Product Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Contract) Company: Amplify Location: Remote - United States Job Type: Contract Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 2025-09-25T00:00:00 Experience Level: 2-5 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of compelling interactive user interfaces for K-12 educational products, focusing on digital layouts for young learners and educators.
• Develop and maintain consistent, polished visual designs aligned with established design systems and style guides.
• Drive a streamlined design process, incorporating stakeholder feedback and managing the creation of necessary design assets.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product owners, interaction developers, content experts, and digital production teams, to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Manage content migration into design templates and maintain digital asset libraries within Content Management Systems (CMSs).

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on Product Design within the EdTech sector, specifically for ELA (English Language Arts) curriculum development. The contract nature suggests a project-based need, emphasizing the ability to integrate quickly and deliver high-quality design outputs within defined timelines. The emphasis on "young learners and their teachers" indicates a need for user-centric design with an understanding of educational pedagogy and user needs in an academic context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead problem-solving through user-centered design to create engaging and intuitive interactive user interfaces for educational digital products.
• Produce high-fidelity visual designs that are consistent with Amplify's design system and brand guidelines, ensuring a polished and cohesive user experience.
• Establish and manage efficient design workflows, proactively gathering feedback from product owners, curriculum specialists, and other stakeholders to iterate on designs.
• Champion and meticulously apply style guides and design pattern libraries to ensure consistency across new and existing digital product features.
• Oversee and execute the migration of content into pre-defined design templates, ensuring accuracy and adherence to design specifications.
• Prepare and confidently present design concepts, prototypes, and final assets to internal teams and key stakeholders, articulating design decisions and rationale.
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Design, Product Management, Engineering, and Content teams to define project scope, gather requirements, and ensure the quality and direction of design initiatives.
• Partner with Digital Production teams to maintain synchronized libraries of digital assets within Content Management Systems (CMSs), ensuring efficient asset management and deployment.
• Prepare and effectively communicate design solutions and technical considerations to cross-functional teams, facilitating clear understanding and alignment.
• Drive and actively participate in creative brainstorming sessions, concept development, and the end-to-end design execution process for new curriculum features.
• Engage in and conduct collaborative design critiques, providing and receiving honest, thoughtful, and constructive feedback to elevate the collective design output.
• Leverage strong interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening and precise written and verbal articulation, to foster effective teamwork and project success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership (leading problem-solving, driving process) and hands-on execution (visual design, content migration, asset management). The emphasis on collaboration with "curriculum experts" and "product owners" underscores the need for a designer who can translate pedagogical goals and product requirements into effective user experiences. The mention of "design QA" and iterating with "developers" points to a need for practical understanding of implementation constraints.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Web Design, Interaction Design, Communication Design, User Experience, or a related field is preferred.
• Alternatively, a combination of relevant education and extensive experience will be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in digital visual design, digital product development, or a closely related field.
• Proven track record of applying graphic design principles and user-centric design methodologies to create impactful digital layouts.
• Demonstrated expertise in typography and layout design, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetic quality.
• Experience managing design feedback cycles, incorporating revisions, and adhering to production schedules.
• Demonstrated comfort and confidence in presenting design work and rationale to diverse audiences, including stakeholders and development teams.
• Experience working effectively within cross-functional teams, contributing as a design lead or key contributor.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and processes.
• Experience working with Content Management Systems (CMSs) for asset management or content integration.
• Experience designing responsive desktop layout experiences that adapt seamlessly across different screen sizes.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sensibility, proficiency in creating visually appealing and brand-aligned interfaces.
• UX Design Principles: Solid understanding of user-centered design, information architecture, and interaction design.
• Typography & Layout: Expertise in selecting and applying typefaces and arranging elements for clarity, hierarchy, and visual appeal.
• Design Systems: Ability to work within and contribute to existing design systems and style guides.
• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Advanced proficiency in tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for design creation and asset preparation.
• Figma: Expert-level skill in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.
• Agile Processes: Experience participating in and contributing to Agile development sprints and ceremonies.
• Content Management Systems (CMSs): Practical experience with CMS platforms for managing and integrating digital content and assets.
• Responsive Design: Understanding and application of principles for creating adaptable user interfaces across devices.
• Design QA: Ability to conduct thorough design quality assurance checks and identify potential implementation issues.
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Excellent verbal, written, and listening skills for effective collaboration and presentation.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and Content Specialists.
• Creative Brainstorming: Aptitude for generating innovative ideas and contributing to concept development.
• User-Centric Design: Commitment to designing solutions that meet the needs and enhance the experience of the target users.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the education technology (EdTech) sector or with K-12 curriculum materials.
• Enthusiasm for contributing to advancements in literacy education.
• Experience prioritizing and designing for accessibility (WCAG compliance).
• Ability to gather and document user experience requirements through direct customer interaction.
• Experience with interactive motion design or animation principles.
• Any direct experience with teaching or tutoring students in the K-12 age range.
• Basic knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to facilitate communication with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a strong foundation in visual and UX design, coupled with practical experience in key industry tools like Figma and Adobe CC. The preference for EdTech experience and accessibility knowledge suggests the company values domain-specific expertise and inclusive design practices. The mention of basic coding knowledge indicates a need for a designer who can effectively bridge the gap between design and development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated digital portfolio showcasing a high level of design skill and recent work, demonstrating proficiency in both visual design and UX/UI.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the design process from problem identification through to solution implementation, highlighting challenges and outcomes.
• Examples specifically demonstrating expertise in typography, layout design, and visual hierarchy within digital interfaces.
• Prototypes or interactive mockups that illustrate user flows and interaction design for digital products.
• Evidence of working within or contributing to design systems, including examples of applying style guides and component libraries.
• Designs that reflect a user-centric approach, ideally with insights into user research or feedback integration.
• Examples of responsive design implementation and how layouts adapt across different screen sizes.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a systematic approach to design problem-solving, illustrating how you break down complex challenges into manageable steps.
• Demonstrate experience in managing design feedback cycles, including how you incorporate constructive criticism and iterate on designs.
• Provide examples of how you collaborate with developers to ensure design feasibility and effective implementation, perhaps through annotated mockups or developer handoff documentation.
• Illustrate your process for content migration into design templates, highlighting attention to detail and accuracy.
• Include examples of preparing and presenting design work to stakeholders, demonstrating clear communication of design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to present a portfolio that not only displays aesthetic quality but also a robust and systematic design process. The emphasis on case studies, user-centricity, and collaboration with developers suggests a need for a designer who can articulate their thought process and demonstrate impact beyond just visual output. Proficiency in Figma and Adobe CC should be evident through the portfolio's quality and variety of work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The hourly rate for this contract role is expected to be between $45 and $50 USD.

Benefits: As a contract role, standard benefits typically offered by full-time employees (e.g., health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off) may not be provided directly by Amplify. Contract employees may be eligible for benefits through their contracting agency, if applicable. It is advisable to clarify benefit eligibility and offerings with the hiring manager or contracting agency during the interview process.

Working Hours: This is a full-time contract position, implying a standard 40-hour work week. The role is remote, offering flexibility in daily scheduling, but adherence to project deadlines and availability for team meetings and collaborative sessions is expected. Specific working hours can be discussed to accommodate team needs and individual work styles within the remote framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided on an hourly basis, which is common for contract positions. Candidates should be aware that typical full-time employee benefits may not be included, and it's important to inquire about any available benefits, potentially through a third-party agency. The role is full-time, suggesting commitment comparable to a permanent position, even though it's a contract.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology (EdTech), Curriculum Development, Publishing. Amplify is a pioneer in K-12 education, known for its innovative approach to curriculum and assessment in ELA, math, and science. Company Size: Amplify serves over 15 million students across all 50 states, indicating a substantial organization with a significant market presence. While the exact employee count isn't provided, its reach suggests a mid-to-large size company with established operations and dedicated teams. Founded: Amplify has been a pioneer in K-12 education since 2000, demonstrating a long-standing commitment and deep expertise in the educational sector.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of the Amplify Literacy Suites ELA design team, working on the 3rd Edition Curriculum. This team is described as diverse and cross-functional.
• Collaboration is expected with Product Owners, Interaction Developers, Curriculum Experts, and other designers.
• The role involves close partnership with the broader creative team, which includes designers, artists, and storytellers who have a hands-on and collaborative approach.

Methodology:

• Amplify emphasizes a "strong hands-on and highly collaborative approach" to both product development and graphic design systems.
• The design process involves sketching, writing, pixel pushing, and a focus on both big ideas and meticulous details.
• Design work is executed across digital, print, environmental, interactive, and animation projects.
• The team ensures ideas are realized to the highest standards of execution.
• Agile processes are utilized, indicating iterative development and cross-functional teamwork.

Company Website: amplify.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Amplify's culture appears to be a blend of creative innovation and rigorous execution within the educational sector. The emphasis on collaboration across disciplines (design, product, curriculum) is a key aspect. The company's long history and broad reach suggest a stable yet forward-thinking environment. The mention of "pushing pixels" and "sweating the details" indicates a high standard for design quality.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Product Designer with a contract status, fitting an experienced individual contributor level. It requires 2+ years of experience, indicating a mid-level position where the designer is expected to work independently on specific design challenges and contribute to team goals. Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a design lead or manager within the Amplify Literacy Suites ELA design team. They will collaborate closely with a cross-functional product team, including Product Owners and Interaction Developers, suggesting a matrixed reporting or project-based team structure. Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the user experience of K-12 students and educators engaging with Amplify's ELA curriculum. By creating insightful, relevant, and polished digital layouts, they contribute to the effectiveness of the educational content, student engagement, and overall product success. Their designs are integral to the delivery of rigorous learning experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in EdTech product design, focusing on user-centric design for young learners and curriculum integration.
• Design System Contribution: Potential to contribute to the refinement and expansion of Amplify's design system, influencing the visual and interactive language across multiple products.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience working closely with curriculum experts, product managers, and developers, fostering a holistic understanding of product development lifecycle in education.
• Portfolio Enhancement: The contract duration (expected to end 7/2026) provides a significant opportunity to build a strong portfolio with impactful projects in a well-regarded EdTech company.
• Industry Insight: Develop a deeper understanding of the K-12 education market and the specific design challenges and opportunities within literacy education.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a contract role, it offers substantial growth in terms of specialized skills, portfolio building, and industry exposure within the EdTech space. The opportunity to work on a significant curriculum update (ELA 3rd Edition) provides a chance to make a tangible impact and showcase advanced design capabilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, allowing the designer to work from their preferred location within the United States. Office Location(s): Remote - United States. Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The role emphasizes a highly collaborative approach, requiring active participation in design discussions, brainstorming sessions, and feedback exchanges with a remote, cross-functional team.
• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with industry-standard design tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is essential. The team utilizes CMSs for asset management.
• Team Interaction: While remote, designers are expected to engage closely with other designers, product managers, developers, and curriculum experts, utilizing digital collaboration tools for communication and project management. Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected. While remote work offers flexibility, designers must be available for scheduled meetings, collaborative sessions, and to meet project deadlines. Time zone alignment with the core team may be beneficial for real-time collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role necessitates strong self-management and communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable with digital collaboration tools and be proactive in seeking interaction and feedback within a distributed team environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and design experience.
• Portfolio Presentation/Review: A key stage where candidates will present their portfolio, discussing their design process, problem-solving approach, and specific project outcomes. Be prepared to walk through case studies.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with members of the product team (e.g., Product Owner, Interaction Developer, Curriculum Expert) to assess collaboration skills, understanding of educational context, and technical design acumen.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or solve a specific design problem relevant to Amplify's products to evaluate their practical skills and thought process.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a design lead or hiring manager to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm details of the contract role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project in your portfolio, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made, and the results achieved.
• Highlight Process: Showcase wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations to demonstrate your design thinking, not just final polished screens.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved user engagement, reduced task completion time) or describe qualitative impact on users and business goals.
• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates mastery of Figma and Adobe CC, and how you leverage these tools effectively for prototyping and asset creation.
• Tailor to Amplify: Emphasize projects that align with educational products, K-12 audiences, or similar complex digital platforms. Demonstrate an understanding of user-centric design for specific age groups.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, and your experience with collaboration and Agile methodologies.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Amplify's current products and mission.
• Practice articulating your design process verbally and visually.
• Be ready to discuss how you incorporate user feedback and iterate on designs.
• Review common UI/UX challenges in educational technology, such as engagement, accessibility, and clarity for young learners.
• Prepare to discuss your understanding of design systems and their importance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process and rationale. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience in collaborative environments and with educational content, demonstrating an understanding of the specific user base (K-12 students and teachers).

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to use its features for component-based design and interactive prototypes.
• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Essential for graphic design tasks, image editing, and asset preparation. Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially InDesign is expected.
• Content Management Systems (CMSs): Experience with CMS platforms for managing digital assets and content migration is required. Specific CMS names are not listed, but general familiarity is key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, understanding how design impacts user behavior and engagement metrics is crucial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) and how to interpret data to inform design decisions would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role's core responsibilities, but awareness of how design integrates with broader marketing and sales operations might be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is paramount for this role, as it's the primary tool for modern UI/UX design workflows. A strong command of the Adobe Creative Suite is also a prerequisite for asset creation and graphic design tasks. Experience with CMSs is important for asset management within the product development pipeline.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A highly collaborative environment where sharing ideas, providing feedback, and working across disciplines is encouraged and expected.
• Creativity & Innovation: A culture that values big ideas and creative problem-solving, balanced with a meticulous approach to execution.
• User-Centricity: A commitment to designing for the specific needs of young learners and educators, ensuring educational effectiveness and engagement.
• Quality & Detail: A focus on delivering high standards of execution, paying close attention to the details in visual design, interaction, and content integration.
• Impact: A drive to make a meaningful impact on K-12 education by creating engaging and rigorous learning experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Hands-on & Iterative: The team operates with a hands-on approach, involving iterative design processes with frequent feedback loops.
• Cross-functional Partnership: Designers work closely with Product Owners, developers, and curriculum experts, fostering a partnership to achieve shared product goals.
• Open Communication: Encouragement of open and honest feedback among colleagues to elevate the quality of work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at Amplify values a blend of creative exploration and disciplined execution. Designers are expected to be team players who can contribute to a shared vision while maintaining high standards for their individual contributions. The emphasis on collaboration with non-design functions highlights the integrated nature of product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Design for Young Learners: Adapting sophisticated design principles to be engaging, intuitive, and appropriate for K-12 students, considering varying age groups and learning styles.
• Balancing Creativity with Constraints: Integrating creative vision within established design systems, brand guidelines, and technical limitations imposed by CMSs and development platforms.
• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong communication within a distributed team, ensuring alignment and shared understanding without in-person proximity.
• Content Migration Complexity: Managing the process of migrating diverse educational content into design templates accurately and efficiently, ensuring visual consistency and usability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• EdTech Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for the unique demands of the education technology sector, understanding pedagogical principles and user needs in an academic context.
• Advanced Figma Techniques: Further hone skills in Figma, exploring advanced prototyping, component management, and collaboration features.
• Accessibility Design: Opportunity to gain or enhance experience in designing with accessibility standards (WCAG) as a priority, crucial for educational products.
• Exposure to Curriculum Development: Gain insight into curriculum design and pedagogical strategies, enriching the understanding of the educational content being supported.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges related to user-specific design for education and managing complex content within digital frameworks. However, these challenges also serve as significant growth opportunities, particularly in specializing within the EdTech design niche and mastering collaborative remote workflows.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a specific, non-adult user group (e.g., children). How did your approach differ from designing for adults?" (Focus on user research, age-appropriateness, and engagement strategies).
• "Walk me through your process for developing a new feature within an existing design system. How do you ensure consistency while introducing new elements?" (Highlight adherence to guidelines, component creation, and collaboration with design system owners).
• "How do you approach gathering and incorporating feedback from cross-functional stakeholders, especially when there are conflicting opinions?" (Emphasize active listening, documenting feedback, prioritizing, and communicating decisions).
• "Describe your experience with Content Management Systems (CMSs) and how you've collaborated with teams to manage digital assets. What are the key considerations for a designer in this process?" (Focus on asset organization, naming conventions, and understanding CMS limitations).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Amplify and our mission in K-12 education?" (Research Amplify's values, products, and impact; connect it to your passion for education or design).
• "How do you see your design approach contributing to our goal of creating engaging and rigorous learning experiences for students?" (Align your skills with Amplify's mission and product goals).
• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you contribute to a positive and productive team dynamic?" (Highlight your experience with cross-functional teams and your approach to feedback and communication).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the 'Why': For each project, begin by clearly stating the problem Amplify is trying to solve or the user need you addressed.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals extensively – wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows. Explain your design decisions at each stage.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrates the success of your designs.
• Explain Your Role: Be clear about your specific contributions, especially in team projects.
• Address Technical Aspects: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma, Adobe CC, and your understanding of how designs are implemented (basic HTML/CSS knowledge).
• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth flow, clear articulation, and adherence to time limits.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a user-centric design process, strong visual and UX skills, proficiency in core tools, and an understanding of the educational context. Candidates should be ready to discuss their collaborative approach and how they contribute to a team environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer (Contract) position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UI/UX design skills, especially those relevant to digital products, user-centric design, and ideally, educational technology or similar user bases. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your design process, problem-solving skills, and final output quality.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with Figma, Adobe CC, digital visual design, user-centric approaches, and any relevant EdTech or K-12 experience. Quantify achievements where possible and ensure keywords from the job description are naturally integrated.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on the story behind each design: the problem, your process, your decisions, and the outcome. Be ready to discuss your experience with collaborative teams and Agile methodologies.
• Research Amplify: Understand Amplify's mission, its products (especially ELA curriculum), and its user base (students and teachers). This understanding will be crucial for answering company-specific questions and demonstrating genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.