design efforts in early-stage projects where requirements may be fluid.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Ensuring cohesive vision and execution when working with diverse teams (development, product, etc.).

• Client Management: Building trust, managing feedback, and delivering on client expectations in a consulting context.

• Process Improvement: Identifying inefficiencies and driving adoption of new processes within a dynamic team environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Skills Enhancement: Opportunities to refine people management, coaching, and strategic leadership capabilities.

• Exposure to Diverse Industries: Gaining broad experience across various client sectors and product types.

• Design Operations Expertise: Developing deeper skills in optimizing design workflows, tools, and team structures.

• Client Strategy & Business Development: Learning to contribute to proposals, estimates, and client presentations.

• Mentorship: Both receiving mentorship from senior leaders and providing it to junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a consulting firm, emphasizing the need for strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to develop a well-rounded skill set in design leadership and operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, cross-functional digital design project from discovery to delivery. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving approach.)

• "How do you balance maintaining a high bar for design quality with project constraints like scope, schedule, and budget?" (Demonstrate your understanding of project management and trade-offs.)

• "Walk us through a situation where you improved a design process or workflow. What was the problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Highlight your operational acumen and ability to drive efficiency.)

• "How do you mentor and develop designers on your team? Provide an example of supporting a designer's career growth." (Showcase your people management and coaching skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Fresh Consulting and this specific Design Manager role?" (Research their projects, values, and recent work.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative environment among designers and with other disciplines like development and product management?" (Align your answer with Fresh's emphasis on cross-disciplinary work.)

• "What does 'human-centered design' mean to you, and how do you apply it in your work?" (Connect your philosophy to Fresh's stated approach.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the outcome/impact.

• Quantify Your Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design solutions and operational improvements.

• Emphasize Leadership & Operations: Clearly articulate your leadership contributions, how you managed the team, and any operational improvements you implemented.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and how you would handle similar challenges in the future.

• Practice Your Delivery: Ensure you can present your work clearly, concisely, and engagingly within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, operational thinking, and collaborative skills, in addition to design expertise. Quantifiable results and specific examples of process improvement will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Fresh Consulting careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating leadership, systems thinking, UX/interaction design, product strategy, and operational improvements. Prioritize case studies that showcase your ability to manage cross-functional teams and deliver high-quality digital products.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 8+ years of design experience, leadership roles, and any quantifiable achievements in process optimization or team management. Use keywords relevant to digital design management, consulting, and operations.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on leadership, project management, and operational impact. Prepare specific examples to answer scenario-based questions related to team management, client relations, and process improvement.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Fresh Consulting's website, recent projects, and company values. Understand their approach to design, technology, and client partnerships to demonstrate your fit and 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.