Freelance Web Designer: DTC Shopify

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Web Designer: DTC Shopify

Company: KittySpout

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine (Remote)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Web Design / E-commerce Operations

Date Posted: November 03, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead a comprehensive website revamp for two direct-to-consumer (DTC) pet brands, focusing on elevating their premium and distinctive online presence.

• Develop and deliver a robust Figma design system, including mobile-first components, templates, and clear usage guidelines, enabling future scalability with AI tools.

• Design conversion-optimized signature sections for each brand, meticulously crafted to enhance user experience and drive revenue growth.

• Collaborate closely with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead to ensure brand consistency, aesthetic appeal, and measurable performance improvements.

• Leverage AI-first design methodologies daily to accelerate design exploration, asset creation, and overall project delivery speed.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a critical component of KittySpout's growth strategy, aiming to scale from $50M+ to $100M+ in annual revenue. The emphasis on AI-first design and a scalable Figma system indicates a forward-thinking operations approach focused on efficiency and future adaptability in the e-commerce landscape.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth reviews of existing brand websites, brand guidelines, and competitive landscapes to conceptualize and present 2-3 distinct web design directions per brand within the initial two weeks.

• Architect and build a comprehensive mobile-first Figma design system for both brands, encompassing typography, color palettes, spacing, reusable components, and section templates.

• Design 8-10 signature conversion-focused sections per brand (e.g., hero, product benefits, social proof, comparisons, bundles, brand story) for both mobile and desktop views.

• Implement conversion-driven design principles in all layouts, ensuring clear visual hierarchy, prominent calls-to-action, benefit-driven messaging, and optimized speed for mobile users.

• Collaborate with the CRO Lead to launch major new sections as A/B split tests, directly measuring their impact on conversion rates and revenue per visitor.

• Prepare and deliver clean Figma files, concise usage rules, essential assets, and a comprehensive walkthrough to empower the internal team and AI tools for future design extensions.

• Review and provide feedback on the first new sections built by the team using the delivered design system and AI tools, ensuring adherence to brand aesthetics and functional integrity.

• Ensure all designed pages are meticulously checked against the approved designs before their launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: The accountability for brand direction, design system development, signature sections, conversion-led design, and AI-extendable handover highlights the strategic importance of this role. The expectation for split-testing new sections signifies a data-driven approach to design optimization, directly impacting revenue operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is mentioned, but a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent expertise and practical application of design principles is paramount.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional web design experience is required, with a proven track record in e-commerce.

Required Skills:

• Web Design Expertise: Proven ability to design visually appealing and high-converting e-commerce websites.

• Shopify Proficiency: Significant experience designing for the Shopify platform is highly preferred.

• Figma Mastery: Advanced skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and building scalable design systems.

• AI-First Design: Demonstrated experience and daily use of AI tools for design exploration, asset generation, and rapid prototyping.

• Conversion-Led Design: Deep understanding of conversion rate optimization (CRO) principles, including visual hierarchy, persuasive copywriting, clear CTAs, and user psychology.

• E-commerce Acumen: Familiarity with e-commerce best practices, customer journeys, and driving online sales.

• Mobile-First Design: Expertise in creating responsive and optimized designs for all mobile devices.

• Design Systems Thinking: Ability to conceptualize, build, and document robust design systems for long-term scalability.

• Brand Strategy Acumen: Experience in elevating existing brands and creating distinctive visual identities within established guidelines.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong ability to take direction, provide constructive feedback, and work effectively with cross-functional teams (Brand, CRO).

• English Fluency: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Preferred Skills:

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

• Experience within the pet industry.

• Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and tools.

• Experience with user experience (UX) research and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-First Design" and building a design system that AI can extend is a significant differentiator. Candidates are expected to be at the forefront of design technology adoption, not just users of traditional design tools. This points towards a need for operations efficiency through advanced tooling.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing live e-commerce websites, ideally built on Shopify, that demonstrate exceptional taste, creativity, and a premium aesthetic that surpasses industry norms.

• Specific examples of work where you have successfully elevated existing e-commerce brands, making their sites more premium and distinctive while retaining core brand elements.

• Case studies or project examples that clearly articulate your conversion-led design approach, detailing how you integrated CRO principles into your design process and the resulting impact.

• Demonstrations of your ability to build clear, well-documented Figma design systems that are easily understandable and extendable by developers and AI tools.

• Examples of AI-driven design workflows, illustrating how you utilized AI tools for rapid ideation, asset creation, or layout generation. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of your ability to document design processes, including clear usage rules, component libraries, and best practices within Figma, ensuring consistency and maintainability.

• Examples of how you've collaborated with CRO specialists or marketing teams to integrate performance data and A/B testing feedback into design iterations.

• A clear understanding of how to structure design deliverables for efficient handover to development and AI-powered implementation teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial, especially demonstrating the ability to "elevate existing brands" and "design with AI." The emphasis on a design system that AI can extend highlights a need for structured, process-oriented design documentation that prioritizes scalability and future automation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD $35 – $70 per hour, commensurate with experience and portfolio quality.

Benefits:

• Freelance Contract: Opportunity for ongoing work beyond the initial website revamp project.

• Fully Remote: Work from anywhere, offering maximum flexibility.

• Direct Impact: Play a significant role in scaling a fast-growing DTC company from $50M+ to $100M+.

• Lean, Senior Team: Collaborate directly with experienced professionals and potentially the founder.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Engage in a dynamic setting that values speed, creativity, and results.

• Competitive Rate: Industry-standard hourly compensation for experienced freelance web designers.

Working Hours: Flexible, but with an expectation of rapid turnaround for feedback (same-day) and the ability to present initial directions within two weeks. The first project is estimated at 40–80 hours over 4–8 weeks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided based on the explicit mention in the job description. The benefits listed are derived from the company's description of its culture and work environment, emphasizing flexibility, impact, and a fast-paced, remote setting. The mention of "20 hours" likely refers to an average weekly commitment for a freelance role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), Pet Products. KittySpout operates in the rapidly growing premium pet product market, aiming to capture significant market share.

Company Size: Fast-growing, lean, senior team. While specific numbers aren't provided, the revenue figures ($50M+ scaling to $100M+) suggest a significant, but not overly bureaucratic, operational structure.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company is described as profitable and rapidly scaling, indicating a mature yet dynamic business model.

Team Structure:

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

• The team is described as "lean" and "senior," implying a high level of autonomy and direct access to decision-makers.

• Operations are highly integrated, with Brand and CRO working in tandem to drive e-commerce performance. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company emphasizes using data, particularly split-test results, to refine strategies and make informed decisions.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: The culture prioritizes speed and efficiency, with same-day feedback turnaround and quick presentation of initial concepts.

• Creative Problem-Solving: A "will-to-win" attitude combined with creativity to achieve goals with limited resources ("do more with less").

• AI Integration: Strategic use of AI tools is core to their operational efficiency and design workflow.

Company Website: https://kittyspout.com/ (Note: This is a placeholder; the actual company website may vary or be specific to their brands).

📝 Enhancement Note: KittySpout's culture is clearly defined by its four core values: Better Everyday, Speed Is King, Work Smart, and Overdeliver. These values directly translate into operational expectations for speed, efficiency, continuous improvement, and high-impact delivery, particularly relevant for a freelance role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior-level freelance contributor, focusing on specialized design operations rather than a traditional internal career path. The emphasis is on project-based impact and potential for ongoing engagement.

Reporting Structure: You will report directly to the Head of Brand & Community and work in close partnership with the CRO Lead. This direct line of communication allows for efficient decision-making and alignment on project goals.

Operations Impact: The web designer's work is central to KittySpout's revenue growth. By elevating the website's look, feel, and conversion rates, the role directly contributes to achieving the $100M+ revenue target. The creation of a scalable design system is a strategic operational asset that will enable faster future growth and content creation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Ongoing Project Work: The initial website revamp is a significant project, with the potential for continued design work as the company scales and introduces new initiatives.

• Skill Development in AI-First Design: Opportunity to deepen expertise in cutting-edge AI design tools and workflows, a highly in-demand skill.

• E-commerce CRO Exposure: Direct collaboration with a CRO Lead provides valuable insights into conversion rate optimization strategies and performance metrics.

• Brand Elevation Experience: Gaining experience in refining and enhancing the digital presence of established DTC brands.

• Portfolio Enhancement: A successful project with KittySpout will significantly strengthen a designer's portfolio, particularly in the areas of e-commerce, DTC, and AI-driven design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a freelance role, the description frames it as a high-impact, ongoing opportunity. The growth lies in deepening specialized skills (AI design, CRO integration) and contributing to a company's significant scaling phase, rather than a traditional corporate promotion ladder.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This role operates without a physical office, allowing for complete location independence.

Office Location(s): While the company is based in Ukraine and has derived locations in Kyiv, the role is fully remote and open to candidates who can collaborate effectively across time zones, though proximity to European time zones might offer an advantage for real-time collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The remote nature provides maximum flexibility in terms of work hours and location.

• Technology-Centric: The role relies heavily on digital tools, particularly Figma and AI design platforms, requiring a robust personal tech setup.

• Collaborative Digital Space: Communication and collaboration will occur through digital channels, emphasizing clear, concise, and prompt communication.

• Performance-Oriented: The environment is fast-paced and results-driven, with a focus on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

Work Schedule: While flexible, the expectation is for rapid feedback turnaround (same-day) and the ability to meet project timelines, including presenting initial directions within two weeks. This implies a commitment to proactive engagement and responsiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "no stress-free corporate 9-5" statement suggests an environment that values initiative and results over rigid schedules. The remote setup necessitates strong self-discipline and communication skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application & Screening: Initial review of applications, focusing on experience and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where your portfolio will be meticulously assessed for taste, e-commerce experience (especially Shopify), ability to elevate existing brands, and AI design proficiency.

• Paid Test Project: A real-world, paid test involving designing one section for one of the brands. This allows you to demonstrate your skills in practice and for the company to assess your fit and output quality.

• Final Interview: A conclusive interview, likely with key stakeholders (CEO, Head of Brand, CRO Lead), to discuss the test project, strategic alignment, cultural fit, and project scope.

• Project Kickoff: Successful candidates will move to project commencement.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight E-commerce Success: Showcase live Shopify sites with clear evidence of conversion optimization or aesthetic elevation. Quantify improvements where possible (e.g., "increased conversion rate by X%," "improved average order value").

• Demonstrate Brand Elevation: Include case studies detailing how you took an existing brand's website and made it more premium, unique, and distinctive without losing its core identity. Explain your strategic approach.

• Showcase AI Integration: Explicitly present how you've used AI tools in your design process. This could be through AI-generated assets, AI-assisted layout exploration, or AI-powered prototyping. Detail the benefits gained (speed, new directions).

• Figma Design System Examples: Present well-structured Figma design systems, emphasizing their modularity, scalability, and clarity for future extension by developers or AI.

• Conversion-Led Design Focus: For each project, articulate the conversion principles you applied (e.g., clear CTAs, benefit-driven copy, social proof integration, optimal layout hierarchy).

• Conciseness and Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate and that each project tells a compelling story with clear outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Paid Test Project: Treat this as a significant part of the interview. Understand the brand, its current positioning, and the target audience. Focus on delivering a design that meets the conversion and aesthetic requirements specified. Be ready to explain your design choices and how they align with KittySpout's values (Speed, Work Smart, Overdeliver).

• Cultural Fit: Be prepared to discuss how your work style aligns with KittySpout's values (will-to-win, creativity with less, data-driven, no corporate politics). Provide specific examples from your experience.

• AI Strategy: Be ready to discuss your philosophy and practical experience with AI in design. How do you see it evolving, and how can it best be leveraged for this role?

📝 Enhancement Note: The structured interview process, including a paid test project, is a strong indicator of the company's commitment to finding the right talent. The portfolio review is paramount, with specific emphasis on AI integration and the ability to elevate existing brands, which will be key assessment criteria.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design system creation, wireframing, prototyping, and final asset delivery. Expertise in building scalable, well-documented design systems is essential.

• AI Design Tools: Daily use of various AI tools for image generation, layout exploration, asset creation, and potentially site building. Candidates are expected to be proficient and innovative in their application.

Analytics & Reporting:

• CRO Tools (Implicit): While not explicitly listed, close collaboration with the CRO Lead implies familiarity with or ability to work with data from A/B testing platforms and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, VWO, Optimizely) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Shopify Platform: Essential for e-commerce context, understanding its templating system and design limitations/capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-First Design" and Figma mastery points to a modern, efficiency-focused technology stack. The expectation is that candidates bring their own expertise in leveraging AI tools to accelerate the design process and contribute to a scalable design system.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Better Everyday: A commitment to continuous improvement, using split-test results and feedback to refine the design system and individual sections. This means being open to iteration and data-informed adjustments.

• Speed Is King: A strong emphasis on rapid execution, with expectations for quick feedback turnaround and timely delivery of design directions and assets. Efficiency is paramount.

• Work Smart: Leveraging AI and smart processes to achieve more with less. This involves creative problem-solving and utilizing technology to optimize workflows.

• Overdeliver: Going beyond basic requirements to provide exceptional value, such as creating a design system that can be extended for years, not just delivering a set of pages.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Proactive: Collaboration is expected to be direct, with a willingness to take direction from brand and CRO leads, but also to push back constructively with better ideas based on design expertise.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with Brand and CRO teams to ensure designs meet both aesthetic and performance objectives.

• Feedback-Oriented: An environment where feedback is given and received quickly and effectively, driving iterative improvements.

• Results-Focused: The overarching collaboration style is geared towards achieving tangible business outcomes, such as increased conversion rates and revenue growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: KittySpout's culture is clearly articulated and highly action-oriented. Candidates must align with these values, demonstrating a proactive, results-driven, and efficient approach to their work, especially within a remote freelance context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

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

• AI Integration Mastery: Effectively integrating and leveraging AI tools daily to achieve speed and explore directions beyond traditional methods requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Balancing Aesthetics and Conversion: Ensuring that elevated design also drives measurable conversion improvements, requiring a strong understanding of both UI/UX and CRO principles.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining seamless communication and alignment with a remote team across potentially different time zones, ensuring swift feedback loops and project momentum.

• Scalable Design System Development: Creating a Figma design system that is not only comprehensive but also robust enough for an internal team and AI to extend effectively long-term.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Design Techniques: Deepening expertise in cutting-edge AI tools for creative exploration and asset generation.

• CRO Strategy Exposure: Gaining practical experience working directly with conversion rate optimization strategies and data analysis.

• DTC E-commerce Growth: Contributing to the scaling of a successful DTC brand, offering insights into high-growth e-commerce operations.

• Design System Best Practices: Refining skills in architecting and documenting scalable design systems for complex e-commerce platforms.

• Portfolio Building: Creating a high-impact project that significantly enhances a designer's professional portfolio with demonstrable results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the innovative aspects of the role, particularly the AI-first approach and the requirement to elevate existing brands. The growth opportunities are focused on acquiring specialized, in-demand skills within the e-commerce and operations landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for approaching a website revamp for an established DTC brand. How do you balance elevating the brand's premium feel with maintaining its core identity and ensuring conversion?" (Focus on your methodology for brand analysis, competitive research, and iterative design.)

• "How do you integrate AI tools into your daily design workflow? Provide specific examples of how AI has helped you move faster or explore directions you wouldn't have otherwise considered." (Be ready to discuss specific AI tools and tangible benefits.)

• "Walk us through a successful conversion-led design project. What were the key conversion principles you applied, how did you measure success, and what was the impact on the business?" (Use a case study format, highlighting metrics and ROI.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do KittySpout's values (Better Everyday, Speed Is King, Work Smart, Overdeliver) align with your work style and professional philosophy?" (Provide specific examples of how you embody these values.)

• "Describe your experience working in a lean, fast-paced, remote team environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Highlight your proactive communication and self-management skills.)

• "What is your understanding of the DTC pet industry, and how would you approach designing for this specific market?" (Show research into the brand, its competitors, and the target audience.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation around the "story" of each project, emphasizing the challenge, your approach, the solutions (especially AI integration and conversion focus), and the outcomes.

• Highlight Key Projects: Focus on 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your experience with e-commerce, Shopify, brand elevation, and AI-first design.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to showcase the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rate improvements, engagement metrics, revenue impact).

• Demonstrate Design System Thinking: Clearly articulate the structure and benefits of any design systems you've built, explaining how they facilitate scalability and future development.

• Explain AI Usage: Be prepared to articulate how you used AI tools in specific projects, not just that you used them. Detail the prompts, the outcomes, and the efficiencies gained.

• Address the Paid Test: Be ready to discuss your approach to the paid test project, explaining your rationale and how it aligns with KittySpout's goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and cultural alignment. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their design skills but also articulate their strategic thinking, operational efficiency through AI, and understanding of business objectives within the DTC e-commerce context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest e-commerce (ideally Shopify) projects, with a clear emphasis on examples of elevating existing brands and showcasing your AI-first design workflow. Ensure visual appeal and ease of navigation.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "DTC," "Shopify," "Figma," "AI-First Design," "Conversion-Led Design," "E-commerce," "Design Systems," and "Web Revamp." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for Paid Test: Anticipate the paid test project by familiarizing yourself with DTC pet brands, their current web presences, and common conversion strategies in the sector. Be ready to demonstrate your ability to quickly align with a brand's aesthetic and conversion goals.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research KittySpout, its brands (if distinct), its competitors, and its stated company values. Understand their mission to scale and their emphasis on speed and AI. This will be crucial for demonstrating cultural fit and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.