Senior Web Designer, Shopify

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Web Designer, Shopify

Company: KittySpout

Location: Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (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

• Lead a comprehensive website revamp for two premium DTC pet brands, focusing on elevating brand aesthetics and enhancing conversion rates through expert web design.

• Develop and implement a robust Figma design system to ensure brand consistency and facilitate rapid, AI-assisted content creation for new sections.

• Collaborate closely with the Head of Brand & Community and the CRO Lead to translate brand identity into high-converting e-commerce experiences.

• Leverage AI-first design methodologies to accelerate design exploration, asset production, and overall project delivery timelines.

• Drive measurable improvements in key e-commerce metrics, including conversion rate and revenue per visitor, through data-driven design decisions and A/B testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior, contract-based position with a significant emphasis on driving revenue through design optimization. The focus on AI-first design and the creation of a scalable design system indicates a strategic need for efficiency and long-term maintainability within KittySpout's digital presence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough reviews of existing websites, brand guidelines, and competitive landscapes to present 2-3 distinct web design directions for each of the two brands within the initial two weeks.

• Construct a comprehensive, mobile-first Figma design system for both brands, meticulously defining typography, color palettes, spacing, and reusable components and section templates.

• Design 8-10 signature sections per brand (e.g., hero, product benefits, social proof, comparison, bundles, brand story) for both mobile and desktop views, ensuring strict adherence to brand guidelines and conversion principles.

• Implement conversion-led design strategies for every section, focusing on clear visual hierarchy, single primary calls-to-action, prominent benefit and proof points, and optimized mobile layouts for ease of use.

• Partner with the CRO Lead to launch major new sections as A/B tests, meticulously analyzing performance data to inform iterative design improvements and validate conversion uplift.

• Prepare and deliver clean Figma files, clear usage guidelines, essential assets, and conduct a concise walkthrough session to empower the internal team to extend the design system using AI tools.

• Review and provide feedback on the first new sections built by the internal team using the design system and AI, ensuring continued brand consistency and quality.

• Ensure all design deliverables are completed within the agreed project timeline and allocated hours, managing personal workload efficiently to meet project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to design, requiring not only creative execution but also strategic thinking around brand elevation, conversion optimization, and the practical application of AI in the design process. The emphasis on "Accountabilities" signifies ownership and direct impact on business outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, e-commerce best practices, and user experience is essential, often gained through formal education or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional web design experience is mandatory, with a proven track record in e-commerce environments.

• Demonstrated success in elevating existing e-commerce brands, making their websites more premium and distinctive without compromising core functionality or established brand elements. Required Skills:

• Shopify Expertise: Deep understanding of the Shopify platform's design capabilities, theming, and best practices for e-commerce websites.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and the creation of scalable design systems.

• AI-First Design: Extensive experience utilizing AI tools for image generation, layout exploration, content creation, and accelerating the design workflow.

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Strong knowledge of CRO principles, including visual hierarchy, call-to-action optimization, user journey mapping, and data-driven design adjustments.

• Design Systems: Proven ability to build and document comprehensive design systems that are clear, maintainable, and extendable by developers and AI tools.

• Mobile-First Design: Expertise in designing for mobile devices first, ensuring a seamless and optimized user experience across all screen sizes.

• E-commerce Design: A strong portfolio showcasing live e-commerce websites with exceptional taste, creativity, and demonstrable conversion performance.

• Brand Strategy Integration: Ability to interpret and build upon existing brand guidelines to create unique, premium, and differentiated brand experiences online.

• UI/UX Design Principles: Solid understanding of user interface and user experience design principles to create intuitive and engaging digital products.

Preferred Skills:

• DTC Experience: Prior experience designing for Direct-to-Consumer brands.

• Pet Industry Experience: Familiarity with the nuances and aesthetics of the pet product market.

• Split Testing Experience: Practical experience designing elements for A/B testing and interpreting results.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in additional prototyping or animation tools beyond Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-First Design" and "Design Systems" suggests a forward-thinking approach by KittySpout, valuing efficiency and scalability. Candidates should highlight their practical experience in these areas, providing concrete examples of how they've leveraged AI and built systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing live e-commerce websites, ideally built on Shopify, that demonstrate exceptional taste, creativity, and a premium aesthetic.

• Specific case studies or examples illustrating experience in elevating existing brands, highlighting the strategic approach taken to enhance brand perception and distinctiveness.

• Demonstrations of conversion-focused design strategies, including examples of how visual hierarchy, calls-to-action, and user flow were optimized to drive sales.

• Evidence of work on design systems, including examples of component libraries, style guides, and documentation that facilitated consistency and scalability.

• Examples of AI-assisted design workflows, showcasing how AI tools were integrated to accelerate exploration, asset creation, or prototyping. Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes clearly, particularly regarding the creation and handover of the Figma design system.

• Experience in developing simple, actionable usage rules and guidelines for design systems to ensure consistent application by developers and AI tools.

• Proficiency in documenting design decisions and rationale, especially those driven by conversion data or brand strategy objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates must be prepared to showcase not just aesthetically pleasing designs but also evidence of their ability to drive conversions, build maintainable design systems, and integrate AI into their workflow. The emphasis on "handover so AI can extend it" implies a need for exceptionally clear and well-documented systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD $35 – $70 per hour. This range is determined by the candidate's experience level, the strength and relevance of their portfolio, and their demonstrated proficiency in AI-first design and e-commerce optimization.

Benefits:

• Flexible Remote Work: Fully remote position allowing for work from anywhere.

• Ongoing Contract Work: Potential for continued engagement beyond the initial website revamp project, offering long-term freelance opportunities.

• Direct Impact: Opportunity to work directly with senior leadership, including the founder, and significantly influence the growth trajectory of a fast-scaling company.

• Dynamic Environment: Experience a fast-paced, lean, and results-oriented work culture with minimal bureaucracy.

• Competitive Hourly Rate: A strong hourly rate reflecting the senior nature of the role and specialized skill requirements.

Working Hours: The role is described as freelance with an initial project estimated at 40–80 hours over 4–8 weeks. The working hours are flexible, but the company culture emphasizes "Speed Is King," requiring prompt feedback turnaround (same-day) and availability to start within a few weeks. The role implies a commitment of approximately 20 hours per week on average for the initial project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is structured on an hourly freelance basis, with a broad range indicating significant differentiation based on demonstrated expertise, particularly in AI design and e-commerce conversion. The lack of traditional benefits is typical for contract roles, offset by the opportunity for ongoing work and direct impact.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Pet Products. KittySpout operates in a growing and competitive market, focusing on premium offerings. The company has successfully launched two brands, indicating expansion capabilities and market understanding.

Company Size: The company is described as "lean" and scaling rapidly from $50M+ to $100M+ in annual revenue. This suggests a team of experienced professionals who are highly impactful, likely numbering between 50-200 employees, though potentially smaller and more agile at the senior leadership level.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company's growth trajectory ($50M+ revenue) indicates a mature business that has achieved significant market traction.

Team Structure:

• The design role reports to the Head of Brand & Community and collaborates closely with the CRO Lead.

• The team is described as "lean, senior," implying a high level of expertise and autonomy for each member.

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, involving direct interaction with the CEO and potentially other senior leaders. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Operations and design choices are informed by data, particularly split-test results and conversion metrics.

• Agile & Iterative: The company emphasizes speed and continuous improvement, using split-test results to refine systems ("Better Everyday").

• Creativity with Constraints: A focus on "doing more with less" and using creativity to achieve ambitious goals quickly.

• AI Integration: AI is a core tool for exploration, production, and extending design capabilities.

Company Website: https://jobs.workable.com/company/sHYrP1dtaWQ8WyRNn3nUSx/jobs-at-kittyspout (Note: This is the job board URL, the company's primary website is likely kittyspout.com or similar, though not explicitly provided)

📝 Enhancement Note: KittySpout fosters a high-performance culture driven by results, speed, and innovation. The "will-to-win" attitude and a focus on "doing more with less" suggests a demanding but rewarding environment for self-starters who thrive on impact and direct contribution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior level, focusing on specialized design expertise within the e-commerce operations and GTM (Go-To-Market) function. It requires significant independent contribution and strategic input rather than managing a team.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Web Designer will report directly to the Head of Brand & Community and work in close partnership with the CRO Lead. This structure ensures alignment between brand vision, conversion goals, and design execution.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts revenue by improving website conversion rates, enhancing brand perception, and enabling scalable content creation through the design system. Success is measured by tangible business outcomes like increased conversion rates, revenue per visitor, and the successful extension of the brand's digital presence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Ongoing Project Pipeline: Successful completion of the initial revamp project can lead to continuous freelance work, offering sustained engagement and income.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-first design, advanced Figma capabilities, and conversion-focused e-commerce design within a rapidly growing DTC environment.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the strategic direction of the brands' digital presence, working closely with senior leadership and shaping the visual identity that drives growth.

• Portfolio Enhancement: The project offers a significant opportunity to build a high-impact case study for a rapidly scaling DTC company, enhancing future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional corporate ladder role, the growth here lies in deepening specialized skills, gaining significant experience with a high-growth DTC brand, and solidifying a strong portfolio that demonstrates quantifiable business impact. The "ongoing" nature of the contract implies potential for long-term partnership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This offers maximum flexibility in terms of work location.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company lists Warsaw, Poland, as a primary location context. This may indicate a concentration of team members or a specific timezone preference, though the role is open to remote candidates globally.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: The work environment is inherently digital, relying on tools like Figma, Slack, and project management software for communication and collaboration.

• AI-Integrated Workflow: The workspace is expected to be equipped with or readily utilize AI design tools, making AI a daily component of the design process.

• Direct Stakeholder Interaction: Opportunities for frequent interaction with key stakeholders (Head of Brand, CRO Lead, CEO) to ensure alignment and receive feedback.

Work Schedule: The role is flexible in terms of daily hours but demands responsiveness and adherence to tight deadlines, as per the company's "Speed Is King" value. Same-day feedback turnaround and availability to start within weeks are critical. The initial project requires approximately 40-80 hours over 4-8 weeks, suggesting a commitment of roughly 10-20 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote, contractor-based nature of the role means the candidate will define their own workspace. However, the company culture necessitates high availability for communication and rapid iteration, particularly during the initial project phase.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application & Screening: Initial review of applications, focusing on experience, portfolio relevance, and alignment with the company's values.

• Portfolio Review: A detailed assessment of the candidate's portfolio, looking for evidence of taste, e-commerce success, AI integration, and experience elevating brands.

• Paid Test: A real-world, paid design task (one section for one of the brands) at the candidate's hourly rate to assess practical skills, speed, and alignment with brand aesthetic and conversion principles.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (likely CEO and/or Head of Brand) to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase E-commerce Excellence: Prioritize examples of live Shopify sites that demonstrate strong visual appeal, user experience, and clear conversion pathways.

• Highlight Brand Elevation: Include case studies or examples that specifically address how you've taken existing brands and made them more premium and distinctive. Explain your strategic approach.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, provide metrics or explain how your designs contributed to improved conversion rates, revenue, or other key performance indicators.

• Demonstrate AI Proficiency: Include examples of how you've used AI tools in your design process – whether for ideation, asset creation, or rapid prototyping. Explain the benefits gained.

• Detail Design Systems: Showcase examples of design systems you've built, emphasizing clarity, organization, and scalability for future development, including AI extension.

• Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, articulate the problem, your solution, the process, and the outcome. Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research KittySpout's current brands, products, and competitor landscape. Identify opportunities for differentiation and elevation.

• Figma & AI Practice: Ensure you are highly proficient with Figma and have recent examples of using AI design tools to expedite workflows.

• Conversion Principles: Refresh your understanding of core CRO principles and be ready to discuss how you apply them in your design process.

• Cultural Fit: Familiarize yourself with KittySpout's four core values (Better Everyday, Speed Is King, Work Smart, Overdeliver) and prepare to discuss how you embody them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The paid test is a significant component of the hiring process. Candidates should view this as an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities directly and should approach it with the same rigor as a paid project, ensuring high quality and adherence to the company's values.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• 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 use and demonstrated expertise are critical.

• Shopify Platform: Deep understanding of Shopify's design limitations and possibilities is essential for effective website design.

Analytics & Reporting:

• CRO Tools: Familiarity with tools used for A/B testing and conversion rate analysis (e.g., Google Optimize, VWO, Optimizely) is implied, as the designer will collaborate with the CRO Lead on split tests.

• Web Analytics: Understanding how to interpret data from platforms like Google Analytics to inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary for the designer, an understanding of how website design impacts CRM data capture and marketing automation workflows can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-First Design" and the requirement to build a system that AI can extend points to a technology stack where AI is not just a supplementary tool but a foundational element of the design and development workflow. Proficiency in Figma is a given, but demonstrated experience with cutting-edge AI design applications is a key differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: KittySpout operates with a strong emphasis on a specific set of values that guide their work and hiring decisions:

• Better Everyday: A commitment to continuous improvement, leveraging data from split tests and feedback to refine designs and systems over time. This translates to an iterative approach to design and a focus on long-term system maintainability.

• Speed Is King: A culture that values rapid execution, quick decision-making, and efficient feedback loops. Designers must be able to move fast, present concepts promptly, and turn around revisions swiftly.

• Work Smart: An emphasis on efficiency, resourcefulness, and leveraging technology (especially AI) to achieve more with less. This means finding innovative solutions and optimizing workflows rather than relying on brute force.

• Overdeliver: A drive to exceed expectations, not just by delivering good-looking pages but by creating lasting value. This includes building robust systems that empower the team for years to come and ensuring the design system can be effectively extended by AI.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & High-Impact: Collaboration is expected to be direct, with frequent interaction with key stakeholders. The environment is lean, meaning individuals have significant autonomy but are also accountable for their contributions.

• Data-Informed & Creative: While data drives decisions, creativity is highly valued as a tool for differentiation and achieving goals efficiently.

• Proactive & Results-Oriented: Team members are expected to be proactive, take ownership, and be driven by a "will-to-win" attitude, without shying away from tasks that move the business forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates must demonstrate alignment with these four core values. The emphasis on "no work is beneath us" and "no politics or corporate chicanery" suggests a culture that values hard work, transparency, and a shared commitment to business success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Elevating Established Brands: The primary challenge is to enhance the premium feel and distinctiveness of existing brands without alienating current customers or losing brand equity. This requires a nuanced understanding of brand strategy and design.

• Balancing Aesthetics & Conversion: Ensuring that elevated design elements simultaneously drive conversion rates requires a deep understanding of both aesthetic principles and performance marketing psychology.

• AI Integration Mastery: Effectively leveraging AI tools to accelerate design processes while maintaining quality and brand consistency requires continuous learning and experimentation.

• Rapid Iteration & Feedback: The "Speed Is King" value means designers must adapt quickly to feedback and iterate rapidly, often within the same day.

• Scalability of Design System: Creating a design system that is not only functional for current needs but also robust enough for AI-driven future expansion is a significant technical and strategic challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Design Skills: Opportunity to become highly proficient in cutting-edge AI design tools and workflows, positioning oneself at the forefront of the industry.

• E-commerce CRO Expertise: Deepen practical knowledge of conversion rate optimization by working directly with a CRO Lead and testing designs in a live, high-revenue environment.

• High-Growth DTC Experience: Gain invaluable experience working with a rapidly scaling DTC brand, understanding the unique operational and design challenges of such businesses.

• Design System Architecture: Develop expertise in designing and implementing scalable design systems that support both human and AI-driven content creation.

• Strategic Brand Contribution: Play a key role in shaping the digital brand identity of successful DTC products, contributing directly to significant business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the innovative and fast-paced nature of KittySpout's operations. Overcoming these challenges offers substantial opportunities for professional growth in specialized, in-demand areas of digital design and e-commerce strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach elevating the premium feel of Brand X while ensuring it remains distinct from Brand Y, given their current branding guidelines?" (Focus on strategic thinking, brand analysis, and approach to differentiation.)

• "Describe a time you used AI tools to significantly speed up your design process for an e-commerce website. What were the tools, your workflow, and the outcome?" (Assess practical AI application and efficiency.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a new website section, from initial brief to handover, with a specific focus on conversion optimization and ensuring it fits within a design system." (Evaluate process, CRO integration, and design system thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody our value of 'Better Everyday' in your design work?" (Assess commitment to continuous improvement and data-driven refinement.)

• "Given our 'Speed Is King' value, how would you manage your workflow to deliver designs and feedback rapidly while maintaining high quality?" (Gauge understanding of pace and ability to manage time effectively.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to 'Work Smart' to achieve a design goal with limited resources." (Evaluate resourcefulness and creative problem-solving.)

• "How would you ensure your design system is clear and robust enough for our team to extend it using AI tools after handover?" (Test understanding of system design for AI integration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each relevant piece, outline: The Client/Brand, The Challenge (including brand elevation goals), Your Role & Process (highlighting AI and CRO), The Solution (showcasing design system components and final designs), and The Results (quantifiable impact on conversion or brand perception).

• Focus on Conversion: For every example, explicitly state how the design choices were made to improve conversion rates. Discuss A/B tests if applicable.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: Clearly show where and how AI tools were used. Explain the benefits and any limitations encountered.

• Showcase Design Systems: Present clear screenshots or interactive prototypes of design systems you've built, explaining the component structure, style guides, and any documentation provided.

• Be Ready for Live Design/Critique: Prepare for potential exercises where you might be asked to critique an existing page or sketch out ideas for a new section based on a prompt.

• Articulate Brand Elevation: Be prepared to discuss your strategic approach to making brands feel more premium and unique, referencing specific design elements and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skill but also strategic thinking, cultural alignment, and practical application of AI and CRO principles. Candidates should prepare specific examples that directly address these requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest e-commerce design work, specifically highlighting Shopify sites, brand elevation projects, and examples of AI-assisted design workflows. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process, your role, and the quantifiable results achieved, especially regarding conversion improvements.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords such as "Shopify," "Figma," "AI-First Design," "Conversion Rate Optimization," "Design Systems," "E-commerce," "DTC," and "Brand Elevation." Quantify your achievements wherever possible (e.g., "Increased conversion rate by X%," "Designed Y sections resulting in Z revenue uplift").

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research KittySpout, its brands, and its competitors. Practice articulating your design philosophy, your approach to conversion-led design, and how you embody the company's core values ('Better Everyday,' 'Speed Is King,' 'Work Smart,' 'Overdeliver'). Prepare to discuss your experience with AI design tools and design systems in detail.

• Company Research: Understand KittySpout's business model, their position in the DTC pet market, and their growth ambitions ($50M-$100M+). This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.