AKQA - Freelance UI Designer

UI Designer is needed in Seattle, United States.

Client: AKQA

Location: Seattle, WA

Contract: Freelance

Job Description

At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-obsessed Freelance UI Designer to join our team for a major engagement with a globally recognized brand. This is an opportunity to contribute to a flagship digital product that will shape the experience of millions of people worldwide. You’ll work within an existing design system—creating and iterating components, and ensuring visual and interaction excellence across the product.

This role will work collaboratively alongside a highly collaborative product team, starting February 2 through February 27. While remote work is fully supported, the ability to collaborate effectively within Pacific Time (PT) hours is essential. Occasional travel—approximately once a month—for key workshops or working sessions is likely.

Requirements

• Strong UI design experience for digital products (web and/or native apps), with 3–5+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven ability to work within and extend established design systems, including creating and updating components, variants, and patterns.
• Advanced Figma expertise:
• Deep understanding of components, variants, auto layout, libraries, and interactive prototyping.
• Hands-on experience creating and managing design tokens in Figma (color, type, spacing, radius, etc.).
• Comfort using the latest Figma features and workflows to drive efficiency and consistency.
• Meticulous attention to detail in layout, spacing, typography, hierarchy, and interaction states.
• Ability to translate requirements and wireframes into high-fidelity UI designs that are both on-brand and highly usable.
• Experience iterating quickly—exploring options, refining details, and aligning designs to an existing system while pushing it forward where appropriate.
• Capability to prepare developer-ready files and documentation that clearly express component behavior, states, and usage.
• Comfort collaborating with product designers, UX designers, product managers, and engineers in an agile/iterative environment.
• Understanding of accessibility considerations and how they apply to interface design.
• Ability to work effectively within Pacific Time (PT) hours; West Coast–based candidates preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to once per month for key onsite sessions, as needed.

Qualities and Characteristics

• Pixel-precise craft: You notice the details others miss—alignment, spacing, states, motion, and how components behave in real use.
• Systems thinker: You naturally think in patterns, tokens, and components, and understand how small decisions scale across a large product.
• Figma “power user”: Comfortable pushing Figma to its limits, leveraging its newest features, and maintaining clean, organized files and libraries.
• Not “just production”: While you can execute production-level detail, you also bring thoughtful UI decision-making.
• Structured and organized: You keep files, components, and documentation tidy and consistent, making it easy for others to work with your output.
• Collaborative communicator: Able to clearly articulate design rationale, respond to feedback constructively, and partner closely with cross-functional teammates.
• Adaptable and fast-moving: Comfortable working in a high-velocity environment, handling iteration and change while maintaining a high quality bar.
• Ownership mindset: Proactive about spotting inconsistencies, closing gaps in the system, and raising opportunities to improve the experience.

Contract Details

• Title: Freelance UI Designer
• Timeframe: February 2 to February 27, 2026, with possibility of extension.
• Location: Remote (West Coast working hours).
• Travel: Likely up to once per month - covered by AKQA - for onsite sessions (to client’s Headquarters), as needed.
• Weekly Rate: $2,000 – $2,800, depending on experience.

Additional Information

The pay range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated above. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

We believe great work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.