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

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Kanopi

Location: Remote (US & Canada)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Design & Development Operations

Date Posted: February 27, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a remote contract position for a Senior Website Visual Designer with a focus on UX/UI design, open to candidates in the US and Canada.

• The role requires extensive experience in designing responsive websites, with a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles, accessibility, and usability.

• Candidates must demonstrate a robust portfolio showcasing a deep understanding of visual craft, clear thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.

• The position involves leading design processes from discovery through launch, translating client needs and user research into impactful digital experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Website Visual Designer," the responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a strong UX/UI component. This role is positioned within a Design, Development & Support Agency, suggesting a client-facing and project-driven environment where operational efficiency in design delivery is key. The emphasis on "Design Agency" experience and client presentations points towards a need for strong project management and communication skills within the design function, aligning it with GTM operations in a broader sense by contributing to client acquisition and project success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete visual and UX design lifecycle for complex website projects, from initial discovery and strategy to final launch, ensuring a cohesive and impactful design direction.

• Develop user-centered design solutions, including comprehensive wireframes, intricate user flows, intuitive UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems to maintain long-term visual consistency and brand integrity.

• Effectively present and defend design decisions to clients and internal stakeholders, articulating design rationale in clear, accessible language and confidently incorporating feedback while upholding design integrity.

• Plan and facilitate discovery workshops, translating qualitative and quantitative research insights into actionable UX deliverables such as sitemaps, detailed user journeys, and well-defined personas.

• Foster close collaboration with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to ensure design solutions are not only aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly but also technically feasible and accurately implemented throughout the development cycle, including thorough design reviews.

• Represent the Creative Services department in client pitches and throughout the sales process, contributing to new business acquisition through compelling design thinking and persuasive presentations.

• Actively contribute to Kanopi’s marketing and thought leadership initiatives by participating in webinars, delivering presentations, and engaging in other public-facing opportunities to showcase expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: These responsibilities highlight a blend of core design execution and client-facing operational activities essential for a senior role in a client services agency. The emphasis on leading design, facilitating workshops, client presentations, and contributing to sales/marketing efforts indicates a need for strong project management, communication, and strategic thinking skills, moving beyond pure design execution into a more operational and client-relationship management capacity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for this level of seniority. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

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

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio is paramount, showcasing thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design for responsive websites, with clear examples of accessibility, usability, and visual craft.

• Presentation & Communication: Confidence in presenting and defending design work to diverse audiences, effectively incorporating feedback while maintaining a clear design direction and using plain language.

• Design Software Proficiency: Fluency in Figma and modern design workflows is essential.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience using collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Project Management Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, adapt to evolving requirements, and work effectively within both agile and waterfall project methodologies.

• Remote Work Capability: Proven comfort and effectiveness working remotely within a distributed team environment.

• Technical Acumen: Working knowledge of front-end best practices and understanding of how designs translate into development is crucial.

Preferred Skills:

• Coding: Direct coding experience is a plus.

• Analytics & Research Tools: Familiarity with analytics and research tools such as GA4, heatmapping platforms, and user testing tools.

• Client Type Experience: Experience working with mission-driven or nonprofit organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and client presentation skills strongly suggests that this role operates at the intersection of design and client relationship management, a key component of GTM operations. The "agency environment" requirement and "client pitches" further underscore the operational aspect of client acquisition and retention through design expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end project involvement, from discovery and strategy through to visual design and UI implementation.

• User-Centered Design: Clear evidence of applying user-centered design principles, including research synthesis, persona development, user journey mapping, and usability testing insights.

• Accessibility Standards: Demonstrable commitment to designing for accessibility, with examples of how WCAG guidelines and inclusive design practices were integrated into the final product.

• Responsive Design: A range of examples showcasing effective UI/UX design across various devices and screen sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile).

• Design Systems: Examples of creating or contributing to design systems, style guides, or component libraries that ensure brand consistency and streamline development.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Strategy: Documentation of processes used during client discovery workshops, including methods for translating research and insights into actionable UX deliverables.

• Workflow Design: Examples of creating wireframes, user flows, and prototypes to visualize and iterate on design concepts and interaction models.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Evidence of collaborative design processes and effective handoff procedures to development teams, ensuring designs are implemented accurately.

• Design Review: Demonstrated process for reviewing work during development to ensure design integrity and address any implementation challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior design role in an agency, the portfolio is not just a showcase of visual talent but a demonstration of operational rigor in the design process. This includes how the designer manages projects, collaborates, translates requirements into deliverables, and ensures the final product meets both user and business objectives. A strong portfolio here acts as a key operational tool for winning new business and ensuring project success.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60 - $80 per hour.

• Methodology: This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for contract Senior UX/UI Designers in the US and Canada, considering the specified experience level (5+ years), agency environment, and the specialized skills required (e.g., Figma, accessibility). The upper end reflects strong experience and a proven track record in client-facing roles.

Benefits:

• Flexibility: Fully remote position allowing for flexible work hours and location within the US or Canada.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to contribute to thought leadership through webinars and presentations, fostering personal brand and industry recognition.

• Diverse Projects: Exposure to a variety of mission-driven clients and complex website projects.

• Collaborative Environment: Work with a distributed team of experts in Drupal and WordPress.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in a remote contract role. Specific project needs may dictate variations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly provided. The benefits listed are typical for contract roles, with an emphasis on flexibility and professional growth opportunities that appeal to experienced professionals. The "40 hours per week" is a standard expectation for full-time equivalent contract work, though actual hours might fluctuate based on project demands, which is common in contract positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Web Design, Development, and Support Agency. Kanopi specializes in Drupal and WordPress platforms, serving mission-driven clients.

Company Size: Kanopi is a distributed agency, implying a size that allows for specialized roles and a collaborative, yet potentially lean, operational structure. The focus on "fully distributed team" suggests a culture that values autonomy and trust.

Founded: Kanopi Studios was founded with a mission to support client missions through expert web design and development. The company's ethos centers on the belief that the people behind the work are as important as the work itself, fostering growth, well-being, and success.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a reporting line within the creative and strategic arm of the agency.

• Collaboration is expected across multiple disciplines: Content Strategists, Developers, Project Managers, and potentially Sales/Client Services teams.

Methodology:

• Design-Centric Approach: The company prioritizes user-centered design, accessibility, and inclusivity.

• Platform Expertise: Deep expertise in Drupal and WordPress is a core operational strength.

• Client-Focused Operations: The agency's mission is to help client missions thrive, implying a strong focus on client success and partnership in their operational delivery.

• Agile/Waterfall Flexibility: Ability to adapt project methodologies to client needs.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's culture is characterized by its mission-driven approach, commitment to its people, and expertise in specific web technologies. For a designer, this means working on impactful projects with clients who have a clear purpose, within a team that values collaboration and professional growth. The distributed nature requires a high degree of operational self-sufficiency and strong communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level contract role, demanding significant autonomy, leadership in design direction, and client-facing capabilities. It signifies a professional who can operate independently and guide projects from inception to completion, acting as a subject matter expert.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Strategy and Creative, suggesting a clear line of command and opportunity for mentorship from senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, directly influencing client acquisition through pitches, project success through high-quality design delivery, and client satisfaction through clear communication and collaboration. It contributes to the agency's reputation and ability to secure and retain business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design, accessibility, and specific web technologies (Drupal/WordPress).

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design efforts on complex projects, mentor junior designers (if applicable), and represent the agency in client interactions and thought leadership.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop stronger client communication and strategic advisory skills through direct client engagement.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Work on diverse, mission-driven projects that can significantly enhance a professional portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a contract role, "growth" might be more project-based and skill-enhancement focused rather than traditional hierarchical advancement. However, the seniority and client-facing nature offer substantial opportunities to build a reputation, refine strategic design thinking, and gain experience that can lead to future senior or lead roles, either within Kanopi or elsewhere.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means the work environment is decentralized, with team members operating from their own home offices.

Office Location(s): Primarily US and Canada. While there are no physical office locations required for the role, candidates must reside and be authorized to work in these regions.

Workspace Context:

• Autonomy & Flexibility: The remote nature provides significant autonomy over the work environment and schedule, allowing individuals to optimize their workspace for productivity.

• Digital Collaboration: The primary mode of interaction will be through digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, project management software), requiring a strong digital presence and communication etiquette.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Regular virtual collaboration with designers, strategists, developers, and project managers, fostering a connected yet distributed team dynamic.

Work Schedule: While the role is typically 40 hours per week, the remote, contract nature often allows for some flexibility in scheduling, provided project deadlines and client meeting requirements are met. This flexibility is key for operations professionals balancing deep work with collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote aspect is a critical operational characteristic. It necessitates strong self-discipline, excellent time management, and proactive communication to ensure seamless integration with the distributed team and effective project delivery.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Initial screening of resumes and cover letters, with a strong emphasis on portfolio relevance.

• Initial Questions: A short set of questions to gauge initial fit and understanding of the role.

• Interviews: Multiple interviews with various team members, including potentially the Director of Strategy and Creative, to assess design skills, collaborative approach, and cultural fit.

• Skills Assessments: One or two short tasks designed to evaluate practical design skills, problem-solving approaches, and workflow efficiency.

• Final Evaluation: Assessment of overall fit, technical capabilities, and alignment with Kanopi's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Thoughtfully: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end UX/UI design for responsive websites. Prioritize projects that demonstrate user-centered thinking, accessibility, and strong visual craft.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and process, the challenges faced, your design solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your points.

• Highlight Process: Detail your design process, including research methods, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and collaboration with developers. Show how you translated insights into design decisions.

• Address Accessibility: Explicitly call out how accessibility was integrated into your design process and final deliverables.

• Client Presentation Readiness: Be prepared to walk through your work as if presenting to a client, explaining your rationale clearly and concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Scope: Be ready for design exercises that might involve creating wireframes, UI mockups, or responding to a design problem statement within a limited timeframe.

• Focus on Rationale: The assessment will likely focus on your thought process and how you arrive at solutions, not just the final output. Be prepared to articulate your reasoning.

• Time Management: Practice managing your time effectively to complete the task within the given constraints.

• Communication: If the challenge involves a presentation, practice explaining your approach and solutions clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is heavily weighted towards demonstrating practical design expertise, process rigor, and client-facing communication skills. This is typical for senior roles in agencies where designers are expected to not only create but also articulate and defend their work, directly supporting the agency's business development efforts.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and creating design systems. Fluency is a core requirement.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Likely used for graphic design assets, image editing, and potentially other specialized design tasks (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Google Workspace: Standard for collaboration, document sharing, and communication (e.g., Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Analytics & Reporting:

• GA4 (Google Analytics 4): Familiarity is an asset for understanding website performance and user behavior.

• Heatmapping Platforms: Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg are valuable for visualizing user interaction and identifying usability issues.

• User Testing Tools: Platforms for conducting remote usability tests to gather qualitative feedback on designs.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary design tool, understanding how CRM data or marketing automation might influence website design or user journeys can be beneficial. Kanopi's focus is on Drupal/WordPress, which have their own ecosystems of plugins and integrations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and modern design workflows highlights the need for proficiency in industry-standard tools that facilitate efficient design creation, collaboration, and prototyping. The mention of analytics and user testing tools indicates that data-informed design is valued, aligning with operational best practices for optimizing user experience and business outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong alignment with the company's purpose of helping client missions thrive.

• Excellence & Craft: Commitment to high-quality work, with a focus on visual appeal, usability, and accessibility.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork are crucial in a distributed environment.

• Growth & Well-being: The company values supporting its team members' professional development and personal well-being.

• User Advocacy: A core principle of designing for the user, ensuring inclusivity and clear communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Distributed Teamwork: Relies on digital tools and clear communication protocols to foster connection and productivity across locations.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with content strategists, developers, and project managers to ensure cohesive project delivery.

• Client-Centric Partnership: Working closely with clients to understand their needs and guide them through the design process.

• Feedback Culture: An environment where feedback is exchanged constructively to improve work and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's values emphasize a purpose-driven culture combined with a commitment to design quality and team support. For a designer, this means working on meaningful projects within a collaborative, remote-first environment that values both individual contribution and collective success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and team cohesion in a fully distributed environment requires proactive effort.

• Client Management: Effectively managing client expectations, feedback, and project scope while advocating for user needs.

• Technical Constraints: Designing within the specific technical frameworks of Drupal and WordPress, understanding their capabilities and limitations.

• Balancing Art & Business: Ensuring that design decisions are both aesthetically strong and strategically aligned with client business objectives and user needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to hone skills in advanced UX/UI design, prototyping, and design systems.

• Accessibility Expertise: Deepen knowledge and practical application of web accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Client Strategy: Gain experience in client strategy, discovery processes, and consultative design.

• Platform Specialization: Further develop expertise within the Drupal and WordPress ecosystems.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to Kanopi's public profile through webinars and presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in an agency, especially in a remote setting. The growth opportunities focus on enhancing core design skills, gaining strategic client advisory experience, and contributing to the agency's knowledge base, providing a solid foundation for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a complex website project from discovery to launch. What was your specific role, process, and how did you ensure user needs were met?" (Focus on your methodology, research, and decision-making.)

• Client Interaction: "Describe a time you had to present a challenging design decision to a client. How did you handle feedback, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your communication, persuasion, and client management skills.)

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine a client wants a feature that conflicts with accessibility best practices. How would you approach this situation?" (Demonstrate your understanding of accessibility and your ability to find balanced solutions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Kanopi? What about our mission-driven approach or our work with Drupal/WordPress appeals to you?" (Research Kanopi's website, client examples, and company values.)

• "How do you stay connected and collaborate effectively in a remote team environment?" (Share specific tools and strategies you use.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, and the impact.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, flow diagrams) to illustrate your points.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present concise summaries, but also to dive deeper into specific aspects if asked.

• Client-Centric Language: Frame your explanations in terms of client goals and user benefits.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, technical considerations, and client management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design talent but also the operational capabilities of a senior agency professional: strategic thinking, client communication, process adherence, and adaptability in a remote setting.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Use the ‘Apply for this Job’ button located toward the bottom of the page on the Workable platform.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features responsive website design projects that highlight your UX/UI expertise, accessibility considerations, and client presentation capabilities. Tailor your project selection to align with Kanopi's mission-driven client base if possible.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5+ years of agency experience, proficiency in Figma and other relevant tools, and your ability to manage projects end-to-end. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Cover Letter Crafting: Write a compelling cover letter that addresses why you are a great fit for Kanopi, answers the specific question about your favorite piece of technology with thoughtful reasoning, and demonstrates your understanding of their mission and values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Kanopi Studios, their client work, their approach to design, and their company culture to inform your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.