Product Design Contractor
Spherical · Contract · Posted 1mo ago
Spherical is a transdisciplinary research and design studio working to regenerate the health and integrity of Earth's living systems.
We are looking for a mid-level Product Design Contractor to join our team for a six-month engagement. This designer will work closely with Spherical's Design Director and Senior Designer on the Living Infrastructure Field Kit, contributing UI design, interaction design, and component documentation that directly shapes how communities across Greater Los Angeles plan and propose living infrastructure projects.
This is a 32-40-hour/week remote contract position reporting directly to the Design Director.
The Living Infrastructure Field Kit is a free platform for the Greater LA region. It provides map-based planning tools, local data, and learning materials for anyone designing or proposing living infrastructure projects in their neighborhood. The Field Kit serves a diverse range of users, from community organizers and environmental advocates to government agencies and educators, and is funded by Accelerate Resilience Los Angeles (ARLA).
The product team works in three-week sprints, with design and engineering running in parallel. This designer will work in a research-informed environment, collaborating closely with product designers, a researcher, and engineers.
The primary focus of this role is to deliver UI design and documented components for the Field Kit. Specifics will be refined and agreed upon at the start of the engagement. Key outcomes include:
Simplify key flows to make the platform easier to navigate and use
Improve visual consistency and component coverage across the UI kit
Ground design decisions in validated user needs and technical feasibility
Deliver clear specs and prototypes that support smooth engineering handoff
Contribute to accessibility improvements across the platform
Collaborate with the product team on short discovery cycles to validate user needs, synthesize findings into design requirements, and establish guardrails before high-fidelity work begins
Partner with engineers throughout implementation to review production builds and ensure design quality
Support Design leadership in creating presentations and executive-ready visuals for leadership and client reviews, as needed and within allocated hours
User flows and journey maps for priority features and flows
Annotated wireframes and interaction specs, including empty, loading, error, and success states that detail end-to-end flows
High-fidelity UI screens and interactive prototypes
Design system maintenance including component revisions and documentation
Handoff package for engineering, including specs, annotations, and assets
Formal education in graphic design, interaction design, or a related field is a plus, though equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio are equally valued
Demonstrated professional experience designing digital products across web and mobile
A strong portfolio showing product design work; please include your portfolio link with your application
Strong foundation in visual design fundamentals: typography, color, layout, and composition
Solid interaction design skills with experience designing complex flows, edge cases, and responsive interfaces
Experience working with and contributing to design systems
Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices
Proficiency in Figma, familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
Healthy balance of comfort, curiosity and discernment in the use of AI-assisted tools and workflows
Able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously and keep the Design Director informed of any issues in real time
High standards of craft with a consistent ability to meet deadlines
A thorough, exploratory approach to design and a willingness to push ideas before landing on the right solution
Collaborative, with a calm and solutions-oriented approach under pressure
Comfortable taking direction and iterating quickly and accurately
Able to work effectively in a sprint cadence alongside engineers and researchers
Duration: 6 months
Hours: 32-40 hours
Rate: $120/hr
Location: Remote
Start date: As soon as possible
Reporting to: Michael Yap, Design Director
Spherical is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We are happy to provide accommodations throughout the hiring process. Please let us know what you need.
Please send your resume, portfolio, and a brief note about why this role interests you.
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