Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI) - Remote | Canada

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI)

Company: Kanopi

Location: Canada (Remote)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: UX/UI Design, Web Design, Digital Agency Operations

Date Posted: 2026-02-25T22:29:40.374

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end visual and UX design for complex website projects, ensuring a clear design direction and confident client decisions.

• Develop accessible, user-centered solutions including wireframes, user flows, UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems.

• Present and defend design work with clarity and confidence, translating user needs and project goals into actionable recommendations.

• Facilitate discovery workshops, translating research and insights into practical UX deliverables such as sitemaps and user journeys.

• Collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers throughout project lifecycles, including development reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a contract Senior Website Visual Designer with a focus on UX/UI, emphasizing their ability to lead complex web projects from discovery to launch. The emphasis on "mission-driven clients" and a "fully distributed team" suggests a company culture valuing purpose and remote collaboration, aligning with modern agency operational structures. The role requires strong client-facing presentation and communication skills, critical for agency success in winning and executing projects.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the visual and UX design process for complex website projects, from initial discovery and research through to final launch.

• Craft detailed wireframes, user flows, and intuitive UI designs, ensuring a seamless and accessible user experience across all devices.

• Develop high-fidelity interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions to clients and stakeholders.

• Build and maintain scalable design systems that promote consistency, efficiency, and brand integrity across client projects.

• Plan, lead, and facilitate discovery workshops, translating client needs and user research into strategic UX deliverables like sitemaps and personas.

• Present and articulate design rationale, user-centered decisions, and project recommendations with confidence and clarity to diverse audiences.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers, to ensure design integrity and technical feasibility.

• Conduct design reviews during the development phase, providing constructive feedback to ensure accurate implementation of visual and UX designs.

• Represent Kanopi's Creative Services in client pitches and sales processes, contributing design expertise to secure new business opportunities.

• Contribute to Kanopi's marketing and thought leadership initiatives through webinars, presentations, and public-facing content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level designer's ownership over the entire design lifecycle for complex web projects. The emphasis on "design systems," "accessibility," and "user-centered solutions" points to a need for sophisticated design operations and a commitment to best practices. The inclusion of client pitches and thought leadership responsibilities signifies a role that extends beyond project execution into business development and company growth.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundational understanding of design principles, user experience, and digital product development is expected, often gained through formal education or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in designing responsive web experiences, with a minimum of 3 years specifically within an agency environment.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in end-to-end UI/UX design for responsive websites, demonstrated through a robust portfolio.

• Strong visual design craft, with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, and layout.

• Deep understanding and practical application of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Proficiency in creating user-centered deliverables, including wireframes, user flows, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain scalable design systems.

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, capable of clearly articulating design decisions and rationale to clients and internal teams.

• Experience in planning and facilitating discovery workshops and translating research into actionable UX strategies.

• Fluency in Figma for advanced UI/UX design and prototyping.

• Familiarity with collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently in dynamic environments.

• Experience working effectively within both Agile and Waterfall project methodologies.

• Comfort and proven success working remotely within a distributed team structure.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience in front-end coding (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is a significant advantage.

• Familiarity with analytics and research tools such as Google Analytics 4 (GA4), heatmapping platforms, and user testing tools.

• Experience working with mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, or educational institutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal abilities crucial for an agency environment. The specific mention of Figma, accessibility, and design systems points to the need for modern, efficient design operations. The preference for agency and mission-driven experience further refines the ideal candidate profile, suggesting a role that requires adaptability, client management, and a commitment to purpose-driven work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UI/UX design for responsive websites.

• Clear examples of user-centered design processes, demonstrating how user needs were identified and addressed.

• Specific case studies highlighting projects where accessibility and usability were key considerations and successfully implemented.

• Visual examples of high-fidelity prototypes and interactive elements that showcase design craft and user flow.

• Demonstrations of design systems or style guides developed to ensure brand consistency and scalability.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the end-to-end design process, from discovery workshops and sitemap creation to wireframing, UI design, and prototyping.

• Documentation of how accessibility standards were integrated and tested throughout the design lifecycle.

• Examples of how design decisions were presented and defended to clients, including feedback incorporation.

• Workflow examples illustrating collaboration with developers and project managers to ensure design implementation.

• Any contributions to Kanopi's marketing or thought leadership efforts should be documented if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are designed to assess a candidate's ability to manage complex projects, adhere to best practices in UX/UI and accessibility, and effectively communicate their design process and outcomes. The emphasis on case studies that detail the full project lifecycle and client interaction is critical for evaluating senior-level candidates in an agency context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Contract position with potential for ongoing work based on performance and project needs.

• Fully remote work environment, offering flexibility and work-life balance.

• Opportunity to work with a distributed team of experts in Drupal & WordPress.

• Collaboration with mission-driven clients, contributing to impactful projects.

• Professional development opportunities within a growing agency.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to work when and where you do your best.

• As a contract role, specific hours may vary based on project demands and client needs, requiring effective time management and self-discipline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is structured as an hourly rate for a contract position, reflecting the project-based nature of the work. The salary range provided is specific to Canada and should be considered in light of the cost of living in Ontario. Benefits are typical for contract roles, focusing on flexibility and professional growth within a remote, mission-driven agency setting.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Agency (Web Design, Development & Support), specializing in Drupal & WordPress.

Company Size: Kanopi Studios operates as a distributed team, indicating a flexible and potentially growing workforce without a rigid physical office structure. The company emphasizes expertise in Drupal and WordPress, suggesting a focus on robust, content-management-driven web solutions.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, Kanopi Studios positions itself as an established agency with a clear mission and values, implying a history of successful client partnerships and team development.

Team Structure:

• The design team is part of a larger, fully distributed agency structure that includes Drupal & WordPress experts.

• This Senior Designer reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a clear leadership and mentorship hierarchy within the creative department.

Methodology:

• Kanopi utilizes a user-centered design approach, prioritizing accessibility and usability for a wide range of users.

• Projects are managed with a focus on clear communication, collaboration, and delivering high-quality web solutions that support client missions.

• The agency embraces a distributed work model, leveraging technology for seamless remote collaboration and project execution.

• Expertise in Drupal and WordPress forms the technical backbone of their development and support services.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi Studios emphasizes a mission-driven purpose and a strong commitment to its people, suggesting a supportive and collaborative remote culture. The specialization in Drupal and WordPress indicates a focus on robust, enterprise-level web solutions. The reporting structure to the Director of Strategy and Creative highlights the strategic importance of design within the agency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level contract role, requiring significant autonomy, expertise, and leadership in visual and UX design. It's positioned for experienced designers who can independently manage complex projects and client relationships.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Website Visual Designer reports directly to the Director of Strategy and Creative. This suggests a close working relationship with creative leadership, opportunities for strategic input, and direct mentorship.

Operations Impact: The role has a substantial impact on client success by translating their missions into effective, accessible, and visually compelling digital experiences. The designer's work directly influences user engagement, client satisfaction, and Kanopi's reputation for delivering high-quality web solutions. Contributing to client pitches also directly impacts business development and revenue generation for the agency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced UX/UI techniques, design systems, and accessibility for complex web platforms.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in leading design direction for major projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to agency-wide design strategy.

• Client Relationship Management: Enhance skills in client communication, presentation, and strategic consultation, becoming a trusted advisor.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to Kanopi's public profile through webinars and presentations, building personal and company brand recognition in the Drupal/WordPress and design communities.

• Contract-to-Hire Potential: While a contract role, strong performance could lead to opportunities for longer-term engagements or full-time positions within Kanopi.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior contract role, growth is less about traditional hierarchical advancement and more about deepening expertise, expanding influence, and potentially transitioning to longer-term or permanent engagements. The role offers significant opportunities for professional development through challenging projects and direct collaboration with creative leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means there is no central physical office. Team members work from their own locations, requiring strong self-management and digital collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): While fully remote, the role requires the contractor to live and be able to work in Canada, with a specific mention of London, Ontario, Canada in the location data. This suggests a focus on Canadian-based talent and potentially adherence to Canadian labor laws and tax regulations for contractors.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The remote nature necessitates a highly collaborative digital environment, relying on tools like Figma, Slack, email, and video conferencing