UX/UI Designer (Contract - 1099)

As a UX/UI Designer at Friends From The City, your responsibilities will include leading the user experience and interface design for a New York State website redesign project, ensuring it adheres to human-centered design principles. You’ll create user-friendly designs that meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards, develop design systems for scalability, and collaborate closely with developers to implement accessibility features effectively. Your role is vital in crafting a visually appealing and functional platform that reflects New York's diverse communities while prioritizing mobile usability.

The UX/UI Designer position at Friends From The City requires a minimum of 5 years of demonstrable experience in UX/UI design, especially with government or state agency projects. Proficiency in designing for Drupal platforms is essential, along with a strong understanding of accessibility standards like WCAG 2.2 AA. Candidates should have a solid knowledge of mobile-first design principles, SEO strategies, and be proficient with design tools such as Figma or Adobe XD.

At Friends From The City, we prioritize accessibility in our design process by adhering to WCAG 2.2 AA standards and actively collaborating with developers to validate accessibility features beyond automated testing. This commitment allows us to create inclusive digital experiences that cater to all users, regardless of their abilities, ensuring that our projects are accessible and usable for everyone.

The hiring process for the UX/UI Designer position at Friends From The City typically involves three stages: a phone screening to assess your fit for the role, a portfolio review to showcase your design expertise, and finally, an offer if you stand out as the ideal candidate. This streamlined process aims to attract the best talent to join our mission of creating accessible digital experiences.

Friends From The City promotes a remote work environment that supports diversity and inclusivity. We are a minority, woman-owned, LGBT+, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business that celebrates unique backgrounds and experiences. Our aim is to cultivate a collaborative and supportive work culture where all employees can thrive, fostering an open-minded atmosphere that encourages creativity and innovation.

When answering this question, detail your approach by highlighting your focus on user-centered design. Begin with user research to gather insights, followed by ideation and prototyping. Emphasize how you use iterative testing to refine your designs based on real user feedback and ensure accessibility standards are met throughout the design lifecycle.

Discuss your knowledge of accessibility standards, such as WCAG 2.2 AA, and provide examples of how you've applied them in past projects. Highlight your collaboration with developers to ensure that accessibility features are implemented effectively and mention the importance of user testing with diverse groups to identify potential issues early.

In your response, share specific projects where you worked with government entities, describing the design challenges you faced and how you addressed them. Discuss any compliance standards you followed and how your designs impacted user engagement and accessibility for citizens.

Explain your view on the growing importance of mobile usability. Share your methods for developing responsive designs that are visually appealing across different devices and your process for conducting user testing focused specifically on mobile users, ensuring a seamless experience for all.

Select a project that demonstrates your strengths as a UX/UI Designer, particularly those featuring accessibility and user-focused design. Walk the interviewers through your process, highlighting the impact your design had on the user experience and any feedback received from users or stakeholders.

Discuss your communication strategies and how you actively involve developers from the initial design stages to ensure feasibility. Share examples of how you provide detailed specifications and assets to facilitate the implementation of your designs, while remaining open to feedback during development.

Talk about your proficiency with design tools like Figma or Adobe XD, mentioning specific features you find invaluable for creating interactive prototypes or collaborative design processes. Provide an example of how your mastery of these tools contributed to a successful project.

Share your philosophy on design critiques and the importance of feedback. Explain how you remain open-minded and view feedback as an opportunity for growth, detailing a specific example where constructive criticism led to an improved design solution.

Provide a specific example where you faced a tight timeline and used effective time management strategies. Discuss any prioritization techniques you employed and how you ensured project quality while delivering on time.

Mention the resources you regularly use to stay informed about the latest design trends and accessibility standards, such as attending webinars, following industry leaders on social media, or participating in professional design communities. Highlight your commitment to continual learning and improvement as a UX/UI Designer.