Product Designer - Freelance (Accessibility-Focused Marketing Website)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Freelance (Accessibility-Focused Marketing Website)

Company: Heady

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2025-11-08

Experience Level: Mid-Level

Remote Status: Remote OK (ET Hours Required)

🚀 Role Summary

• This freelance Product Designer role focuses on creating an accessible and user-friendly marketing website for a cellular provider targeting older demographics, emphasizing simplicity and ease of use.

• The position requires a strong ability to translate early-stage brand concepts into functional wireframes, information architecture, and eventually, high-fidelity visual designs.

• Collaboration is key, involving close work with internal design, engineering, and product teams to ensure design integrity and adherence to accessibility standards.

• The role demands proficiency in Figma for design creation, component library management, and contributing to a project-specific design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the core responsibilities and description lean heavily into UX/UI design for a marketing website rather than a software product. The focus on accessibility for older audiences and marketing website development suggests a specialization within UX/UI, aligning it with marketing operations or digital product design with a strong user-centric component.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and refine responsive marketing website pages using Figma, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices.

• Develop wireframes and low-fidelity concepts to define page structure, content hierarchy, and user flows.

• Translate and apply evolving brand guidelines into high-fidelity visual designs, maintaining brand consistency.

• Contribute to the development and extension of a project-specific design system, including component libraries, to ensure scalability and maintainability.

• Work in close partnership with developers to ensure the accurate implementation of design specifications and adherence to accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG).

• Present design iterations and progress to clients during bi-weekly reviews, alongside product managers and other designers.

• Incorporate stakeholder feedback and evolving project requirements through iterative design processes.

• Ensure all designs meet accessibility standards, with a particular focus on older audiences, promoting simplicity and clarity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on the entire design lifecycle from conceptualization to implementation, with a significant focus on accessibility and collaboration with engineering. This implies a need for a designer who can not only create visually appealing designs but also understand technical constraints and accessibility best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific educational qualifications are listed, implying that practical experience and portfolio are prioritized.

Experience: 3-5 years of experience as a digital product or marketing designer is required, indicating a mid-level proficiency expectation.

Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Strong command of Figma, including experience with component libraries and design system management.

• Wireframing & IA: Proven ability to create wireframes and establish information architecture for web projects.

• Visual Design: Skill in translating brand elements into high-fidelity visual designs.

• Accessibility Standards: In-depth knowledge of accessibility standards such as ADA and WCAG, with specific experience designing for older audiences.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with designers, engineers, and stakeholders in a team environment.

• Adaptability: Ability to work with ambiguity and adapt to evolving project requirements and feedback.

• Responsive Design: Understanding and application of responsive design principles for web interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Tokens: Familiarity with Figma Tokens or similar design system management tools for advanced customization.

• UX/User Flows: Background in UX design, particularly with user flows for pre-shopping or e-commerce contexts.

• Performance-Conscious Design: Experience with web design principles that prioritize performance and load times.

• E-commerce Experience: Familiarity with e-commerce or pre-shopping user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize practical application and technical tool proficiency, particularly Figma. The "nice to have" skills suggest a desire for a designer who can also contribute to deeper UX strategy and performance optimization, indicating a potential for more complex design challenges.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of responsive marketing website design projects.

• Case studies showcasing wireframing and information architecture development.

• Examples of high-fidelity visual design application, including brand integration.

• Evidence of contribution to or creation of design systems and component libraries.

• Projects that explicitly highlight adherence to accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG) and consideration for older user demographics.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase of the design process from initial concept to final design, including iteration based on feedback.

• Examples of how design challenges, particularly around accessibility and simplicity, were approached and resolved.

• Documentation or examples of how design systems were leveraged for consistency and scalability across the project.

• Any work demonstrating collaboration with developers to ensure accurate implementation of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a freelance role focused on a specific project, the portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase design skills but also the candidate's ability to follow a structured design process, collaborate effectively, and deliver on specific project requirements like accessibility and responsiveness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Up to $80/hour (USD). This is a competitive freelance rate for a mid-level designer with specialized skills in accessibility and Figma.

Benefits:

• Competitive Hourly Rate: Paid fairly for the value and expertise brought to the project.

• Remote Work Flexibility: Option to work remotely, offering a good work-life balance.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to grow skills and expand the portfolio through challenging projects.

• Supportive Culture: Experience a kind and supportive team environment that celebrates wins.

• Flexibility: Trust and autonomy to manage time and deliver work without micromanagement.

Working Hours: The role requires adherence to ET (Eastern Time) hours, suggesting a need for availability during specific core working hours within the United States Eastern Time Zone, even if the role is remote. While the exact number of hours per week isn't specified, a standard freelance engagement often assumes a full-time equivalent unless otherwise stated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as a maximum hourly rate, typical for freelance engagements. The "up to $80/hour" suggests that the final rate will depend on the candidate's experience and negotiation. The requirement for ET hours is a significant detail for remote candidates outside this time zone.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Product Consultancy. Heady operates within the technology and digital services sector, partnering with various industries to deliver strategy, design, and development solutions.

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but described as a "talented global / remote-friendly team" and a "digital product consultancy," suggesting a medium-sized, agile organization.

Founded: Not specified in the provided data.

Team Structure:

• The role involves collaboration with internal teams, including designers, engineers, and product managers.

• The designer will present work to clients alongside a product manager and other designers, indicating a structured client review process.

Methodology:

• Design Thinking & Collaboration: The company's approach suggests an emphasis on collaborative design processes, user-centricity, and iterative development.

• Data-Driven Solutions: As a consultancy, Heady likely focuses on delivering solutions that drive measurable business results for clients.

• Agile Development: The nature of product consultancy often involves agile methodologies, with iterative feedback loops and flexible project management.

Company Website: www.heady.io

📝 Enhancement Note: Heady positions itself as a digital product consultancy focused on delivering impactful solutions. The culture described emphasizes collaboration, kindness, and flexibility, which are attractive traits for freelance professionals seeking long-term partnerships or engaging project experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level freelance Product Designer role. It offers a focused opportunity to contribute significantly to a specific project, rather than a traditional career ladder within one company.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to internal leads and collaborate closely with a product manager and other designers. Client presentations will also be a part of the role, involving interaction with clients.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will directly influence the success of a new marketing website, impacting client acquisition and brand perception for a cellular provider. The focus on accessibility ensures a broader reach and positive user experience for a specific target demographic, contributing to the client's business objectives and potentially their brand reputation for inclusivity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Portfolio Enhancement: The project offers a chance to add a significant, specialized project (accessibility-focused marketing website) to the designer's portfolio.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for older audiences and mastering accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG).

• Client Interaction: Gain experience in client reviews and stakeholder management through bi-weekly presentations.

• Design System Development: Contribute to and potentially lead aspects of a design system's growth and application.

• Industry Exposure: Work with a cellular provider, gaining insight into that industry's design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a freelance role, "growth" is often measured by portfolio expansion, skill development, and the ability to secure future projects. This role provides clear opportunities in these areas, particularly with its specialized focus on accessibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Remote-friendly with a requirement for ET (Eastern Time) hours. This suggests a distributed team environment where asynchronous communication is common, but synchronous collaboration during specific hours is expected.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the requirement for ET hours and the company's headquarters being in New York, NY, might imply a preference for candidates within or closely aligned with the US Eastern Time Zone for easier collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: Expect to use digital collaboration tools (like Figma, Slack, etc.) to interact with team members and clients.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools, primarily Figma, and potentially project management software.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction through virtual meetings, design critiques, and collaborative sessions, especially during required ET working hours.

Work Schedule: The role is described as freelance with flexibility, but the requirement for ET hours indicates a need for availability during those specific times for meetings and collaborative work. The project duration is estimated at 6-8 weeks, with potential for extension.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-friendly nature combined with ET hours implies a need for strong self-management and proactive communication. Candidates should be comfortable working independently while being available for scheduled team and client interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of the application, resume, and portfolio to assess basic qualifications.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Candidates will likely be asked to walk through their portfolio, highlighting relevant projects, their design process, and specific contributions, especially those related to accessibility and marketing websites.

• Skills Assessment: A potential design exercise or discussion focused on problem-solving, accessibility considerations, and Figma proficiency.

• Team/Client Collaboration Discussion: Interviews may probe experience working with cross-functional teams and presenting designs to clients.

• Final Evaluation: Assessment of fit with Heady's culture, understanding of project scope, and overall design expertise.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Accessibility: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to projects demonstrating your understanding and application of accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG). Clearly articulate your process and the impact of your accessible design choices, especially for older audiences.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Provide examples of your work in Figma, including complex component libraries, design system contributions, and efficient workflow practices.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain your approach from discovery and wireframing through to visual design and developer handoff. Emphasize how you handled ambiguity and incorporated feedback.

• Marketing Website Focus: Select projects that best represent your experience designing marketing websites, showcasing your ability to create engaging and informative online presences.

• Conciseness is Key: Given the freelance nature and short project duration, your portfolio and presentation should be concise and directly relevant to the requirements of this role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing a marketing website with a focus on simplicity and accessibility for an older demographic.

• Anticipate questions about your experience with responsive design and ensuring consistent user experiences across different devices.

• Prepare to discuss your workflow for collaborating with developers, ensuring accurate implementation of designs and accessibility features.

• Think about how you would manage evolving project requirements and feedback from both internal teams and clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a specific project type (marketing website) and key skills (Figma, accessibility) means the portfolio review will be highly targeted. Candidates should curate their submissions to directly address these points.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is a strict requirement.

• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to or managing design systems and component libraries within Figma.

• Figma Tokens (Preferred): Familiarity with advanced design system features for enhanced customization and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design tasks, but understanding how marketing websites integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their advanced usage, including design system capabilities. Any experience with performance optimization tools or understanding of how design impacts marketing metrics would be a strong differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Kindness and Support: Heady promotes a culture of mutual respect and support, fostering a positive work environment.

• Collaboration: The company values teamwork and encourages collaboration among designers, engineers, and stakeholders.

• Flexibility and Trust: Heady trusts its team members to manage their time and deliver high-quality work without micromanagement.

• Impact and Results: The consultancy focuses on delivering impactful technology and design solutions that drive real business results for clients.

• Continuous Learning: The company encourages skill development and growth through challenging projects.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers and product managers, ensuring a cohesive approach to product development.

• Client-Facing Collaboration: The role involves presenting designs and collaborating with clients, requiring strong communication and presentation skills.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: The design process is iterative, with feedback from internal teams and clients being crucial for refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "kindness and support" and "flexibility" suggests a more human-centric approach to work, which can be very appealing for freelance professionals. Candidates should emphasize their collaborative spirit and ability to work effectively within a supportive team structure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Specific Demographic: Creating an accessible and simple UI for older audiences requires specific research, empathy, and design considerations beyond standard UX practices.

• Working with Evolving Brand: The brand is in its early stages, meaning design direction may shift. The designer must be comfortable navigating this ambiguity and adapting designs accordingly.

• Balancing Accessibility and Aesthetics: Ensuring compliance with ADA/WCAG standards while creating an appealing and modern marketing website can be a delicate balance.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and communicating design intentions across a distributed team requires proactive effort and clear documentation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Accessibility Expertise: Gain hands-on experience applying ADA/WCAG guidelines in a real-world project.

• Specialize in Marketing Websites: Enhance skills in designing effective marketing collateral and user journeys for web platforms.

• Client Presentation Skills: Refine abilities in presenting design work and articulating design decisions to clients.

• Design System Contribution: Contribute to a functional design system, learning best practices for scalability and maintenance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are specific to the project's unique requirements, offering a chance to develop niche expertise. The growth opportunities are directly tied to overcoming these challenges and expanding the designer's skill set.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a marketing website with a primary focus on accessibility for an older demographic. What specific considerations would you prioritize?" (Focus on empathy, user research, simplified navigation, clear typography, and contrast.)

• "How do you approach balancing evolving brand direction with the need for a cohesive and scalable design system?" (Discuss iterative design, flexible component structures, and clear documentation.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Heady and this specific freelance project?" (Reference their focus on impact, collaboration, and the unique challenge of accessibility.)

• "How do you manage your time and maintain productivity in a remote, flexible work environment?" (Emphasize self-discipline, time management techniques, and proactive communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your background, then dive into 2-3 key projects most relevant to this role. Prioritize the accessibility-focused marketing website project if you have one, or similar projects demonstrating your core skills.

• Storytelling with Data: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively, but don't shy away from explaining the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Accessibility & Figma: Explicitly point out how you addressed accessibility requirements and showcase your advanced Figma skills, including component libraries and design system work.

• Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to be concise and engaging, leaving time for questions. Be ready to discuss your design choices in detail and defend them with user-centered reasoning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be highly focused on portfolio review and specific skill demonstration. Candidates should prepare to discuss their design philosophy through concrete examples, particularly those that address the project's unique requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance Product Designer position:

• Submit your application: Use the provided link on the Trakstar platform to submit your application.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate your expertise in product design, UX/UI, Figma proficiency, responsive design, and critically, accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG), especially for older demographics.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3-5 years of experience, specific Figma skills, experience with design systems, and any relevant work with marketing websites or accessibility initiatives. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, your approach to collaborative projects, and how you handle ambiguity. Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on concisely explaining your process and the impact of your work.

• Research Heady: Understand Heady's consultancy model, client focus, and company culture. Be prepared to explain why you are a good fit for their team and project-based work.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Heady before making application decisions.