Freelance Web Designer: DTC Shopify

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Web Designer: DTC Shopify

Company: KittySpout

Location: Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Web Design & E-commerce Operations

Date Posted: November 3, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• E-commerce Website Revamp: Spearhead the complete visual and functional overhaul of two Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Shopify websites, focusing on elevating brand perception and enhancing user experience.

• Design System Development: Create a robust, mobile-first Figma design system that encapsulates distinct brand identities for two separate pet brands, ensuring consistency and scalability.

• Conversion-Focused Design: Implement conversion rate optimization (CRO) principles across all designed elements, ensuring every page is strategically crafted to drive sales and engagement.

• AI-Integrated Workflow: Leverage AI design tools extensively for rapid exploration of design directions, asset production, and to enable the client's team to extend the design system post-handover.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Freelance Web Designer," the scope of responsibilities, particularly around CRO integration, design systems, and contributing to long-term scalability, positions this role within the broader "E-commerce Operations" or "Digital Operations" umbrella, emphasizing the strategic and results-driven nature of the work beyond pure aesthetics.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough reviews of existing websites, brand guidelines, and competitor landscape to propose 2-3 distinct web design directions for each of the two DTC pet brands.

• Develop a comprehensive, mobile-first Figma design system, including typography, color palettes, spacing, reusable components, and section templates for both brands, ensuring clear brand distinction.

• Design 8-10 signature sections per brand (e.g., hero, benefits, social proof, comparison, bundles, brand story) for both mobile and desktop views, ensuring adherence to conversion principles.

• Collaborate closely with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead to ensure all designs incorporate strong visual hierarchy, clear calls-to-action, benefit-driven messaging, and proof points.

• Actively participate in split testing of major new sections with the CRO Lead to measure and validate conversion rate improvements against existing designs.

• Prepare and deliver clean Figma files, concise usage guidelines (do's, don'ts, and examples), and conduct a walkthrough session for the client's internal team to facilitate AI-assisted extension of the design system.

• Review the first new sections built by the client's team using the design system and AI to ensure brand consistency and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strategic thinking in brand elevation and conversion optimization, not just visual design execution. The emphasis on AI integration and creating an extendable design system suggests a forward-thinking operational approach.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is mandated, but a strong understanding of design principles, e-commerce best practices, and user experience is expected.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional web design experience is mandatory.

• Proven track record in designing live e-commerce websites, with a strong preference for Shopify platforms.

• Demonstrated experience in elevating existing e-commerce brands, making their sites more premium and distinctive while retaining core brand elements and functionality. Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and building comprehensive design systems.

• AI-First Design: Extensive experience utilizing AI tools for image generation, layout exploration, and rapid asset creation in the design process.

• E-commerce Design Expertise: Deep understanding of e-commerce user journeys, conversion funnels, and best practices for online retail websites.

• Conversion-Led Design Principles: Ability to design with a focus on conversion, understanding elements like visual hierarchy, clear CTAs, benefit presentation, and social proof.

• Mobile-First Design: Expertise in designing for mobile devices as the primary interface, ensuring seamless user experience across all screen sizes.

• Design Systems: Proven ability to create structured, scalable, and easily extendable design systems in Figma.

• Brand Strategy Acumen: Capability to interpret and build upon existing brand guidelines to create a more unique and premium look and feel.

• English Fluency: Excellent command of the English language for clear communication and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brand experience.

• Experience within the pet industry.

• Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and CRO tools.

• Understanding of web development principles to facilitate smoother collaboration with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI-First Design" requirement is critical and suggests the company is prioritizing speed and efficiency through cutting-edge tools. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they integrate AI into their workflow, not just as an add-on but as a core methodology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• E-commerce Focus: A portfolio showcasing live e-commerce websites, with a strong emphasis on Shopify examples, demonstrating aesthetic taste and creativity that surpasses typical online offerings.

• Brand Elevation Case Studies: Specific projects that highlight your ability to take established e-commerce brands and significantly elevate their online presence, making them more premium and distinctive without compromising existing strengths.

• Design System Examples: Demonstrations of well-structured, scalable Figma design systems that clearly articulate design rules, components, and patterns, suitable for extension by developers or AI tools.

• Conversion Optimization Evidence: Projects that illustrate your understanding and application of conversion-led design principles, ideally with quantifiable results or clear explanations of strategic design choices aimed at improving conversion rates.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating clear and concise design documentation, including style guides, component libraries, and usage rules that enable teams to maintain design consistency and extend the system effectively.

• Examples of how you have collaborated with CRO specialists or product managers to integrate conversion goals into the design process.

• Documentation of workflows that incorporate AI tools for design exploration, asset generation, and iterative refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Candidates must explicitly showcase projects that demonstrate the ability to elevate existing brands, build robust design systems, and apply conversion-focused design principles, especially within an e-commerce context. The AI integration aspect should also be visibly represented.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD $35 – $70 per hour. This range is dependent on the candidate's experience, the quality of their portfolio, and their demonstrated proficiency in AI-driven design and conversion optimization.

Benefits:

• Flexible Remote Work: Fully remote position offering the freedom to work from anywhere.

• Ongoing Project Opportunities: Potential for continued freelance work beyond the initial website revamp project as the company continues to scale and innovate.

• Direct Impact: Opportunity to work directly with senior leadership, including the CEO, and significantly influence the brand's online presence and growth.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Experience working within a lean, high-growth company that values speed, creativity, and results.

• Competitive Freelance Rate: An hourly rate commensurate with high-demand skills in specialized areas like AI-first design and e-commerce CRO.

Working Hours: This is a freelance, contract-based role. The initial project is estimated at 40–80 hours over 4–8 weeks. The company values speed, expecting feedback turnaround on the same day and presentations within two weeks. While flexible, a commitment to timely delivery and responsiveness is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in USD and is hourly, reflecting the freelance nature of the engagement. The "ongoing" potential is a key benefit for freelancers seeking stable client relationships. The emphasis on "speed is king" and "same-day feedback" indicates a need for prompt availability and responsiveness from the contractor. For a candidate based in Poland, this hourly rate would likely be considered very competitive, especially given the remote nature and potential for continued engagement. Research into typical freelance web design rates in Poland for highly specialized skills would suggest this range is strong.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Pet Brand. KittySpout operates in the rapidly growing premium pet product market, competing across multiple online channels including Shopify, Amazon, and Chewy. The company is experiencing significant growth, aiming to scale from $50M+ to $100M+ in annual revenue.

Company Size: Lean, senior team. The company emphasizes a small, agile team where each member has a substantial impact. This suggests a flat hierarchy and direct access to leadership.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company is described as profitable and rapidly growing, indicating established operations and a successful business model. The launch of a second brand signifies expansion and a strategic vision for diversification.

Team Structure:

• The designer will report to the Head of Brand & Community and collaborate closely with the CRO Lead.

• The team is characterized as lean, senior, and fast-moving, with a "will-to-win" attitude.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected, particularly between design, brand, and conversion optimization functions. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions are guided by data, with a strong emphasis on split-testing results to refine designs and strategies.

• Agile & Iterative: The company moves fast, expects rapid feedback, and uses creativity to achieve goals with limited resources.

• AI Integration: AI is a core tool for efficiency, used for exploring design directions, producing assets, and extending design systems.

• Performance Measurement: Success is measured by tangible outcomes like conversion rates, revenue per visitor, on-time delivery, and the longevity of design systems.

Company Website: [KittySpout Company Website URL not provided, but likely available through search or company information.]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is heavily emphasized as a critical hiring factor. Candidates should understand and align with values like "Better Everyday," "Speed Is King," "Work Smart," and "Overdeliver." The description explicitly states, "If you want a stress-free corporate 9–5 job, this isn't it." This highlights a demanding yet rewarding environment for high-achievers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a highly experienced freelance Web Designer, positioned at a senior individual contributor level within the digital operations and e-commerce domain. The focus is on specialized expertise in visual design, e-commerce conversion, and leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

Reporting Structure: The designer will work directly with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead, indicating a collaborative, project-driven reporting structure rather than a traditional hierarchical management. Direct interaction with the CEO for final sign-offs on brand direction is also noted.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will have a direct and measurable impact on revenue growth and brand perception. By elevating website aesthetics and improving conversion rates, the role directly contributes to the company's aggressive scaling targets ($50M to $100M+). The creation of a robust design system will also impact long-term operational efficiency and brand consistency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Ongoing Project Pipeline: Successful completion of the initial revamp project can lead to continuous freelance engagement, providing a stable stream of work and deeper integration with the company's evolving needs.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-assisted design workflows, advanced Figma design systems, and conversion rate optimization within a high-growth e-commerce context.

• Strategic Influence: The role offers the chance to influence the visual direction and conversion strategy of a rapidly scaling DTC brand, working closely with senior leadership.

• Portfolio Enhancement: The project provides a significant opportunity to add high-impact e-commerce redesign and design system development to a professional portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a freelance role, "growth" is less about traditional career advancement and more about deepening the client relationship, expanding the scope of work, and enhancing one's professional portfolio with impactful projects. The emphasis on AI and CRO positions the candidate to develop highly marketable skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This position is 100% remote, allowing the designer to work from any location.

Office Location(s): While the company headquarters are in Warsaw, Poland, the role is fully remote and location-independent, with the expectation of working in a compatible timezone for timely collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: Expect to work primarily through digital collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Slack, video conferencing) with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead.

• Tooling: Access to and proficiency with industry-standard design tools like Figma is essential. The company's internal team will leverage AI tools, implying a tech-forward environment.

• Team Interaction: While remote, the culture emphasizes active participation, prompt communication, and a "will-to-win" mentality. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions are implied by the fast-paced operational style.

Work Schedule: Flexible, but with a strong emphasis on responsiveness and speed ("Speed Is King," "turn feedback around the same day"). The initial project has a defined scope of 40-80 hours over 4-8 weeks, requiring efficient time management to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work promptly. Availability to start within the next few weeks is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature is a key feature, but the emphasis on speed and same-day feedback means candidates must be highly organized and proactive in their communication and work delivery, regardless of their location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application & Screening: Initial review of applications and portfolios for essential qualifications and cultural fit.

• Paid Test: A real-world, paid test project involving designing one section for one of the brands. This is a crucial step to evaluate practical skills, speed, and alignment with the company's aesthetic and conversion goals.

• Final Interview: A discussion with key stakeholders (likely CEO, Head of Brand & Community, CRO Lead) to assess strategic thinking, cultural alignment, and overall fit.

• Project Kickoff: For successful candidates, the process culminates in the commencement of the website revamp project.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Brand Elevation: Explicitly showcase projects where you transformed existing brand aesthetics to be more premium and distinctive. Use before-and-after visuals and clearly articulate your strategic approach.

• Demonstrate Design Systems: Include examples of well-documented Figma design systems. Explain the structure, components, and how it facilitates scalability and consistency.

• Showcase Conversion Focus: Point to specific design decisions within your e-commerce projects that were driven by conversion principles. If possible, include metrics or explain the rationale behind CTAs, hierarchy, and user flow optimization.

• AI Integration Evidence: If possible, include work that shows the application of AI in your design process. This could be through AI-generated assets, rapid concept exploration, or how AI helped achieve project goals faster.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate and that your contributions to each project are clearly defined, especially if it was a team effort.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare for the Paid Test: Understand the company's current brands, target audience, and competitor landscape. Focus on delivering a design that is both aesthetically strong and conversion-oriented within the provided scope.

• Articulate Your AI Workflow: Be ready to explain how you use AI tools in your design process, what benefits it brings, and how you ensure quality and brand alignment.

• Discuss CRO Principles: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of conversion rate optimization and how you integrate it into your design thinking.

• Demonstrate Cultural Fit: Understand the company's values (Better Everyday, Speed Is King, Work Smart, Overdeliver) and be ready to provide examples of how you embody these in your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The paid test is a significant part of the evaluation. Candidates should treat it as a crucial interview opportunity and not just a free work sample. Demonstrating speed, quality, and an understanding of the company's specific needs will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system creation. Advanced proficiency is mandatory.

• AI Design Tools: Essential for image generation, layout exploration, and rapid asset production. Candidates should be prepared to specify which AI tools they use and how.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Tools: Familiarity with the principles and ideally the tools used for A/B testing and conversion tracking (e.g., Google Optimize, VWO, Optimizely) is beneficial, as collaboration with the CRO Lead is key.

CRM & Automation:

• Shopify: Deep understanding of designing for and within the Shopify e-commerce platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily design-focused, understanding the e-commerce platform (Shopify) and the principles of CRO is critical. The explicit mention of AI tools signifies a modern, tech-forward design stack.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Better Everyday: Commitment to continuous improvement, utilizing split-test results to refine the design system and ensure ongoing optimization.

• Speed Is King: A focus on rapid execution, prompt feedback, and efficient delivery, enabling the team to move quickly and iterate effectively.

• Work Smart: Leveraging AI and efficient processes to achieve more with less, maximizing productivity and design output.

• Overdeliver: Striving to exceed expectations by providing a design system that offers long-term value and extensibility, rather than just a one-off solution.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Responsive: Expect to engage actively with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead, providing timely feedback and input.

• Data-Informed: Designs should be grounded in an understanding of conversion data and user behavior.

• Direct Communication: The culture is described as lean and without "politics or corporate chicanery," suggesting open, direct, and efficient communication is valued.

• Challenge & Improve: Candidates are encouraged to "push back with better ideas when you have them," indicating a culture that values constructive debate and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on cultural fit is paramount. Candidates should ensure their work style and values align with these core principles, demonstrating a proactive, results-oriented, and collaborative approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Elevating Existing Brands: The primary challenge is to enhance the premium feel and distinctiveness of two established brands without a full rebrand, requiring a nuanced design approach.

• AI Integration Mastery: Effectively leveraging AI tools to accelerate the design process while maintaining brand integrity and high aesthetic standards.

• Balancing Aesthetics and Conversion: Designing visually appealing websites that simultaneously maximize conversion rates requires a delicate balance and deep understanding of both disciplines.

• Remote Collaboration Speed: Maintaining rapid communication and feedback loops in a fully remote setting to uphold the company's "Speed Is King" value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Design Techniques: Opportunity to refine and expand expertise in using AI for complex design tasks and system development.

• E-commerce CRO Best Practices: Gaining deeper insights into conversion optimization strategies through direct collaboration with a CRO Lead.

• Design System Scalability: Learning how to build design systems that are robust enough for AI extension and long-term brand evolution.

• High-Growth DTC Environment: Experiencing firsthand the operational dynamics and growth strategies of a rapidly scaling premium e-commerce brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: These challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. A candidate who thrives on solving complex design problems, embraces new technologies, and seeks to make a tangible business impact will find this role particularly rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach elevating the premium feel of an existing DTC brand's website while ensuring it remains distinct from competitors and maintains its current conversion performance?" (Focus on your process for brand analysis, competitor review, and design concept development.)

• "Describe your workflow for creating a comprehensive, mobile-first design system in Figma. How do you ensure it's scalable and can be easily extended by other team members or AI tools?" (Highlight your methodology for component creation, documentation, and system architecture.)

• "Walk us through a project where you successfully integrated AI tools into your web design process. What were the benefits, and how did you ensure the AI-generated elements aligned with brand guidelines and quality standards?" (Be prepared to showcase specific examples and discuss your AI tool stack.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Our core values are Better Everyday, Speed Is King, Work Smart, and Overdeliver. Can you provide specific examples from your freelance career where you demonstrated these values?" (Prepare concrete anecdotes that align with each value.)

• "How do you handle constructive feedback or pushback on your design ideas, especially when working with brand and CRO leads?" (Showcase your collaborative and open-minded approach.)

• "What excites you most about working with a fast-growing DTC pet brand, and what are your expectations for the initial website revamp project?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of the company's context.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure by Impact: Organize your portfolio presentation to lead with your most relevant and impactful projects, particularly those involving e-commerce, brand elevation, and design systems.

• Narrative Storytelling: For each case study, tell a story: the challenge, your approach (emphasizing AI and CRO), the solution, and the results (or anticipated results).

• Highlight AI and CRO Integration: Clearly articulate where and how AI was used in your process and how conversion principles guided your design decisions.

• Focus on Design System Deliverables: Dedicate specific time to showcase your design system work, explaining its structure, components, and how it serves as a foundation for future development.

• Be Prepared for the Paid Test Discussion: Have a clear rationale for every design choice made in your paid test project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application (paid test) and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design philosophy, workflow, and how they align with the company's fast-paced, results-driven culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance Web Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features e-commerce projects, Shopify examples, and case studies demonstrating brand elevation and design system development. Tailor your presentation to highlight your AI-first design capabilities.

• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in Figma and AI design tools, and experience with conversion-led design principles. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for the Paid Test: Familiarize yourself with the company's current brands and the DTC pet industry. Be ready to dedicate focused time to the paid test project, aiming to showcase your speed, creativity, and understanding of conversion.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review KittySpout's online presence, understand their products, target audience, and competitor landscape. Be prepared to discuss how your design vision aligns with their goals and culture.

⚠️ 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.