UX/UI Designer (Contractor/Freelancer)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer (Contractor/Freelancer) Company: Belka Location: Italy (Remote) Job Type: Contractor Category: Digital Product Design / UX/UI Operations Date Posted: 2025-06-25 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-4 years) Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on end-to-end digital product design, translating business objectives into intuitive and effective user experiences.
• You will be responsible for managing the complete design lifecycle, from initial discovery and user research to final handoff for development.
• This position requires strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including product managers, strategists, and developers, to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
• The role emphasizes the creation of user-centered interfaces and design systems using industry-standard tools like Figma, ensuring design consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX/UI Designer," for operations professionals, this role can be framed as "Digital Product Design Operations" due to its focus on process, stakeholder management, and translating strategy into tangible design outputs that impact business goals. The contractor/freelancer nature implies a project-based engagement with a need for self-management and clear deliverable tracking.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Effectively manage relationships with internal teams (product, development, strategy) and external clients, ensuring clear communication of design progress, challenges, and solutions.
• Product Strategy Translation: Translate complex product strategies and feature requirements into coherent and user-friendly digital experiences, aligning with business objectives.
• End-to-End Design Lifecycle Management: Oversee the entire design process, from initial discovery and user research phases through to detailed wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and final developer handoff.
• User Insight Integration: Gather and synthesize insights from user interviews, data analysis, competitive benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback to inform design decisions and ensure user-centricity.
• Interface & Design System Development: Create wireframes, detailed UI designs, and interactive prototypes, with a strong emphasis on building and adhering to design systems for consistent and scalable digital products.
• Developer Handoff & Collaboration: Prepare comprehensive documentation and assets for development teams, ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation of the designed interfaces.
• Negotiation & Solution Balancing: Propose and negotiate design solutions that effectively balance user needs, technical constraints, and strategic business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a need for strong process ownership and a methodical approach to design, akin to operations management. The emphasis on balancing needs and managing the full lifecycle points to a need for structured project execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of design principles and methodologies is paramount. Formal education in Design, HCI, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 2-4 years of hands-on experience in digital product design, with a proven track record of creating successful user experiences for web and mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• Digital Product Design Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of the full UX/UI design process for digital products.
• User Research & Insight Gathering: Ability to conduct user interviews, analyze data, and synthesize findings to drive design decisions.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize user flows and interface designs.
• UI Design & Visual Language: Strong aesthetic sense and ability to create compelling visual designs that align with brand identity and user expectations.
• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for interface design, prototyping, and design system creation.
• Design System Development: Experience in building, maintaining, or working with established design systems.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to effectively communicate and negotiate with diverse stakeholders, managing expectations and building consensus.
• Business Acumen: Capacity to understand and translate business objectives into effective user experiences.
• English Proficiency: B2 level or equivalent, enabling effective communication in an international remote team.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and iterative design based on performance metrics.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a remote environment.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG).

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level of 2-4 years suggests a mid-level role where candidates are expected to work with some autonomy but still benefit from guidance. The emphasis on Figma and design systems indicates a focus on efficient, scalable design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 in-depth case studies detailing your design process from problem identification to solution implementation.
• Process Documentation: Clearly articulate the methodologies used in each case study, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration.
• Figma Examples: Provide examples of your work within Figma, demonstrating proficiency in creating complex interfaces, components, and design system elements.
• Outcome-Oriented Presentation: Highlight the business impact and user outcomes achieved through your design solutions, quantifying results where possible (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores).
• Stakeholder Interaction Examples: Briefly describe how you managed stakeholder input and feedback within your projects.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate your ability to map out and optimize user flows for digital products.
• System Implementation Standards: Showcase how you ensure design consistency and scalability through the use of design systems and component-based design.
• Handoff Protocols: Include examples or descriptions of your developer handoff process, ensuring clarity and completeness of design specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX/UI role, the portfolio is the primary artifact. The emphasis here is on demonstrating a structured, process-driven approach to design, which aligns with operations principles of efficiency and measurable outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a contractor/freelancer role based in Italy, the compensation will likely be project-based or an hourly rate. Based on industry benchmarks for UX/UI Designers with 2-4 years of experience in Italy, a competitive hourly rate could range from €30 to €50 per hour, or a project fee commensurate with scope.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Hours: As a contractor, you will likely have control over your working hours, allowing for flexibility to manage your workload and personal life.
• Remote Work: Fully remote position, offering the freedom to work from anywhere within Italy.
• Project Variety: Opportunity to work on diverse digital products for innovative Italian companies.
• Direct Collaboration: Engage directly with a skilled team of strategists, designers, and developers.
• Professional Development: Potential for ongoing collaboration and exposure to new projects and technologies.

Working Hours: This is a full-time contractor role, typically expected to align with standard business needs for project delivery. While flexible, it implies a commitment to meeting project deadlines and participating in team meetings, likely around 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates for contractor roles are highly variable. This range is based on general market research for freelance UX/UI designers in Italy and assumes project-based work. Actual compensation will depend on the specific project scope, duration, and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Services, Digital Product Development, Technology Consulting. Belka operates at the intersection of design, strategy, and development, serving innovative clients in various sectors. Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (13 employees), indicating a close-knit, collaborative environment with potential for direct impact. This size often fosters agility and direct communication channels. Founded: While not explicitly stated, the company's client list (Fatture in Cloud, Subito.it, NeN, etc.) suggests a history of successful, impactful projects, implying a mature and experienced team.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Pods: The team is composed of strategists, designers, and developers who likely work in small, project-specific teams or "pods."
• Flat Hierarchy: With a small team size, there's likely a relatively flat organizational structure, allowing for direct access to leadership and easier collaboration across disciplines.
• Collaborative Environment: Emphasis on "teamwork," "sharing insights," and "constant comparison" suggests a culture that values open communication and collective problem-solving.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: Core to their approach, focusing on understanding users to build effective digital products.
• Agile & Iterative Development: Implied by the nature of digital product development and the need to adapt to client and user feedback.
• Design System Focus: A key operational efficiency driver, ensuring consistency and scalability across projects.

Company Website: https://www.belkadigital.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Belka's focus on innovative clients and a small, agile team structure suggests an environment where designers can have significant influence and work closely with decision-makers. The "curious people" and "sharing insights" ethos points to a learning-oriented culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Contractor/Freelancer. It requires independent execution of design tasks and the ability to manage project components autonomously. It's an opportunity to deepen expertise in digital product design and client-facing project management.

Reporting Structure: As a contractor, you will likely report to a Product Manager, Design Lead, or a designated point person within Belka for project-specific oversight and guidance. Direct interaction with strategists and developers is expected.

Operations Impact: Your work directly impacts the success of client digital products by enhancing user experience, driving engagement, and contributing to the achievement of business objectives through well-designed interfaces. This role translates strategic goals into tangible user-facing assets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI, design systems, and potentially user research methodologies.
• Client Relationship Management: Develop skills in managing client expectations and communicating design rationale effectively.
• Project Portfolio Expansion: Gain experience with a diverse range of innovative clients and digital products, enriching your professional portfolio.
• Potential for Long-Term Engagement: Successful contractors may be considered for future projects or ongoing engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor, "growth" is often measured by project experience, skill refinement, and the ability to secure future engagements. Belka's client roster provides excellent opportunities to build a strong portfolio.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means no physical office requirement, offering maximum flexibility.

Office Location(s): While Belka has a physical presence in Trento, Italy, this role is explicitly remote and open to candidates within Italy.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office: You will be expected to maintain a productive and professional home office environment conducive to focused design work and virtual collaboration.
• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital tools for communication, project management, and design collaboration (e.g., Slack, Figma, video conferencing).
• Independent Work: A significant portion of the work will involve independent design and research, requiring self-discipline and time management.

Work Schedule: As a full-time contractor, expect a standard work week, though specific daily hours can be flexible as long as project deadlines and meeting commitments are met. This allows for managing your own schedule while ensuring availability for team syncs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of this role emphasizes the need for strong self-management, proactive communication, and proficiency with digital collaboration tools, all critical skills in modern operations environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• CV Screening: Initial review of your resume and application to assess basic qualifications and experience.
• Introductory Call: A get-to-know-you call to discuss your background, motivations, and initial fit with Belka's culture and the role's requirements.
• Technical & Cultural Fit Assessment: This stage likely involves a more in-depth discussion of your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you align with Belka's values. It might include a portfolio review or a small design exercise.
• Reference Check: Verification of your professional history and performance with previous employers or clients.
• Final Selection: Decision and offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process: Focus on explaining how you arrived at your design solutions, not just showing the final visuals. Emphasize user research, problem definition, iteration, and rationale behind key decisions.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or describe tangible outcomes of your designs (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, user engagement, task completion times).
• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating your understanding of component libraries, design systems, and efficient workflow within the tool.
• Tailor to Belka: Research Belka's clients and their digital products. Frame your experience and portfolio pieces to show how you can bring value to their specific type of work.
• Conciseness: While detailed, keep your presentation concise and engaging, respecting the interviewer's time.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Problem: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design challenge provided by Belka, focusing on your thought process, research methods, and iterative approach.
• Stakeholder Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle challenging stakeholder feedback or conflicting requirements.
• Tooling & Process: Be prepared to articulate your workflow and best practices within Figma and other relevant design tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a holistic assessment, combining technical skills with cultural alignment and past performance. A well-prepared portfolio that showcases process is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is a core requirement.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, experience with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.
• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., Maze, UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Data Analysis: Ability to interpret quantitative data to identify design opportunities and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design integrates with broader product and marketing platforms is advantageous. Familiarity with how user data flows from design to CRM systems can be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is highlighted as the primary tool, indicating a need for deep expertise. Familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating data-informed design, a key aspect of operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Growth: Belka seeks "curious people who want to grow," suggesting a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: "Doing teamwork" and "building a team" are central, emphasizing collective effort and shared success.
• Quality & Impact: They are "good at what they do" and focus on "designing interfaces that generate results," highlighting a commitment to high-quality, impactful work.
• Transparency & Communication: "Constant comparison along the path" and providing feedback at "every step" indicate a culture of open communication and transparency.
• Client Focus: Collaborating with "innovative companies" and delivering "digital products that help companies grow" shows a strong client-centric orientation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional: Close collaboration with strategists and developers is fundamental to their project approach.
• Iterative Feedback: The process involves continuous feedback loops to refine designs and ensure alignment.
• Insight Sharing: An open environment for sharing insights and ideas across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Belka's values align well with operations principles of continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Negotiating and integrating diverse requirements from users, clients, and development teams can be complex.
• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and team cohesion in a fully remote, project-based environment requires proactive effort.
• Translating Abstract Strategy: Effectively converting high-level product strategy into concrete, user-friendly design solutions.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with evolving design tools, methodologies, and digital product trends.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Exposure to Leading Clients: Working with well-known Italian tech companies offers significant learning opportunities and portfolio enhancement.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Direct collaboration with strategists and developers provides insights into other areas of product development.
• Refining Design Process: Opportunities to hone your end-to-end design process and stakeholder management skills.
• Project Variety: Tackling different types of digital products and challenges to broaden your experience base.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in design roles but are framed here with an operations lens, emphasizing process management and stakeholder alignment. Growth is tied to project experience and skill refinement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How do you approach translating a vague product strategy into actionable design requirements?" (Focus on your process for discovery, user research, and defining MVP features.)
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting demands from different stakeholders (e.g., user needs vs. technical limitations vs. business goals). How did you reach a resolution?" (Prepare a case study demonstrating negotiation and compromise.)
• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system in Figma. What are the key benefits and challenges?" (Showcase your understanding of scalable design practices.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Belka's client roster and their approach to digital product development?" (Research Belka's recent projects and clients.)
• "How do you thrive in a remote, collaborative team environment?" (Highlight your self-management, communication, and proactivity.)
• "How do you measure the success of your design work?" (Discuss metrics like user satisfaction, task completion rates, conversion improvements, and how you track them.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives: problem, your role, process, solution, and results.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean and easy to follow, with clear annotations explaining your design decisions.
• Figma Walkthrough: Be prepared to share your screen and navigate through a Figma project, demonstrating your proficiency and organization.
• Focus on Process: Emphasize your methodology, not just the final aesthetics. Explain why you made certain choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a structured, impact-oriented design process, strong communication skills, and a good cultural fit with Belka's collaborative and growth-oriented ethos.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this contractor UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Belka careers page.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest digital product design case studies that showcase your end-to-end process, Figma proficiency, and ability to deliver results. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the problem, your approach, and the outcome.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 2-4 years of relevant experience, focusing on skills and responsibilities that align with the job description, particularly stakeholder management, user research, Figma, and design systems.
• Prepare for the Calls: Research Belka's clients and their work. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, how you approach collaboration, and your experience with remote work. Practice articulating your portfolio case studies concisely.
• Understand Contractor Expectations: Be prepared to discuss your availability, hourly rate expectations, and how you manage project timelines and deliverables as a freelancer.

⚠️ 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.

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