Sr. UX/UI Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Sr. UX/UI Designer
Company: Knix
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Job Type: Full Time Permanent
Category: UX/UI Design (eCommerce Focus)
Date Posted: 2026-06-15
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid
🚀 Role Summary
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Lead the end-to-end UX/UI design strategy and execution for Knix's direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce platforms, encompassing Knix, Kt by Knix, and Mntd.
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Drive the visual and interaction design language across all digital touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive, elevated, and on-brand customer experience as the company scales.
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Own the development and maintenance of a scalable design system for web and mobile web, serving as the single source of truth for UI components and interaction patterns.
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Collaborate closely with eCommerce, Product, and Engineering teams to translate business requirements into effective, buildable design solutions with a strong focus on conversion optimization and user engagement.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical individual contributor with significant ownership over the digital customer experience, particularly within the eCommerce funnel. The emphasis on "owning" the design system and "single owner" of the site's language suggests a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence for the right candidate. The mention of DTC KPIs and conversion optimization clearly signals a business-critical function focused on driving revenue through design.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
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Own and evolve the UX/UI direction from homepage through to the checkout process for all Knix brands, ensuring a consistent and premium brand presentation.
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Lead the redesign and ongoing optimization initiatives for core eCommerce templates such as Product Detail Pages (PDP), Product Listing Pages (PLP), homepage, cart, and checkout flows.
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Establish, maintain, and scale a comprehensive living design system for web and mobile web, ensuring adherence to UI components, design tokens, and interaction patterns.
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Partner with cross-functional teams including eCommerce, Product Management, and Engineering to translate business needs into user-centered, technically feasible design solutions, ensuring timely delivery.
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Implement iterative UI improvements driven by performance data, heuristic evaluations, competitive benchmarking, and user research, rather than subjective aesthetic preferences.
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Develop detailed motion and interaction design specifications for micro-interactions, transitions, and animations where they demonstrably enhance the customer experience.
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Contribute to and provide quality assurance for creative assets, ensuring campaign landing pages, editorial content, and seasonal promotions align with the established design system.
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Present design concepts, rationale, and outcomes effectively to a diverse audience of cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership.
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Actively champion design quality across the organization, raising standards, educating partners, and constructively challenging deviations from established design principles.
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Define and execute research strategies, translating the product roadmap into actionable research plans, identifying knowledge gaps, formulating hypotheses, and leading qualitative and quantitative customer research initiatives.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic ownership (owning the direction, defining research strategy) and tactical execution (redesigning templates, developing motion specs). The emphasis on data-driven improvements and a living design system points to a mature and evolving digital product environment. The mention of "campaign landing pages, editorial features, and seasonal moments" indicates the need for flexibility and adaptability within a structured design framework.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is often expected for senior roles.
Experience: 6+ years of dedicated UX/UI design experience, with a substantial portion focused on direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce or digital retail environments.
Required Skills:
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Exceptional portfolio showcasing sophisticated visual design, strong interaction thinking, and demonstrable eCommerce outcomes.
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Expert-level proficiency in Figma (or comparable tools like Sketch, Adobe XD), including advanced features like component libraries, auto-layout, variables, and complex prototyping.
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Working knowledge of Generative AI/LLM tools and their application in UX/UI workflows for ideation and optimization.
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Solid understanding of HTML/CSS fundamentals, enabling fluent communication with developers and informed awareness of implementation constraints.
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Proven experience in establishing, maintaining, or significantly contributing to a design system within a production environment.
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Familiarity with Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) principles and the ability to design solutions that demonstrably improve conversion metrics.
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Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate and advocate for design decisions to both design and non-design stakeholders.
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Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining a high standard for visual quality and craft. Preferred Skills:
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Experience with motion and interaction design tools such as Principle, Rive, or Adobe After Effects.
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Experience conducting user research (qualitative and quantitative) and translating insights into actionable design improvements.
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Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and how to design for iterative testing.
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Understanding of web accessibility standards (WCAG).
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for expert Figma proficiency, a strong portfolio with measurable eCommerce outcomes, and familiarity with AI tools are key indicators of the technical and strategic expectations for this role. The emphasis on HTML/CSS fundamentals suggests a need for a designer who can bridge the gap between design and development. The preference for motion design experience hints at a desire for a more dynamic and engaging user interface.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Demonstrate a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects, with at least half directly related to direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce experiences.
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Showcase a progression from problem definition and user research through ideation, wireframing, high-fidelity design, prototyping, and final UI, highlighting the rationale behind key decisions.
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Include specific examples of how design decisions impacted key eCommerce metrics such as conversion rates, average order value (AOV), cart abandonment reduction, or user engagement.
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Present a clear understanding of design systems, with examples of how components were structured, utilized, and scaled within a project.
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Exhibit sophisticated visual design craft, including typography, color theory, layout, and attention to detail.
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For projects involving interaction design, provide interactive prototypes that clearly illustrate user flows and micro-interactions. Process Documentation:
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Detail your process for approaching a new eCommerce design challenge, from initial brief to final handoff.
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Illustrate how you integrate user research and data analysis (e.g., analytics, A/B test results) into your design workflow to inform decisions and measure impact.
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Provide examples of how you have contributed to or managed a design system, including its evolution and documentation.
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Explain your approach to collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.
📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements strongly emphasize a results-oriented approach, demanding evidence of impact on business metrics. The need to showcase a full design process, including research and collaboration, is critical. The explicit mention of design systems and eCommerce metrics underscores the core focus of this role.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Designers in Toronto with 6+ years of experience in eCommerce, the estimated annual salary range is $115,000 - $145,000 CAD. The stated starting salary of $115,000 CAD aligns with the lower end of this range, suggesting potential for growth.
Benefits:
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Comprehensive Health & Dental: 100% premium coverage for extended health and dental plans from day one for permanent full-time employees.
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Mental Health Support: Access to virtual coaching, therapy, and counseling through Employee Assistance Programs via partners like Dialogue.
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Paid Parental Leave: Top-up salary to 80% for eligible permanent, full-time employees.
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RRSP Matching Program: Investment in employee retirement savings for permanent full-time team members.
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Employee Discount: 50% discount on Knix products.
Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The company culture appears to value productivity and impact, with an implicit understanding of the need for flexibility to meet project deadlines, especially in a hybrid work environment.
📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary of $115,000 CAD is explicitly stated as a starting point. The estimated range accounts for increased proficiency and institutional knowledge as mentioned in the job description. The benefits package is robust, with a strong emphasis on holistic employee well-being and financial security, which is attractive for senior-level talent.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Apparel (Intimate Apparel & Activewear), Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) eCommerce. Knix is positioned as an innovator within the apparel space, leveraging technology and customer experience to differentiate itself.
Company Size: Knix is a rapidly growing company, indicated by its reach to "over 3 million customers" and presence in retail locations across North America, along with wholesale and Amazon channels. This suggests a medium-to-large sized organization that maintains agility despite its growth.
Founded: 2013. Knix has established itself as a significant player in the market since its inception, demonstrating a track record of innovation and expansion.
Team Structure:
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The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a broader Digital Product or Marketing team. Given the "single owner" description, they may be the sole dedicated senior designer for eCommerce, working closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing specialists.
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The reporting structure is not explicitly defined but would typically be to a Head of Product, Director of Digital Experience, or a similar leadership role within the product or design function.
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Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with explicit partnerships mentioned for eCommerce, Product, and Engineering. This implies a highly collaborative, agile environment where design is integrated early and often. Methodology:
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Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on performance data, heuristic review, and competitive benchmarking to inform design decisions.
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User-Centricity: Strong focus on understanding customer needs through research (qualitative and quantitative) to drive product direction.
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Agile Development: Implied through close collaboration with Engineering and the need to translate requirements into "clear, buildable design solutions delivered on time."
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Design System Governance: Establishing and maintaining a centralized source of truth for UI components and patterns.
Company Website: https://knix.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: Knix's culture is characterized by innovation, community engagement, and a mission-driven approach. The company's rapid growth and focus on customer experience suggest an environment that values proactive problem-solving and a strong sense of ownership. The mention of AI tools in their hiring process also indicates a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is explicitly "Sr. UX/UI Designer," indicating a senior individual contributor position. It demands a high level of autonomy, strategic thinking, and execution capability. The scope covers the entire eCommerce customer journey, signifying significant responsibility.
Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, this role likely reports into a Head of Product, Director of Digital Experience, or a similar senior leadership position within the product or design organization. The emphasis on "owning" the design system suggests minimal direct oversight on day-to-day design tasks but requires strong alignment with broader product and business strategies.
Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to revenue generation and brand perception. By owning the eCommerce UX/UI, the designer influences conversion rates, customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, and ultimately, the company's top-line growth. The role is critical in translating the Knix brand promise into a tangible, high-performing digital experience.
Growth Opportunities:
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Leadership in Design: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team, as the company scales its design function.
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Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy and roadmap development, leveraging design insights to shape future product offerings.
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Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in eCommerce UX/UI, design systems, or user research within a fast-growing DTC brand.
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Cross-functional Development: Gaining broader business acumen by working closely with Marketing, Product, and Engineering leaders.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title and scope of ownership point to a role with significant career potential beyond individual contribution, particularly in a growing company like Knix. The opportunity to shape the digital experience of a well-known DTC brand is a significant growth driver.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The role is described as "Full Time Permanent - Team Member (HQ)" and located in Toronto, ON. While the job description doesn't explicitly state "hybrid," the company's location in HQ and the general industry trend suggest a hybrid work model is likely, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.
Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is the headquarters for the role, implying access to in-person collaboration and company resources.
Workspace Context:
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Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing teams, suggesting an open and interactive workspace designed for cross-functional teamwork.
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Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), project management tools, and potentially AI-powered design aids will be provided.
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Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and strategic discussions with peers and leadership.
Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected. The hybrid nature allows for flexibility in managing personal schedules while ensuring presence for key collaborative activities.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "HQ" designation and Toronto location strongly imply a hybrid model where the designer is expected to be in the office for key collaborative periods, while also benefiting from remote work flexibility. This blend is common for senior roles requiring both independent work and team synergy.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Application & Screening: Review of resume and portfolio. Candidates are expected to have a portfolio that clearly demonstrates their UX/UI expertise, eCommerce focus, and measurable results.
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Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your experience, approach to design challenges, understanding of eCommerce UX, and alignment with Knix's mission and values. Be prepared to walk through key portfolio projects.
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Design Exercise/Case Study: A practical assessment, potentially involving a design challenge or a deep dive into a portfolio project to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate rationale. This might include presenting design solutions for specific eCommerce scenarios.
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Cross-functional Team Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, and potentially Marketing to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate feedback.
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Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and final cultural fit.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects, prioritizing those with direct relevance to eCommerce, DTC, and complex UI/UX challenges.
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Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, from problem definition and research to ideation, iteration, and final solution. Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, user flows) to illustrate each stage.
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Quantify Impact: For each project, highlight the business goals and the measurable outcomes achieved (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced bounce rates). Use data and metrics wherever possible.
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Highlight Design System Work: If you have experience building or contributing to design systems, dedicate a section to explain its structure, benefits, and how you applied it.
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Craft Your Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project, focusing on the "why" behind your decisions and the impact you made.
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Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to present your portfolio live, either in a presentation format or by walking through your online portfolio. Practice your talking points and anticipate questions.
Challenge Preparation:
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Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly analyze the brief, identify the core problem, target audience, and business objectives.
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Focus on Process: Demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, outlining your steps, assumptions, and how you would gather necessary information or conduct research.
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Present Solutions Clearly: Articulate your proposed solutions with clear rationale, supported by UX principles and, if applicable, data insights.
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Consider Business Impact: Frame your solutions in terms of their potential impact on key DTC eCommerce KPIs.
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Be Ready for Iteration: Show flexibility and an openness to feedback, demonstrating how you would incorporate suggestions.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a practical, results-driven assessment. Candidates must be prepared to not only showcase their design skills but also their ability to drive business outcomes and collaborate effectively within a product development lifecycle. The portfolio is paramount, serving as the primary evidence of capability.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Figma: Expert-level proficiency is a core requirement for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management.
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Design System Tools: Familiarity with tools and methodologies for creating, maintaining, and documenting design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or Figma's built-in features).
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Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, proficiency in tools like Principle, Rive, or Adobe After Effects for advanced motion and interaction design is a strong plus.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior, track KPIs, and inform design decisions.
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A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms like Optimizely, VWO, or Google Optimize for designing and analyzing experiments.
CRM & Automation:
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While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and utilized within a CRM context (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for designing personalized customer journeys.
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Project Management Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks and collaborating with engineering teams.
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AI/LLM Tools: Working knowledge of how AI tools can be integrated into UX/UI workflows for ideation, content generation, or workflow optimization.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Figma expertise and the strong preference for motion design tools highlight the technical expectations. The mention of AI/LLM tools indicates a forward-thinking approach to design tooling. A foundational understanding of analytics and A/B testing is crucial for demonstrating a data-driven design approach.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values: Knix emphasizes authenticity, empowerment, and innovation. For a UX/UI Designer, this translates to:
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Authenticity: Designing experiences that are genuine, transparent, and reflective of the Knix brand's commitment to "real life."
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Empowerment: Creating intuitive and empowering digital experiences that enable customers to confidently navigate and engage with the brand.
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Innovation: A proactive approach to exploring new design solutions, leveraging technology (including AI), and pushing creative boundaries to enhance the customer journey.
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Data-Driven Approach: Valuing decisions supported by data and user insights, ensuring that design contributes measurably to business objectives.
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Craftsmanship & Quality: A deep appreciation for detailed, precise, and visually distinctive design that elevates the brand.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and eCommerce teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to influence without direct authority.
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Constructive Feedback Culture: A willingness to give and receive feedback thoughtfully, fostering an environment of continuous improvement for both designs and processes.
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Ownership & Accountability: A culture where individuals take ownership of their work and are accountable for delivering high-quality outcomes.
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Mission-Driven: A shared passion for the Knix mission, encouraging a collective effort towards achieving business goals.
📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply embedded in its mission and brand identity, suggesting that candidates who align with these principles will thrive. The emphasis on collaboration and ownership indicates a team environment where individual contributions are valued and integrated into a larger strategy.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Balancing Conversion and Brand: The primary challenge will be to continuously optimize the eCommerce experience for conversion while maintaining and elevating the premium brand aesthetic of Knix.
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Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring the design system remains robust, scalable, and consistently applied across a growing range of digital touchpoints and new product lines (Kt by Knix, Mntd.).
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Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively communicating design rationale and navigating priorities across various departments (Product, Marketing, Engineering) to ensure alignment and buy-in.
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Pace of Innovation: Keeping pace with evolving eCommerce trends, user expectations, and leveraging new technologies (like AI) to maintain a competitive edge.
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Individual Contributor Ownership: Thriving as a sole senior designer responsible for a broad scope, requiring strong self-management and prioritization skills.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Design System Mastery: Deepening expertise in building, scaling, and governing complex design systems.
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DTC eCommerce Strategy: Gaining extensive knowledge of direct-to-consumer business models, conversion optimization strategies, and customer journey mapping.
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AI in Design: Exploring and applying generative AI tools to enhance design workflows, ideation, and problem-solving.
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Cross-functional Leadership: Developing stronger strategic partnerships and influencing skills by working closely with senior leaders in Product, Engineering, and Marketing.
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Potential for Team Leadership: As the company grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers or lead design initiatives.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a growing eCommerce company, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, strong execution, and adaptability. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for significant professional development in a dynamic environment.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"Describe your process for redesigning a critical eCommerce flow, such as the checkout process. How would you balance conversion optimization with user experience and brand consistency?" (Focus on research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration).
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"How do you approach building or evolving a design system for a growing brand? What are the key considerations for scalability and adoption?" (Discuss component structure, documentation, governance, and collaboration).
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"Walk me through a time you had to defend a design decision to stakeholders who disagreed. How did you use data, user research, or UX principles to support your recommendation?" (Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio).
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"How do you integrate AI tools into your UX/UI workflow? Provide an example of how AI has helped you ideate, optimize, or improve efficiency in a past project." (Be specific about the tools and the impact). Company & Culture Questions:
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"What excites you about Knix's mission and brand, and how do you see your design expertise contributing to it?" (Research Knix's brand, values, and recent initiatives).
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"How do you ensure your design work reflects a brand's identity while also meeting performance metrics?" (Discuss balancing aesthetics with functionality and business goals).
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"Describe your experience working in a hybrid or collaborative team environment. How do you ensure effective communication and alignment with remote and in-office colleagues?" (Highlight communication strategies and tools). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Storytelling: Structure each project presentation as a narrative: the problem, your role, your process, the solutions, and the measurable impact.
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Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. Ensure your online portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate.
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Quantify Results: Be ready to discuss the specific metrics and KPIs your designs influenced. Prepare to explain how you measured success.
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Focus on "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. Why did you choose a particular UI pattern, interaction, or visual style?
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Showcase Design System Contribution: If applicable, detail your role in the design system, how you contributed components, and how it benefited the project or organization.
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Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, challenges faced, trade-offs made, and how you would handle specific scenarios relevant to Knix's business.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of eCommerce UX/UI principles, a data-driven approach, and the ability to translate business objectives into user-centric designs. The portfolio is the primary vehicle for showcasing these capabilities.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Sr. UX/UI Designer position at Knix:
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Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.
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Portfolio Customization: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features your most relevant eCommerce and DTC design projects, clearly highlighting your contributions and measurable outcomes.
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Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6+ years of UX/UI experience, specific eCommerce accomplishments, proficiency in Figma, design system experience, and familiarity with CRO principles.
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Prepare for Case Study: Review common eCommerce UX challenges (e.g., optimizing PDPs, checkout flows, user onboarding) and be ready to discuss your approach, potential solutions, and how you would measure success.
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Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Knix's brand, mission, product offerings, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to innovation and community.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Requires 6+ years of UX/UI experience with a strong focus on direct-to-consumer eCommerce and expert proficiency in Figma. Candidates must demonstrate a sophisticated portfolio and a solid understanding of HTML/CSS and CRO principles.