Senior Designer - Freelance

AKQA; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 173,000; Part time

Job summary

AKQA, part of WPP, seeks an experienced Senior Designer - Freelance to support a flagship digital product experience in financial services. You will bring strong digital product design craft and design systems expertise, delivering polished work at scale.

You will design high-quality experiences, contribute to scalable design systems, and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to present and defend design choices to clients.

Qualifications

• Portfolio showing strong digital product design across complex platforms.
• Experience designing within and contributing to design systems for scalability and consistency.
• Proficient in Figma with advanced component and library management.
• Strong knowledge of UI, mobile, and responsive design principles.

Responsibilities

• Design high-quality digital product experiences from concept to delivery.
• Develop and maintain design systems and UI to ensure consistency and quality.
• Create high-fidelity designs, flows, and interactive prototypes in Figma.
• Translate complex requirements into simple, user-centered solutions.
• Collaborate with UX, strategy, and development teams to deliver cohesive solutions.
• Present design decisions clearly to clients and stakeholders.
• Maintain high aesthetic and craft across deliverables.

Skills

Digital product design

Figma

Design systems

UI/UX principles

Cross-functional collaboration

Client presentation

Tools

Figma

Job description

At AKQA (part of WPP) we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients.

Creatives at AKQA apply artistry and craftsmanship to strategic insight to create and bring to life beautiful ideas that move the world. Skilled storytellers and conceptors, they work in a multidisciplinary environment to develop labors of love that delight customers and deliver results for clients. Senior Designers play essential roles in the execution of beautiful ideas, products and services, bringing exceptional creative thought and craft output, developing and delivering from brief to end user.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Designer - Freelance to support one of the most established names in financial services, a brand trusted by millions to help them plan for their futures. In this role you will bring strong digital product design craft and design systems expertise to a flagship digital product experience, delivering polished, thoughtful work that has a meaningful impact at scale.

Role Requirements

• Design high-quality digital product experiences, bringing craft and attention to detail from concept through final delivery
• Contribute to the creation, maintenance, and evolution of design systems and User Interface, ensuring scalability, consistency, and quality across the work
• Develop and deliver high-fidelity designs, flows, and interactive prototypes, primarily utilizing Figma
• Translate complex requirements into simple, elegant, user-centered design solutions
• Collaborate closely with UX, strategy, and development teams to deliver cohesive, high-quality solutions
• Present and articulate design decisions clearly to internal teams and client stakeholders
• Maintain a consistently high aesthetic and craft bar across all deliverables

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• A compelling portfolio demonstrating strong digital product design work across complex digital platforms
• Proven experience designing within and contributing to design systems, with a focus on scalability, consistency, and craft
• Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced component and library management
• Strong working knowledge of user interface, application, mobile, and responsive design principles
• Able to develop simple and elegant design solutions to complex design problems
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present and defend creative work to clients and stakeholders
• Experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, including UX and development, to deliver integrated solutions
• A proactive mindset and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of technology and design

Location & Commitment

• Remote; must be available to work Eastern Time hours
• ASAP through December 23, 2026
• 40 hours/week
• Expected weekly compensation: 3,400 to 3,800 USD

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.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.