User Experience Designer (Design Systems)

Must Have for this role:

• 5+ years of experience in UX design, with at least 2 years focused on design systems
• Need to be well versed in Design systems where managed and created design systems
• Product development experience in Ed Tech a plus
• Figma knowledge and Responsive design experience 5+ years
• Knowledge of but more experience with Accessibility
• Work independently but also a part of a team
• Excellent Communication skills
• Excellent Collaboration with cross functional partners
• Ability to problem solve is critical

Interview process:

• 1 @ 30-45 minutes duration, could potentially be two if manager needs

Our client is seeking a Senior User Experience (UX) Designer contractor who has a strong background in creating and maintaining design systems, as well as a passion for crafting exceptional user experiences through pattern and system design. In this role, you will help drive the evolution of our client's design system to the next phase, collaborate with cross-functional teams and accessibility specialists, and mentor junior designers. Your work will directly impact the consistency, efficiency, and quality of product design across multiple platforms that serve our K-12 curriculum responsive web experiences.

100% remote. 40 hours per week, no OT or Travel. Onshore candidates only.

IDEAL CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION:

• You are a strategic thinker with a keen eye for detail and a user-centered approach to design. You have extensive experience in UX design, with a specific focus on design systems. You can:
• Lead the analysis, auditing, ideation and creation of components and patterns, guidelines, documentation and specifications in support of our product and platform
• Collaborate with engineering on implementation and maintenance of our design system
• Participate in strategic discussions and planning for the foundational elements and structure of our design system
• Develop processes, design file structure and educate the design team on usage
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure the design system meets the needs of all teams
• Advocate and evangelize design system adoption and usage
• Conduct usability testing where necessary to inform design decisions
• Create high-fidelity prototypes, wireframes, and user flows
• Mentor junior designers and provide guidance on best practices
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in UX design and design systems
• Advocate for user needs and accessibility throughout the design process
• Contribute to the overall design strategy and vision for our products

You’ll be expected to:

• Regularly audit and update the design system
• Facilitate design workshops and presentations
• Develop and maintain design documentation
• Collaborate with engineers to ensure proper implementation of design components
• Analyze user feedback and metrics to continuously improve the design system
• Participate in design critiques and providing constructive feedback to team members
• Solve complex design problems and drive multiple efforts simultaneously
• Approach design system work with consideration for the larger client platform experience and business model
• Deeply understand how products connect and be mindful of touchpoints in the overall user journey across the client platform
• Confidently present designs to peers, stakeholders and leadership, and articulate rationale behind design decisions
• Build presentations and lead discussions about experience-related aspects of the solution with different stakeholders throughout the organization, focused on feedback and action towards next steps
• Design consistent approaches to patterns founded in research and best practice established from both inside and outside of the organization
• Embrace and evangelize pattern-based system design – UX standards, best practices, styles, patterns and guidelines – as well as contribute to our design system by introducing high-quality, accessible and usable patterns and their appropriate usage

Required Experience and Skills

• 5+ years of experience in UX design, with at least 2 years focused on design systems
• Strong portfolio demonstrating experience with creating and maintaining design systems
• Excellent knowledge of user-centered design principles and methodologies
• Proven ability to lead design projects from concept to implementation
• Strong communication, presentation and analytic skills
• Experience with design thinking and agile methodologies
• Familiarity with frontend development concepts and limitations
• Knowledge in software usability principles and current trends and advances in interface design
• Product development experience in Ed Tech a plus
• Demonstrated experience working in an Agile environment
• Experience with design ops and scaling design processes
• Knowledge of data visualization and information architecture
• Familiarity with design systems like Material Design, Apple Human Interface Guidelines, and Carbon Design System
• Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Visual Communication, Digital Design, Product Design, Human Centered Design, or related field required
• MFA or advanced degree a plus

Tools and Technology:

• Expert Figma user
• Familiarity with design token systems and their implementation
• Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and how to implement them in design systems
• In-depth knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (ability to understand and communicate with developers)
• Deep understanding of responsive design approaches