Freelance Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Senior Product Designer

Company: Lottie

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time, Contract

Category: Product Design, UX/UI Design

Date Posted: May 26, 2026

Experience Level: 4-6+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 core office days)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for Lottie's critical Marketplace product, encompassing search, comparison, and enquiry flows.

• Act as a true co-creator with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, shaping problem definitions from inception, not just executing briefs.

• Address complex design challenges within a high-stakes domain, prioritizing accessibility, trust signals, information hierarchy, and emotional context.

• Contribute to and scale the design system with reusable patterns and components, enhancing overall product quality and consistency.

• Leverage AI tooling for accelerated prototyping and iteration, while maintaining a high standard of craft and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 3-month freelance contract, emphasizing the need for immediate impact and a self-starter mentality. The "Senior" title suggests a need for independent problem-solving, mentorship potential within the design team, and a strong track record of delivering complex product solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for the Marketplace product, from initial concept and user research through to high-fidelity mockups and detailed specifications for search, results, listings, comparison, and enquiry features.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to deeply understand user needs, market dynamics, and business objectives, actively participating in defining product strategy and roadmaps.

• Partner with Engineering Leads to ensure seamless implementation of designs, providing clear documentation, assets, and ongoing support throughout the development sprints.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and iterate on existing features, ensuring a user-centric approach.

• Develop and refine user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience across all touchpoints within the Marketplace journey.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of Lottie's design system, creating new components, patterns, and guidelines as needed to support the Marketplace product and other company initiatives.

• Champion design best practices, including accessibility standards (WCAG), performance optimization, and inclusive design principles, ensuring the product is usable and trustworthy for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shaping problem definition, not just executing briefs" and "partnering with PM from problem inception" indicates a strategic design role where the candidate is expected to influence product direction and identify opportunities, rather than solely fulfilling design requests.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is essential.

Experience: 4-6+ years of professional product design experience, with a proven track record of delivering complex B2C or marketplace products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design & UX: Deep expertise in user-centered design principles, user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Marketplace & Complex Flows: Demonstrated experience designing for complex, multi-stage user journeys, particularly within marketplace or platform environments.

• Systemic Thinking & Design Systems: Ability to think holistically about product ecosystems and contribute to/leverage design systems for consistency and scalability.

• AI Prototyping & Iteration: Proficiency and enthusiasm for using AI tools to accelerate prototyping, ideation, and iteration cycles.

• Information Hierarchy & Trust: Proven ability to design clear information architecture and build trust in high-stakes, emotionally charged domains.

• Craft Rigour: Strong visual design skills, attention to detail, and a high standard for aesthetic quality and user interface polish.

• Product Instinct & Problem Solving: A confident product thinker capable of engaging with problems from inception and proposing evidence-based solutions.

• Communication & Rationale: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions, rationale, and trade-offs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the care sector or a related mission-driven industry.

• Familiarity with AI-native product development environments.

• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 4-6+ years of experience, coupled with the "Senior" title and the expectation of immediate impact, suggests that candidates should be able to operate with a high degree of autonomy and demonstrate leadership in design thinking.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Craft Rigour: Showcase visually polished UI designs, demonstrating attention to detail in typography, layout, color, and interaction design.

• Systemic Thinking: Include case studies that illustrate how you approached complex problems, considered the broader product ecosystem, and contributed to or leveraged design systems.

• UX Problem-Solving: Present detailed case studies that walk through your design process, from problem definition and user research to solution ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration, with a focus on measurable outcomes.

• Marketplace/Platform Experience: Highlight projects specifically involving marketplace dynamics, complex user journeys, or platform-based products.

• AI Tooling Integration: If possible, showcase examples where AI tools were used effectively to enhance your design process or outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Case Study Structure: For each portfolio piece, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions made and rationale, and the final outcomes/impact.

• User Journey Mapping: Demonstrate an ability to map and optimize complex user journeys, showing how design interventions improved user experience and business metrics.

• Design System Contributions: If applicable, include examples of components or patterns you designed that were integrated into a design system, explaining their purpose and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the 3-month contract and the need for immediate impact, the portfolio should clearly and concisely demonstrate the candidate's ability to quickly understand complex problems, drive design solutions, and contribute to a team, rather than requiring extensive onboarding.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a freelance, 3-month contract role, compensation will likely be competitive and based on experience and daily/hourly rate. Based on industry standards for Senior Product Designers in London with this experience level, a range of £450 - £700 per day is a reasonable estimate.

Benefits:

• Contract Length: 3-month engagement offering focused project work.

• Flexibility: Hybrid work model with core office days in London, allowing for a blend of collaboration and remote work.

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to contribute significantly to a product with a strong social mission.

• Collaborative Environment: Work closely with experienced Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

• Potential for Extension/Future Opportunities: While a 3-month contract, strong performance may lead to further opportunities.

Working Hours: Full-time commitment is expected, likely aligning with standard UK business hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with potential for flexibility based on project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on typical freelance rates for senior-level design professionals in London, considering the specialized skills and immediate impact required. Benefits are standard for contract roles, with emphasis on the project's nature and company mission.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HealthTech / Social Care Technology. Lottie operates at the intersection of technology and healthcare, aiming to revolutionize the care sector. This industry context implies a need for empathy, ethical considerations, and a focus on user well-being.

Company Size: Lottie is a highly-rated, fast-growing startup, recognized as LinkedIn's Top Startup 2024 and the UK's #1 Startup for 2025. This indicates a dynamic, agile, and potentially demanding environment.

Founded: Founded in London in 2021, Lottie has rapidly scaled, securing significant funding (£25m+). This suggests a culture of innovation, rapid iteration, and ambition.

Team Structure:

• The Design team reports to the Head of Design.

• This specific role will be embedded within a cross-functional product team, likely consisting of a Product Manager, Engineering Lead, and potentially other engineers and designers.

Methodology:

• AI-Native Approach: Lottie emphasizes the use of AI tools in its product development and design processes.

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of families and care providers.

• Data-Driven Decisions: While design craft is paramount, evidence and data are used to inform product decisions.

• Agile Development: The startup environment implies agile methodologies, with rapid iteration and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://lottie.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's rapid growth, funding, and awards point to a high-performance culture. The "mission-driven" aspect is crucial; candidates should demonstrate genuine interest in improving the care sector.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Freelance Product Designer. While it's a contract, the "Senior" designation implies a high level of autonomy, strategic input, and the expectation to lead design efforts for the Marketplace product. It's an opportunity to make a significant, visible impact within a short timeframe.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Head of Design for design-specific guidance and mentorship. Operationally, you will work in close partnership with your dedicated Product Manager and Engineering Lead, forming a core part of a product triad.

Operations Impact: The Marketplace product is central to Lottie's mission, directly impacting how families find care. Your design work will directly influence user trust, engagement, and conversion rates, playing a critical role in the company's mission to "Elevate later life for everybody." Success in this role can lead to significant portfolio achievements and potentially future engagements.

Growth Opportunities:

• Accelerated Impact: The 3-month timeframe provides an intense opportunity to drive significant product improvements and demonstrate leadership.

• Domain Expertise: Gain valuable experience within the impactful HealthTech/Care sector.

• AI Tooling Proficiency: Enhance skills in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools for design.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Build a strong case study around a high-visibility product with a clear mission.

• Networking: Build relationships with experienced leaders in a high-growth startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a freelance role, "growth" is often measured by the impact on the portfolio, the skills gained, and the potential for future engagements rather than traditional internal career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Lottie operates a hybrid model, requiring two core office days per week. This suggests a collaborative office space designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): The office is located at London Bridge, London, UK, providing a vibrant and accessible work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: Expect a modern office space facilitating in-person collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and team cohesion on core office days.

• Technology-Enabled: As a tech-forward company, the workspace is likely equipped with the necessary tools and technology to support design and development workflows.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The hybrid model is designed to balance focused individual work with essential team collaboration, encouraging interaction across design, product, and engineering.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expectation to be present in the office for two designated days per week. The remaining days can be worked remotely. This schedule allows for deep work while maintaining team connection.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid policy with two core office days is a key detail. Candidates should be comfortable working in this setup, understanding the importance of in-person collaboration for design sprints and problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Screening Interview (20 mins, Remote): A brief initial chat with the Talent Acquisition Lead to assess general fit, experience level, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

2. Portfolio Run Through (45 mins, Remote): A detailed session with the Hiring Manager (Head of Design) where you will present your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your process, and how you've tackled similar challenges.

3. Behavioural Interview (45 mins, Remote): An interview with the CXO focusing on your work style, problem-solving approach, values, and how you handle challenging situations.

4. Final Interview (45 mins, In-Person): An in-person meeting with the CEO to discuss your overall fit with the company vision, culture, and strategic contribution.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your senior-level product design skills, systemic thinking, and experience with complex user journeys or marketplaces.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the impact of your work. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you partnered with PMs and Engineers, demonstrating your ability to shape briefs and contribute to problem definition.

• Showcase AI Use (if applicable): If you've used AI tools, be prepared to discuss how they enhanced your process or outcomes.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design rationale, trade-offs you made, and how you approach ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• No Explicit Design Challenge Mentioned: While a specific design challenge isn't listed, be prepared for in-depth discussions about your portfolio projects that may feel like a "design challenge" in itself.

• Focus on Process and Rationale: The interview process emphasizes understanding your thinking. Be ready to articulate your process, reasoning behind decisions, and how you would approach specific problems related to the Marketplace.

• Company Mission Alignment: Prepare to discuss why you are drawn to Lottie's mission and the care sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process, including both remote and in-person components, emphasizes a thorough vetting. The portfolio review is a critical stage, so candidates must prepare meticulously to showcase their senior-level capabilities and strategic thinking. The structured feedback offered at each stage is a positive aspect of their candidate experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: While not explicitly stated, expect proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie, or Figma's built-in capabilities).

• AI Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI tools for design ideation, rapid prototyping, or asset generation will be a significant advantage.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Notion for task management and project tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar platforms to understand user behaviour and product performance.

• User Feedback Platforms: Familiarity with tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a design tool, understanding the context of CRM systems (like Found by Lottie) that care providers use can provide valuable insight into the ecosystem.

• Design System Management: Tools or platforms for managing design tokens, components, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI tooling" suggests that candidates comfortable with and capable of leveraging AI in their design workflow will be highly valued. Proficiency in Figma is almost a given in modern design teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A core value is the commitment to improving the care sector and positively impacting lives.

• Kindness & Talent: Lottie emphasizes a team culture that is both supportive and highly capable.

• Innovation & Speed: As a fast-growing startup, a culture of rapid iteration, experimentation, and embracing new technologies (like AI) is crucial.

• Ownership: Employees are expected to take ownership of their work and drive initiatives forward.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While creativity is key, decisions are grounded in data and user insights.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: A strong emphasis on close collaboration between Design, Product, and Engineering from the outset of problem definition.

• Open Communication: Encouraged through hybrid work, with clear channels for feedback and discussion.

• Shared Ownership: Teams work together to define and solve problems, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for product success.

• Constructive Feedback: The interview process highlights a commitment to providing constructive feedback, suggesting a culture that values continuous improvement and learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with Lottie's mission and a proactive, collaborative approach to teamwork. The "kindness" aspect suggests a focus on psychological safety and mutual respect within the team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Stakes Domain: Designing for users making critical, emotionally charged decisions requires deep empathy and a strong sense of responsibility.

• Information Complexity: Presenting vast amounts of crucial information (pricing, availability, reviews) in a clear, accessible manner is a significant design challenge.

• Balancing Craft with Speed: Leveraging AI for speed without compromising design quality or strategic thinking requires careful navigation.

• Short Contract Timeline: Delivering significant impact within a 3-month period demands efficiency, focus, and the ability to hit the ground running.

• Scalability: Contributing to a design system that supports a growing product suite requires foresight and robust pattern design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Accelerated Skill Development: The intensive nature of the contract provides a steep learning curve in a rapidly evolving domain.

• AI Tooling Mastery: Opportunity to deepen expertise in using AI for design workflows.

• Product Strategy Influence: A chance to contribute to the strategic direction of a key product.

• Industry Exposure: Gain significant experience in the HealthTech/Care sector.

• Portfolio Impact: The potential to add a high-profile, mission-driven project to your portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the role's responsibilities and the company's mission, offering candidates clear areas where they can demonstrate problem-solving skills and growth potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Marketplace Design Approach: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing the search, comparison, and enquiry flows for Lottie's Marketplace. Focus on user trust, information hierarchy, and emotional context.

• AI in Design: Articulate your philosophy on using AI in product design. Discuss specific tools or techniques you might employ to accelerate prototyping and iteration for this role.

• Collaboration with PM/Eng: Describe your ideal working relationship with a Product Manager and Engineering Lead. How do you ensure alignment and effective co-creation from problem inception?

• Handling Ambiguity: Lottie operates in a fast-paced startup environment. How do you approach projects where requirements may evolve or be less defined?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: Why are you drawn to Lottie's mission of improving the care sector? How does this role align with your career goals?

• Startup Environment: What are your experiences and expectations working in a fast-growth startup? How do you thrive in such environments?

• Design System Philosophy: Discuss your approach to contributing to or working with design systems. What makes a design system effective?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly quantify the impact where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced user errors, increased engagement).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals generously to illustrate your design process and final solutions.

• Be Concise and Focused: Given the time constraints of the portfolio review, prioritize the most relevant information and be prepared to dive deeper into specific aspects if asked.

• Highlight Problem-Solving: Emphasize the challenges you faced and the strategic thinking behind your design decisions.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth flow and confident delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaborative ability, and cultural fit. Candidates should prepare to articulate their reasoning and demonstrate alignment with Lottie's mission and values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that highlight your experience with marketplace design, complex user journeys, systemic thinking, and your approach to problem-solving. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, rationale, and outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4-6+ years of product design experience, specifically mentioning marketplace, B2C, AI tooling, and design system contributions. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review Lottie's mission, products, and company values. Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your design process, rationale, and collaborative approach. Be ready to articulate your experience with AI tools in design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Lottie's offerings (Lottie Marketplace, Found, Seniorcare, Eliza) and their impact on the care sector. Understand their position as a leading startup in the HealthTech space.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. While every effort has been made to reflect the role accurately, candidates should verify specific details, expectations, and compensation directly with Lottie's Talent Acquisition Lead, Alice Rooke, or during the interview process.