Freelance UI Designer - Hybrid JHB - R56 550pm CTC pro rata for 3 months (1st Oct – 31 Dec 2026)

UI Designer

Location: Hybrid / Full-Time Department: Creative & Design Reports To: Creative Director / Head of Design

Role Overview

As a Senior UI Designer, you will lead the aesthetic direction and interaction design for a diverse portfolio of agency clients—ranging from high-growth startups to enterprise brands.

In today's digital landscape, UI design has evolved from building static screens to crafting dynamic, hyper-personalized, and adaptive digital ecosystems. In this role, you will act as both a master of visual craft and a strategic systems builder. You will leverage token-based scalable design systems, interactive prototyping, and modern workflow automation tools to orchestrate seamless user interfaces across multiple devices and touchpoints. Collaborating closely with UX Researchers, Product Managers, and Engineering teams, you will turn complex user requirements into stunning, high-performing visual interfaces that deliver measurable business value.

Key Responsibilities

• Design System Architecture & Management: Build, maintain, and scale multi-brand design systems utilizing advanced token structures and variables (e.g., in Figma), ensuring perfect alignment between design and front-end code.

• High-Fidelity Visual Craft: Create pixel-perfect layouts, responsive interfaces, intuitive navigation systems, and sophisticated micro-interactions that elevate the overall user experience.

• Adaptive & Generative Layouts: Design modular, component-based frameworks optimized for dynamic content delivery and personalized user journeys.

• Workflow Optimization: Integrate modern co-pilots and digital layout automation into your process to accelerate repetitive tasks, keeping your focus on creative innovation, conceptual strategy, and high-impact design challenges.

• Collaborative Client Consultation: Translate complex client briefs into strategic design concepts. Confidently present and defend design decisions directly to stakeholders and non-technical clients using strong visual storytelling.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Partner closely with front-end developers to ensure technical feasibility and flawless implementation of design designs.

• Mentorship & Design Culture: Mentor junior and mid-level designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning, curiosity, and design excellence within the agency.

• Data-Informed Refinement: Analyse user behaviour data, heatmaps, and post-launch analytics to continuously optimize layouts, accessibility, and interface performance.

Requirements

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of digital interface design experience, preferably within a fast-paced agency or digital product studio.

• Core Craft Mastery: Expert-level understanding of layout, visual hierarchy, complex typography, spatial grids, colour theory, and data visualization.

• Figma Expert: Mastery of Figma, including advanced use of variables, auto-layout, interactive components, prototyping, and developer-handoff processes.

• Accessibility Advocate: Deep understanding of WCAG standards and experience building globally accessible, inclusive web and mobile layouts by default.

• Interaction & Motion Design: Strong command of micro-interactions and motion design principles to bring static layouts to life.

• Adaptive Technical Understanding: Basic knowledge of front-end technologies (HTML/CSS, React, or Tailwind frameworks) to facilitate collaborative, high-efficiency conversations with development teams.

• Communication: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to turn client feedback into elegant visual solutions.

Portfolio Requirements

• A portfolio demonstrating a range of beautifully executed web, mobile, and digital product designs.

• Case studies showing your full design process—from the initial problem and structural framework to design systems and polished final deliverables.

• Examples of scalable design systems, modular libraries, or complex component kits you have built or heavily managed