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: UX/UI Design, Web Design, Creative Services

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years required)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end visual and User Experience (UX) design for complex website projects, from initial discovery through final launch, driving clear design direction and client confidence.

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

• Articulate and defend design decisions with clarity and confidence to diverse audiences, translating complex design thinking into plain language and solid reasoning tied to user needs and project goals.

• Plan and facilitate discovery workshops, transforming research and insights into practical UX deliverables such as sitemaps, user journeys, and personas to inform design strategy.

• Collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to ensure design cohesiveness, technical feasibility, and accurate implementation, including conducting design reviews during the development phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a "Contract Senior Website Visual Designer" with a strong emphasis on UX/UI. The description highlights a need for a designer who can not only create aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly websites but also lead projects strategically, present work effectively, and collaborate within a distributed agency environment. The emphasis on "mission-driven" clients suggests a need for designers who can understand and translate client missions into impactful digital experiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the complete visual and UX design lifecycle for intricate website initiatives, ensuring a consistent and effective design direction from concept to completion.

• Craft wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive UI designs that prioritize accessibility, usability, and inclusivity for a broad user base.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems that ensure brand consistency and streamline future design and development efforts across multiple projects.

• Effectively present and articulate design rationale to clients and internal stakeholders, adeptly incorporating feedback while safeguarding the integrity of the user-centered design approach.

• Plan, lead, and document discovery workshops, synthesizing client needs and user research into actionable design strategies and documentation.

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including content strategists, developers, and project managers, to ensure seamless integration of design into the final product and provide design oversight during development.

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

• Contribute to Kanopi's industry presence and thought leadership through participation in webinars, presentations, and other public-facing knowledge-sharing activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a senior-level designer's role in project leadership, client-facing communication, and strategic contribution beyond pure design execution. The inclusion of contributing to marketing and thought leadership indicates an expectation for the designer to act as a brand ambassador and subject matter expert.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating extensive practical experience and design acumen is paramount. Candidates are expected to possess a deep understanding of design principles, user-centered methodologies, and accessibility standards, often acquired through formal education, self-study, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing responsive web experiences.

Required Skills:

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

• Presentation & Communication: Proven ability to confidently present and defend design work to diverse audiences, incorporating feedback while maintaining clear design direction and articulating rationale in plain language.

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

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with 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 management methodologies.

• Remote Work Aptitude: Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness working remotely within a distributed team structure.

• Technical Understanding: Working knowledge of front-end best practices and how designs translate into development.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct Coding Experience: While not required, direct coding experience is considered a plus.

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

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and presentation skills is critical for this senior role. The preference for agency experience and familiarity with analytics tools suggests a need for practical, results-oriented design thinking. The mention of "front-end best practices" implies that designers are expected to have a good understanding of how their designs will be implemented by developers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase end-to-end project lifecycles, detailing the problem, your process, design solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• User-Centered Design Focus: Highlight how user research, personas, and user journeys informed your design decisions and led to improved usability and accessibility.

• Accessibility Implementation: Provide clear examples of how accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) were integrated into your designs, demonstrating an understanding of inclusive design principles.

• Visual Craft & UI Detail: Demonstrate a strong visual aesthetic with attention to detail in UI elements, typography, color palettes, and responsive layouts.

• Prototyping & Interaction: Include examples of interactive prototypes that effectively communicate user flows and design interactions.

• Design System Contribution (if applicable): Showcase any experience with creating or contributing to design systems, illustrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Research Artifacts: Present examples of sitemaps, user flows, journey maps, and workshop outputs that illustrate your ability to translate insights into actionable plans.

• Wireframing & Prototyping Workflows: Clearly delineate your process for wireframing and prototyping, showing the evolution of designs from low-fidelity concepts to high-fidelity mockups.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Illustrate your collaborative process, showing how you worked with developers, content strategists, and clients, and how feedback was incorporated into design iterations.

• Design Review Documentation: If possible, demonstrate how you've provided feedback or conducted design reviews during the development phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX/UI designer, the portfolio is more than just a collection of visuals; it's a demonstration of strategic thinking, process, and problem-solving. Applicants should focus on presenting detailed case studies that highlight their ability to lead projects, understand user needs, advocate for accessibility, and collaborate effectively with technical and strategic teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The hourly rate for this contract position is between $60/hour and $80/hour. This range is dependent on experience and skills.

Benefits: As this is a contract position, standard employee benefits typically associated with full-time roles (e.g., health insurance, paid time off, retirement plans) are generally not provided. However, contractors often benefit from:

• Flexibility: The opportunity to work remotely and set a flexible schedule, aligning with personal productivity peaks.

• Project Variety: Exposure to diverse projects for mission-driven clients, offering rich learning experiences.

• Skill Development: The chance to work with a skilled, distributed team and contribute to thought leadership, fostering professional growth.

• Independent Contractor Status: Potential tax advantages and the ability to deduct business expenses, depending on local regulations.

Working Hours: This role is for a contractor with variable hours, dependent on project needs. While the standard expectation for a full-time engagement is around 40 hours per week, this is not guaranteed and will fluctuate based on project scope and client demands. The remote nature allows for flexibility in when and where work is performed, as long as deadlines are met and collaboration with the team is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is explicitly stated as an hourly rate for a contract role. It's crucial for candidates to understand that this typically excludes traditional employee benefits. The provided range of $60-$80/hour is a strong benchmark for senior-level contract UX/UI designers in the US and Canada.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Design, Development & Support Agency specializing in Drupal & WordPress. The company focuses on serving "mission-driven" clients, indicating a commitment to social impact and purpose-led work.

Company Size: Kanopi operates with a fully distributed team, suggesting a lean, agile, and potentially growing organization. The exact number of employees isn't specified, but "fully distributed" implies a culture that thrives on asynchronous communication and autonomy.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company has established itself as an agency with expertise in Drupal and WordPress, serving mission-driven clients. This suggests a company with a solid track record and a clear market focus.

Team Structure:

• The design team is part of a larger agency structure that includes strategy, development, and support specialists.

• This role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a direct line to leadership within the creative and strategic functions.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core philosophy, emphasizing understanding user needs and translating them into effective digital solutions.

• Accessibility First: Designs are expected to be inclusive and usable by a wide range of people from the outset.

• Agile & Waterfall: The team is comfortable working within both project management methodologies, requiring flexibility and adaptability.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While not explicitly stated for design, the mention of analytics tools suggests an emphasis on data to inform and validate design choices.

Company Website: kanopi.com (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's culture appears to be built around expertise, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose, serving clients dedicated to positive impact. The distributed nature necessitates strong communication skills and self-direction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level Contract role, signifying a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and leadership within the UX/UI design domain. Senior designers are expected to guide projects, mentor junior team members (if applicable), and contribute strategically to client solutions and agency growth.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Website Visual Designer reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative. This positioning places them within the creative leadership structure, with opportunities to influence strategy and client engagements.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is directly tied to the success of client websites. By creating accessible, usable, and visually compelling experiences, they contribute to:

• Enhanced user engagement and satisfaction.

• Achievement of client mission objectives.

• Improved conversion rates and goal completion.

• Stronger brand perception and authority.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced accessibility, design systems, or specialized interaction design.

• Leadership Development: Take on more significant project leadership roles, potentially mentoring junior designers or leading client strategy sessions.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to Kanopi's reputation through public speaking, webinars, and content creation, positioning yourself as an expert in the field.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop stronger client relationships and gain experience in strategic account management within the agency context.

• Broader Agency Contribution: Influence agency processes, contribute to new business pitches, and help shape the creative direction of the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" often translates to acquiring new skills, taking on more challenging projects, and building a robust portfolio that can lead to future high-impact engagements, rather than traditional internal promotions. The emphasis on thought leadership and new business contribution offers unique growth avenues for experienced contractors.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This means the work environment is entirely digital, with team members collaborating from various locations.

Office Location(s): This role is open to candidates located and able to work in the US and Canada. Specific office locations are not applicable due to the remote nature.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: The workspace is defined by digital collaboration tools, necessitating strong communication and active participation in virtual meetings and discussions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with a range of digital design and collaboration tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Workspace, etc.) is essential.

• Team Interaction: Interaction occurs through video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management platforms, fostering connection and alignment despite physical distance.

Work Schedule: While the role is remote, the expectation is for a professional engagement, likely aligning with standard business hours in relevant time zones (US & Canada) to facilitate collaboration. However, the contract nature and remote setup generally offer flexibility, allowing for adjustments based on project needs and personal productivity, provided deliverables are met and team syncs are attended.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote environment requires strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and comfort with digital collaboration tools. The flexibility offered is a key aspect of the work environment for contractors.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Initial screening of resumes and portfolios to assess qualifications against requirements.

• Initial Questions: A short set of questions may be sent to gather further insights into the candidate's background and fit.

• Interviews: Multiple interviews with team members to discuss the role, experience, design philosophy, and cultural alignment.

• Skills Assessments: Potential for one or two short tasks or a design challenge to evaluate practical design skills and problem-solving approaches.

• Ongoing Communication: Kanopi aims to maintain communication throughout the process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your UX/UI skills, accessibility focus, and agency experience.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), your specific contributions, and the final outcomes.

• Highlight Accessibility: Explicitly call out how you addressed accessibility standards and inclusive design principles in your work.

• Showcase Presentation Skills: If possible, include a presentation deck or a video walkthrough of a project that demonstrates your ability to articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores).

• Tailor to Kanopi: Consider projects that align with Kanopi's focus on mission-driven clients and their expertise in Drupal/WordPress.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Scope: If a skills assessment or design challenge is given, ensure you fully understand the brief, objectives, and constraints.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your design thinking process, not just the final visual output. Explain your rationale at each step.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively to complete the task within the given deadline.

• Presentation Readiness: Be prepared to present your work and answer questions about your approach, decisions, and potential trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also communication, collaboration, and cultural fit. A well-prepared, strategically curated portfolio is essential for advancing. The "answer to this question: What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?" in the cover letter is a key component, suggesting a focus on passion and analytical thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Fluency is a mandatory requirement.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expected to be used for various design tasks, including but not limited to Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for motion design or prototyping.

• Google Workspace: For collaboration, document sharing, and communication (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet).

Analytics & Reporting:

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

• Heatmapping Platforms: Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg are beneficial for understanding user interaction patterns on websites.

• User Testing Tools: Platforms for conducting usability tests (e.g., UserTesting.com) are an asset for validating design decisions.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a UX/UI designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms integrate with websites and impact user journeys can be advantageous. Familiarity with how designs translate into functional web components is key.

Other Relevant Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, any experience with tools like InVision, ProtoPie, or similar for advanced prototyping.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello, which are commonly used in agency environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a hard requirement. Experience with the broader Adobe Creative Suite and standard collaboration tools is expected. Familiarity with analytics and user research tools is a significant plus, indicating a data-informed approach to design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A strong commitment to serving clients whose work makes a positive difference in the world.

• Expertise & Craft: A dedication to high-quality design, development, and support, driven by deep knowledge in Drupal and WordPress.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork are vital in a distributed environment, fostering a sense of shared purpose and mutual support.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A commitment to building a web that works better for everyone, emphasizing diversity, equity, and accessible design practices.

• Wellbeing & Growth: Valuing the personal and professional development of team members, supporting their success and work-life balance.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous Communication: Reliance on tools like Slack, email, and project management platforms for ongoing communication and updates, respecting different time zones.

• Scheduled Synchronous Meetings: Regular video calls for team syncs, client presentations, project discussions, and workshops.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Designers are expected to work hand-in-hand with strategists, content experts, developers, and project managers, fostering a holistic approach to projects.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: An openness to constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to continuously improve work and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's culture emphasizes purpose, quality, and inclusivity. The distributed nature shapes the collaboration style, requiring proactive communication and a strong sense of team responsibility.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Client Management in a Remote Setting: Effectively managing client expectations, feedback, and project scope remotely requires exceptional communication and negotiation skills.

• Balancing Design Vision with Client Needs: Advocating for user-centered design and accessibility while ensuring client goals and project constraints are met requires strategic diplomacy.

• Navigating Evolving Project Requirements: Adapting designs and workflows as project needs change within agile or waterfall frameworks.

• Maintaining Design Consistency Across Diverse Projects: Ensuring a high standard of visual craft and UX quality across varied client projects and platforms (Drupal/WordPress).

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Overcoming potential communication barriers and ensuring seamless integration with a distributed team.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Accessibility Expertise: Continuous learning in WCAG standards and inclusive design practices.

• Master Design Systems: Gain experience in creating, scaling, and implementing robust design systems for enterprise-level projects.

• Client Pitch & Business Development: Develop skills in client presentations, strategy development, and contributing to new business acquisition.

• Explore Emerging Technologies: Stay abreast of new design tools, techniques, and web technologies that can enhance user experiences.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to industry discussions through writing, speaking, or presenting, building personal and company brand authority.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior designers in an agency setting, particularly in a remote and contract capacity. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding expertise, strategic influence, and professional visibility.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex website project you led from discovery to launch. What were the key challenges, how did you approach them, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and results.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility is integrated into your design process from the start, rather than being an add-on?" (Prepare specific examples of tools, checks, and design decisions related to accessibility.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kanopi's mission-driven client focus?" (Research Kanopi's work and articulate how your values align.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a fully distributed team?" (Discuss your preferred communication methods, tools, and strategies for remote teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, structure your presentation as a narrative: the challenge, your approach, key decisions, and the impact.

• Focus on 'Why': Explain the reasoning behind your design choices, linking them to user needs, business goals, and accessibility principles.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and mockups effectively to illustrate your points.

• Be Concise and Clear: Avoid jargon. Explain technical or design concepts in plain language.

• Engage and Listen: Be prepared for questions and actively listen to feedback, demonstrating your ability to collaborate and adapt.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, strong communication, and a deep understanding of user-centered, accessible design within an agency context. The portfolio presentation is a critical component for showcasing these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Use the ‘Apply for this Job’ button on the Kanopi careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights projects demonstrating end-to-end UX/UI design, accessibility, and agency experience. Tailor your case studies to emphasize your problem-solving process and quantifiable outcomes, aligning with Kanopi’s mission-driven approach.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5+ years of web design experience, specifically mentioning agency work and proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Cover Letter Crafting: Write a compelling cover letter that addresses your fit for the role, your passion for mission-driven work, and critically, provide a thoughtful answer to the question: "What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?"

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kanopi Studios, their client work, and their approach to design and development, particularly their expertise in Drupal and WordPress, and their commitment to accessibility.

⚠️ 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.