Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior UX Designer to join our development team for a new website build project. The successful candidate will lead the UX/UI design efforts for a new publishing website for a major financial institution.

As the Senior Designer, you will be responsible for creating a cohesive and engaging user experience, developing design solutions, and collaborating with engineering to communicate implementation details.

This role requires a deep understanding of editorial design, a strong grasp of current design trends, and the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and visually compelling interfaces.

Responsibilities

Lead the UX/UI design process from concept to implementation, taking ownership at a project level.
Collaborate closely with stakeholders, including editorial teams, developers, and project managers, to gather requirements and align with project vision.
Create wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity mockups to communicate design ideas effectively.
Conduct user research, usability testing, and analyse feedback to inform design decisions.
Design responsive and accessible interfaces across devices and platforms.
Develop a consistent design language and style guide for the project.
Work with the development team to ensure technical feasibility and adapt designs to meet timeline and budget.
Stay up-to-date with design trends, tools, and best practices.
Present design concepts and rationale to clients and internal teams.
Deliver work on time and according to specifications.
Maintain regular communication with the team, proactively addressing issues and assisting others when needed.

Requirements

5+ years of proven experience in UX/UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing editorial, publishing, or media-related projects.
Strong ability to create visually appealing, intuitive, and functional user interfaces.
Understanding of design systems, reusable UI components, and pattern libraries.
Experience designing responsive interfaces for multiple devices.
Skilled in wireframing and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
Keen eye for typography, layout, and composition in editorial design.
Attention to detail and high-quality standards.
Understanding of MVP design and phased enhancements.
Ability to design scalable and maintainable UI components.
Familiarity with WordPress or other CMS platforms, especially block-based design systems.
Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG).
Understanding of motion design principles and micro-interactions.
Advanced proficiency in design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).
Familiarity with front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
Experience conducting user research and usability testing.
Experience developing and maintaining design systems.
Proven leadership in guiding design projects and collaborating with development teams.
Experience in agile environments with iterative feedback loops.
Upper Intermediate English and Japanese (JLPT N2).

Project Specific Requirements

Project Summary: New corporate website build for a joint venture between two global financial institutions.
Target Launch: October 31st, 2026.
Timezone: Client based in Japan (JST).
Design Expectations:
- Experience designing for financial/institutional clients.
- Bilingual layout experience (English + Japanese typography).
- WCAG 2.2 AA+ accessibility compliance.
- Familiarity with WordPress Full Site Editing and block-based design systems.
- Ability to work with evolving brand guidelines.

Technical Setup:

Hosted on WordPress VIP.
Codebase: WordPress with Full Site Editing (FSE) / block editor.
Multisite, multilingual (EN + JA), responsive design required.

Benefits

Gain experience working in an agency without a long-term commitment.
Competitive day rates.
Work alongside some of the WordPress industry’s top engineers.
Access to Slack channels for networking with WordPress peers at Human Made.
Opportunity to explore Human Made with potential for full-time employment.

Freelance Senior Designer