Senior Web Designer, Shopify

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Web Designer, Shopify

Company: KittySpout

Location: Lisbon, Portugal (Remote)

Job Type: Contractor

Category: Web Design & E-commerce Operations

Date Posted: November 03, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead a critical website revamp for two established Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) pet brands, focusing on elevating their online presence and conversion rates.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Figma design system that ensures brand consistency and allows for future expansion using AI-driven tools.

• Collaborate closely with Brand & Community and CRO leadership to translate brand guidelines and conversion principles into compelling web designs.

• Leverage AI-first design methodologies to accelerate the design process, explore innovative directions, and deliver high-quality assets efficiently.

• Own the design of signature website sections, ensuring they are mobile-first, visually distinctive, and strategically optimized for performance and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Web Designer," the responsibilities and focus on conversion, collaboration with CRO, and building a design system for AI extension indicate a role deeply integrated with e-commerce operations and Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy. The emphasis on "designing to convert" and "conversion-led design" positions this as a strategic operational role within the marketing and e-commerce functions, rather than purely a creative design position. The contractor nature and project-based approach for the initial revamp are key operational considerations for candidates.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic design direction for the website revamp of two distinct DTC pet brands, presenting 2-3 unique directions per brand within the first two weeks, building upon existing brand guidelines.

• Architect and meticulously build a mobile-first Figma design system for both brands, encompassing typography, color palettes, spacing, reusable components, and section templates, ensuring clear distinction between brands.

• Design 8-10 signature conversion-focused sections per brand (e.g., hero, benefits, social proof, product comparisons, bundles, brand story) for both mobile and desktop viewpoints.

• Integrate conversion-driven design principles into every element, focusing on clear visual hierarchy, single primary calls-to-action, prominent benefit statements and social proof, and optimized, thumb-friendly mobile layouts.

• Collaborate with the CRO Lead to launch major new sections as A/B split tests, measuring and analyzing performance against established conversion rate and revenue per visitor targets.

• Prepare and deliver clean, well-organized Figma files, comprehensive usage guidelines (do's, don'ts, examples), and essential assets for seamless handover.

• Conduct a thorough walkthrough of the design system and deliverables to empower the internal web team and CRO Lead to extend the system using AI tools.

• Review and approve built web pages against the finalized designs prior to launch, ensuring pixel-perfect implementation and adherence to brand standards.

• Conduct post-handover reviews of the first new sections built by the team using AI, ensuring continued brand consistency and adherence to the design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a project-based engagement with defined deliverables and ownership. The emphasis on "conversion-led design" and "split tests with the CRO Lead" highlights the operational expectation of driving measurable business outcomes, not just aesthetic appeal. The requirement to build a design system that AI can extend points to a forward-thinking operational approach to content and web development scalability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is mandated; practical experience and a strong portfolio are prioritized over formal education.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of dedicated website design experience is required, with a strong emphasis on live e-commerce sites.

Required Skills:

• Shopify Expertise: Proven experience designing and optimizing e-commerce websites specifically on the Shopify platform.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and building comprehensive design systems.

• AI-First Design: Demonstrated experience and daily use of AI tools for image generation, layout exploration, and rapid asset creation in the design process.

• Conversion-Led Design: Deep understanding of conversion principles, including visual hierarchy, compelling calls-to-action, persuasive benefit presentation, and mobile-first optimization for e-commerce.

• Design Systems: Ability to create robust, well-documented design systems in Figma that are easily extendable by developers and AI tools.

• E-commerce Acumen: Strong understanding of online retail best practices, customer journeys, and design strategies that drive sales and improve user experience.

• Brand Elevation: Proven ability to enhance and elevate existing e-commerce brands, making them more premium and distinctive without compromising core brand identity.

• Mobile-First Design: Expertise in designing responsive, mobile-first interfaces that deliver an exceptional user experience across all devices.

• Collaboration & Communication: Ability to take direction from brand and CRO leads, provide constructive pushback with data-backed ideas, and communicate effectively in a remote, fast-paced environment.

• English Fluency: Must be fluent in English for effective communication.

Preferred Skills:

• DTC or Pet Industry Experience: Prior experience designing for Direct-to-Consumer brands, particularly within the pet industry, is a significant advantage.

• UI/UX Principles: A strong foundational understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design principles.

• Prototyping: Skill in creating interactive prototypes to showcase design concepts and user flows.

• Digital Marketing Knowledge: Familiarity with digital marketing strategies and how web design contributes to broader marketing goals.

• Asset Creation: Proficiency in creating various digital assets for web use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-First Design" and building a design system for AI extension is a critical differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to showcase how they integrate AI into their workflow to achieve speed and quality. The "Elevating Existing Brands" requirement suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond just creating new designs, focusing on iterative improvement and brand evolution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Live E-commerce Sites: A portfolio showcasing live e-commerce websites, with a strong preference for Shopify examples, demonstrating high taste, creativity, and superior design quality.

• Brand Elevation Case Studies: Specific examples or case studies detailing how you have successfully taken established e-commerce brands and elevated their websites to be more premium and distinctive, while retaining their core strengths.

• Design System Examples: Demonstrations of previously built design systems in Figma, highlighting their structure, component library, and ease of use for developers or other teams.

• Conversion Optimization Examples: Visual evidence or case studies illustrating how your designs have directly contributed to improved conversion rates, revenue per visitor, or other key e-commerce performance metrics.

• AI-Assisted Design Workflow: Examples or descriptions of how AI tools have been integrated into your design process to achieve faster delivery, explore more options, or create unique assets.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Ability to document and present your design process, from initial brief and competitor analysis to concept development and final handoff, emphasizing efficiency and conversion focus.

• System Implementation Standards: Clear documentation of how you build and structure design systems for maintainability and scalability, ensuring they can be easily extended and understood by others.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Experience in designing with measurability in mind, and a willingness to collaborate on understanding and iterating based on split-test results and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, serving as the primary evidence of taste, technical skill, and conversion-focused design capability. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio, explaining their design decisions, process, and the impact of their work, particularly focusing on how they elevated existing brands and incorporated AI. The design system component is a key deliverable and should be well-represented.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD $35 – $70 per hour. This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for senior-level freelance web designers with specialized e-commerce and AI design experience.

Benefits:

• Flexible Remote Work: Fully remote position offering the freedom to work from anywhere.

• Ongoing Project Opportunities: Potential for continued work beyond the initial website revamp, based on performance and business needs.

• Direct Impact: Opportunity to work directly with senior leadership, including the CEO, and significantly influence the growth of two scaling DTC brands.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Exposure to a dynamic, lean, and results-oriented team culture without corporate politics.

• Competitive Freelance Rate: A clearly defined hourly rate structure that acknowledges experience and portfolio quality.

Working Hours: This is a contractor role with an estimated 40-80 hours for the initial 4-8 week website revamp project. The expectation is for fast turnaround on feedback and a "will-to-win" attitude, implying availability and responsiveness beyond standard 9-5 hours when needed for project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits listed are typical for a contractor role, emphasizing flexibility and direct impact, which are often key attractors for senior operations and design professionals seeking project-based work. The "working hours" are project-dependent but imply a need for agility and responsiveness aligned with the company's fast-paced culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) E-commerce, specifically within the Pet Product sector. This industry is characterized by high growth potential, strong brand loyalty, and a focus on customer experience and product quality.

Company Size: A lean, senior team operating within a rapidly scaling business. The company is profitable and experiencing significant growth, moving towards $100M+ in annual revenue. This implies a dynamic, agile environment where individual contributions have a substantial impact.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company is described as a "profitable, premium DTC pet brand" with a "second brand, expanding into an entirely new vertical." This indicates a mature yet growth-oriented organization with a proven business model.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Web Designer will report to and work closely with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead.

• The team is characterized as "lean, senior" and operates 100% remotely.

• Collaboration is expected to be direct and highly interactive, with minimal bureaucracy. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company emphasizes using data to inform strategic choices and design iterations.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: A "will-to-win" culture that prioritizes speed and efficiency, with rapid feedback loops and same-day turnaround expectations for feedback.

• Creativity with Constraints: A focus on using creativity to achieve more with fewer resources, often leveraging AI to accelerate processes.

• Results-Oriented: The core focus is on driving business results, particularly revenue growth and conversion rates.

Company Website: KittySpout (domain derived: kittyspout.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is a critical hiring factor. Candidates must align with the values of "Better Everyday," "Speed Is King," "Work Smart," and "Overdeliver." This is explicitly stated as not being a "stress-free corporate 9–5 job," but rather a challenging, high-impact role for driven individuals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior, specialized level within the e-commerce operations and design functions. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and demonstrable expertise in web design, e-commerce, and AI tools. The contractor status means growth is project-based and dependent on continued engagement.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to the Head of Brand & Community and collaborate closely with the CRO Lead. This structure emphasizes collaboration and alignment with brand strategy and conversion optimization goals.

Operations Impact: The Senior Web Designer's impact is directly tied to revenue generation and brand perception. By elevating website aesthetics and optimizing for conversion, the role directly contributes to increased sales, improved customer experience, and stronger brand equity in a competitive DTC market. The success metrics are tied to tangible business outcomes like conversion rate and revenue per visitor.

Growth Opportunities:

• Project Expansion: Successful completion of the initial website revamp project can lead to ongoing design work as the company continues to scale and launch new sections or brands.

• Skill Development in AI: Intensive use of AI design tools will foster advanced proficiency and potentially open doors to future roles heavily leveraging AI in creative and operational capacities.

• Strategic Influence: Direct collaboration with senior leadership offers exposure to high-level business strategy and the opportunity to influence product and marketing decisions through design.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Completing a significant project for a $50M+ scaling DTC brand provides substantial credibility and valuable additions to a professional portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contractor role, the "ongoing" nature and the company's growth trajectory suggest potential for sustained engagement. The growth is less about climbing a corporate ladder and more about deepening expertise, taking on more complex projects, and increasing strategic influence within a high-growth environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This eliminates the need for a physical office presence and offers maximum flexibility.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, a specific location in Lisbon, Portugal, is mentioned, possibly indicating the company's headquarters or a primary time zone focus for operational coordination. However, the role is open to remote candidates globally, with the expectation of working within a compatible time zone for collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Independent Work: The remote nature requires self-discipline, strong time management, and the ability to work autonomously.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Extensive use of digital tools like Figma, AI platforms, and communication software (e.g., Slack, email) is essential for seamless collaboration.

• Fast Feedback Loops: The environment supports rapid communication and iteration, requiring designers to be responsive and engaged in real-time discussions with team members.

• Focus on Output: The culture values results and efficiency, meaning the workspace should be conducive to focused, productive work.

Work Schedule: The initial project is scoped for 40-80 hours over 4-8 weeks. While not a strict 9-5, the company values "Speed Is King" and expects same-day feedback turnaround. This suggests a flexible schedule that accommodates collaborative working hours, likely aligning with European time zones given the Lisbon mention, but prioritizing responsiveness and timely delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote work environment is a key feature. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous and synchronous communication, self-management, and adapting to a fast-paced, digitally-driven workflow. The mention of Lisbon might suggest a preference for candidates within or near European time zones for optimal collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application & Screening: Initial review of applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the company's aesthetic and operational needs.

2. Paid Test: A practical, paid test project involving designing "one real section for one of our brands" at the candidate's hourly rate. This is a critical step to evaluate real-world design skills, AI integration, and conversion focus.

3. Final Interview: A discussion with key stakeholders (likely CEO and Head of Brand & Community) to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall suitability.

4. Project Kickoff: For successful candidates, the start of the initial website revamp project.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Shopify Expertise: Ensure your portfolio prominently features Shopify e-commerce projects, demonstrating your familiarity with the platform's capabilities and constraints.

• Highlight Brand Elevation: Prepare to discuss specific examples where you took an existing brand and significantly improved its online presence and premium feel without losing its core identity. Use before-and-after comparisons if possible.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: Be ready to explain and show how you use AI tools in your design process – from ideation and asset creation to layout exploration. Quantify the speed or efficiency gains where possible.

• Explain Conversion Principles: For each project, be prepared to articulate the conversion-focused design decisions you made (e.g., hierarchy, CTAs, proof points) and any measurable results achieved (e.g., increased conversion rates, A/B test wins).

• Design System Clarity: If you have a design system example, ensure it's well-organized and clearly shows how components are structured and can be reused. Explain the logic behind its design for AI extensibility.

• Focus on Taste & Uniqueness: The company emphasizes "great taste" and making brands "unique and stand out." Be prepared to discuss your aesthetic sensibilities and how you approach creating distinctive visual identities.

Challenge Preparation:

• The Paid Test: Treat the paid test as a high-stakes project. Understand the brand, the goal of the section, and how it fits into the overall website strategy. Focus on delivering a high-quality, conversion-optimized design that aligns with the brand's existing identity while showing potential for elevation.

• Strategy Articulation: Be ready to discuss your approach to reviewing brand guidelines, competitor analysis, and how you translate these into design directions.

• AI Workflow Explanation: Prepare to talk in detail about your AI toolset and how you leverage them for efficiency and creative exploration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The paid test is a significant part of the process, acting as a live demonstration of skills. Candidates should approach it with the same rigor as the main project. The interview process is streamlined, focusing on practical application and cultural fit.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for UI/UX, prototyping, and building the design system. Advanced proficiency is expected.

• AI Design Tools: A broad category, likely including AI image generators (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E), AI layout assistants, and potentially AI-powered website builders or content generators. Daily usage is a requirement.

• Shopify Platform: Deep understanding of Shopify's design capabilities, theme structure, and best practices for e-commerce optimization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Tools: While not explicitly named, familiarity with A/B testing platforms (e.g., Google Optimize, Optimizely, VWO) and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) is implied, given the collaboration with the CRO Lead.

• Performance Metrics: Understanding of key e-commerce metrics like conversion rate, revenue per visitor (RPV), average order value (AOV), and bounce rate is essential for conversion-led design.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, an understanding of how web design impacts customer journeys and data capture within CRM systems (e.g., for lead generation or customer segmentation) would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack heavily emphasizes modern, AI-driven design tools and the Shopify e-commerce platform. Proficiency in Figma and a demonstrated ability to integrate AI into the workflow are paramount. Understanding the downstream impact of design on CRO and analytics is also critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Better Everyday: A commitment to continuous improvement, using data from split tests to refine the design system and ensure ongoing optimization.

• Speed Is King: A dedication to rapid execution, delivering initial concepts within two weeks and providing fast, same-day feedback turnaround.

• Work Smart: Leveraging AI and efficient processes to achieve high-quality outcomes with limited resources, and designing systems that enable future AI-driven extensions.

• Overdeliver: Going beyond expectations to provide a robust, long-lasting design system that the team can build upon for years, not just a set of static pages.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Collaborative: Working closely with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead, involving active participation in discussions and feedback sessions.

• Data-Informed & Pushback: While taking direction, designers are encouraged to push back with data-backed ideas and strategic recommendations when they can offer a better solution.

• Remote & Agile: Communication will primarily be digital, requiring clarity, conciseness, and responsiveness to maintain momentum in a fast-paced, remote setting.

• Results-Focused: The team prioritizes outcomes and efficiency, with a shared goal of scaling the business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply integrated into their operational and cultural expectations. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work, particularly in terms of speed, smart execution, and a drive to overdeliver.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Elevation with Conversion: The core challenge is to make brands more unique and premium without sacrificing conversion rates, requiring a delicate balance of aesthetics and performance-driven design.

• AI Integration & Scalability: Effectively leveraging AI tools to accelerate design while ensuring the output is consistently high-quality and cohesive, and building a system that AI can reliably extend.

• Fast Turnaround & High Expectations: Operating in a "Speed Is King" environment with same-day feedback requires exceptional time management, efficiency, and resilience.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and alignment with a remote team, especially when working on a complex project like a full website revamp.

• Elevating Existing Brands: The task is not a blank slate rebrand, but an evolution of existing identity, requiring thoughtful interpretation and enhancement.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Design Skills: Deepening expertise in cutting-edge AI design tools and workflows, becoming a leader in AI-assisted web design.

• E-commerce Conversion Strategy: Gaining hands-on experience with CRO principles and split testing, directly contributing to measurable business growth.

• Strategic Brand Design: Working closely with founders and senior leaders to shape the visual identity and online presence of scaling DTC brands.

• Design System Mastery: Developing advanced skills in creating scalable, maintainable design systems that support AI-driven development.

• Portfolio Building: Creating a significant, impactful project for a high-growth DTC company that will enhance professional credibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly linked to the company's ambitious goals and unique operational approach. Candidates who thrive in fast-paced, innovative environments and are eager to push the boundaries of AI in design will find significant growth opportunities here.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through your process for elevating an existing e-commerce brand's website. How do you balance new aesthetics with established brand equity and conversion goals?" (Focus on your methodology, competitor analysis, and how you integrate brand strategy with CRO.)

• "Describe your experience using AI in web design. Can you provide specific examples of AI tools you use, how they've accelerated your workflow, and how you ensure the quality and uniqueness of AI-generated assets?" (Be ready to detail your AI toolset and demonstrate its practical application.)

• "How would you approach building a Figma design system for two distinct brands that can be easily extended by AI tools? What are the key principles you'd focus on to ensure consistency and scalability?" (Highlight your understanding of design systems, componentization, and AI extensibility.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Our culture values 'Speed Is King' and 'Work Smart.' How do you embody these values in your design process, especially in a remote, fast-paced environment?" (Prepare examples of how you've delivered quickly and efficiently, and how you leverage tools/processes to work smarter.)

• "What does 'overdeliver' mean to you in the context of a freelance design project, particularly when building a design system for AI extension?" (Focus on the long-term value and proactive contributions you can make.)

• "How do you handle constructive feedback or pushback on your design ideas from stakeholders like a CRO Lead or Head of Brand?" (Showcase your ability to collaborate, defend your ideas with data, and be open to iteration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest e-commerce projects, prioritizing Shopify examples and those where you demonstrably elevated an existing brand.

• Quantify Results: For each project, clearly state the problem, your solution, and any quantifiable results (e.g., increased conversion rate, improved engagement metrics). If direct metrics aren't available, explain the conversion-focused design choices you made.

• Showcase AI & Design Systems: Dedicate a portion of your presentation to demonstrating your AI workflow and any design systems you've built. Explain their structure and benefits.

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio walkthrough as a narrative. Explain your thought process, design decisions, and the challenges you overcame.

• Focus on "Taste": Be prepared to articulate your aesthetic principles and how you interpret and apply them to create unique, premium brand experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess practical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural alignment quickly. Candidates should prepare concrete examples and be ready to discuss their approach to AI, conversion design, and collaboration.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Web Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features your strongest Shopify e-commerce projects, paying special attention to examples of brand elevation and conversion-focused design. Include specific sections that showcase your AI design workflow and any Figma design systems you have built.

• Tailor Your Resume/Profile: Highlight your 5+ years of experience, specific expertise in Shopify, Figma, AI design tools, and conversion-led design principles. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for the Paid Test: Understand that a paid test project is part of the process. Be ready to dedicate time to this, demonstrating your ability to design a high-converting section aligned with brand guidelines and your AI-assisted workflow.

• Research KittySpout: Familiarize yourself with KittySpout's existing brands, their products, and their current online presence. Understand their DTC model and target audience to better tailor your application and interview responses.

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