Designer

Critical Mass; Calgary; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic design agency in Calgary is seeking a Designer specializing in Design Systems. The role requires a strong background in product design, with at least 3 years of experience, and familiarity with key tools such as Figma, Photoshop, and Sketch. Candidates should have exceptional attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to articulate design rationale effectively. The position offers competitive benefits including flexible work arrangements and focuses on collaboration in a creative environment.

Benefits

Maternity and parental leave extra days

Competitive benefits packages

Vacation and sick days

Diversity and Inclusion Board

Internal learning and development programs

Qualifications

• 3 years’ experience in product design, especially for web.
• Clear articulation of design rationale and limitations.
• Strong understanding of web development, including HTML and CSS.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the creation of cohesive design systems.
• Audit current designs for consistency.
• Create prototypes to convey design states.

Skills

Proficiency in Figma

Exceptional attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Systematic thinking

Digital file structure management

UX/UI experience

Tools

Photoshop

Sketch

Job description

We create applications which drive one of the world’s most trafficked websites. We play an active role helping our client connect their consumers globally through mobile, digital, and in‑store experiences.

The Designer specializes in Design Systems, collaborating with creative and technical teams to develop elegant, cohesive visual designs for websites, marketing, event emails, and select non‑interactive elements. This hands‑on role balances creativity and logic, ensuring a holistic approach across typography, iconography, motion, and interface design.

The ideal candidate has strong communication and presentation skills and contributes to positive collaboration with multi‑disciplinary team members; a strong understanding of branding principles, style guides, and product design; an elegant design aesthetic, with exceptional attention to detail.

You will:

• Contribute to the creation of holistic, elegant design systems with a high degree of polish and attention to detail.
• Audit current implementations and identify potential areas for simplification and improved consistency.
• Design with flexibility in mind, ensuring designs are accessible and adaptive to varying workflows, viewports, technologies, and locales.
• Stress test designs across all possible variations and refine as needed.
• Create prototypes to convey states, transitions, and/or behaviors.
• Ensure layout, typography, and specs are pixel perfect.
• Communicate flexibilities and/or limitations to both designers and development, as needed.
• Work closely with the Senior Art Director to understand design direction and help inform priorities.
• Collaborate with Art Directors and larger project teams to explore and iterate on design options.
• Consult with technical disciplines to ensure designs work within given limitations, and files are prepared with all necessary information to support the design intent.
• Promote thoughtful and purposeful design, rather than an enforcement of rules.
• Help define and/or improve how teams collaborate and leverage existing tools.
• Determine the best medium and optimize design files for creative review – be it print, onscreen visuals, prototype, or code.
• Create presentation flows that establish and build on a foundation of design rationale.

You have:

• Pixel‑perfect digital design portfolio highlighting your storytelling and problem‑solving capabilities from concept to completion.
• Keen interest in championing brand identity through a balance of consistency and flexibility.
• Proficiency in the formal elements of design, with a strong focus on typography, balance, and proportion.
• Systematic thinker; able to anticipate the impact of design decisions well in advance of their application.
• Excellent digital file structure and asset management skills.
• Passion for pixel‑perfection and order. Unparalleled attention to detail.
• Ability to articulate ideas verbally and digitally; be clearly understood by creative, product management, and development staff.
• Ability to deliver strong design rationale and supporting files in a tight timeframe.
• Ability to thrive in a challenging, fast‑paced, creative workplace.
• 3 years’ experience in product design (especially for web), defining or extending design systems, and/or working within a brand’s strict style guidelines.
• Figma, Photoshop and Sketch expertise, including file organization, and preparation of pixel-perfect files for design team use.
• Clear communication and presentation skills that speak to both creative and technical audiences.
• Strong understanding of web development, including HTML and CSS.
• UX and/or UI experience, acuity in iconography, and working knowledge of Principle.
• Clearly articulate design rationale and any applicable limitations.
• Participate in healthy debates to ensure design systems are as robust and considered as possible.

What We Offer

• Maternity and parental leave extra days
• Competitive benefits packages
• Vacation, compassionate leave, sick days, and flex days
• Access to online services for families and new parents
• End‑of‑year closure days (not deducted from vacation balance)
• Diversity and Inclusion Board with 12 affinity groups
• Internal learning and development programs
• Enterprise‑wide employee discounts

At Critical Mass, we value our employees and offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of our employees, we encourage you to apply for this exciting position today! The Talent Team at Critical Mass is focused on ensuring we provide the best training, onboarding, and employee experience possible! Our new hires & employees are the future of our organization, and we want to set you up for long‑term success. In an effort to do so, we expect our team to work on site 5 days a week.

Critical Mass is an equal opportunity employer.