At a Glance
- Tasks: Audit, consolidate, and build a design system for AI-native interfaces.
- Company: Easol, a platform empowering experience creators.
- Benefits: Flexible contract, collaborative environment, and opportunity to shape future design standards.
- Other info: Work closely with a dynamic team and make a real impact in just 2-3 months.
- Why this job: Lead the charge in creating innovative design systems for the future of AI interaction.
- Qualifications: Experience in design systems, strong visual design skills, and familiarity with AI interfaces.
The predicted salary is between 3000 - 4500 £ per month.
We’re Easol, a platform for experience creators to build, manage and sell their events and experiences. We’re at an inflection point: the team is growing, and our pace of shipping is accelerating. But we haven’t yet codified our standards or patterns. Design is becoming a bottleneck. We need clear guidance that sets both us and our partners up to build consistently and confidently. We’re looking for a contract Design Systems Expert. Someone who can audit what we have, consolidate where possible, and build a coherent system that works as well for our human designers as it does for our AI tooling. This is a 2-3 month engagement with a clear brief and a defined end state. We’re building for where interfaces are heading, 2027 and beyond. That means AI-native interaction patterns, not retrofitted ones. If your frame of reference is still purely traditional SaaS UI, this probably isn’t the right fit.
What You’ll Actually Do
The goal is to get the foundations right (visual language, interaction principles, motion, the key journeys) and cover roughly half the component set. What matters most is that what you leave behind is solid, well-documented, and structured clearly enough that we can build from it with confidence.
- Phase 1 · Audit & Consolidation
Get under the skin of what we have. Walk the product, understand the essential journeys, and form a clear picture of where the system is working, where it’s duplicating effort, and where it’s broken. Come back with a consolidation roadmap that we can align on before the build phase. Deliverable: Audit report + consolidation roadmap - Phase 2 · Design System Build
The core of the engagement. Establish the visual and interaction foundations (typography, spacing, motion, dark mode, brand moments) grounded in the four design principles and oriented towards AI-native interface patterns. Consolidate and build out the component set in Figma and Tailwind. The priority areas we know need addressing are forms and inputs, layouts, feedback and status patterns, and modal surfaces, though we’re open to your read on sequencing and scope. Deliverable: Figma library + implemented components - Phase 3 · Documentation & Handoff
Leave us in a position to carry this forward confidently. And crucially, leave the system in a state that AI tooling can consume and work with. Documentation should serve both our human designers and the MCPs that will be using the system. Close out with a live demo of the system in action. Deliverable: Design system docs + team training + live demo
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a designer first, but deeply comfortable in code, particularly CSS and Tailwind. You’ve built or overhauled a design system before, at a senior level and leading the work rather than supporting it, and you know the difference between a good one and a pretty one. You care about systems thinking as much as visual craft. You’re already working in the space of AI interfaces and interaction design. Not reading about it, not curious about it, actively experimenting, shipping, or consulting on it. You understand how AI-native products ask different things of a design system than traditional SaaS, and you have a point of view on what good looks like beyond 2026. The right person will read those four principles and feel their design instincts kick in, not their compliance muscle.
More specifically:
- Strong visual design sensibility with a systems mindset: you think in patterns, not one-offs
- Active, hands-on experience designing for AI-native interfaces and emerging IxD paradigms: streaming states, real-time feedback, AI-surfaced insights, conversational or agent-driven UI patterns
- Instinctive job-to-be-done thinking: you design for what people are trying to accomplish, not just what features need a UI
- Hands-on Figma expertise (components, variables, auto layout, the works)
- Solid CSS and Tailwind: you can implement as well as spec
- Experience auditing and consolidating messy, real-world component libraries (not greenfield only)
- Comfortable writing documentation that non-designers (and AI tools) can actually follow
- Experience with or a strong understanding of MCP integrations or AI tooling workflows
- Bonus: a point of view on motion. Ideally you’ve thought about or built design systems where motion is a first-class principle, not a polish layer
- Bonus: familiarity with B2B SaaS or creator economy products
You’ll be working closely with Jack (our senior product designer) and me, but the dynamic here is important. You’re not being managed through this; you’re coming in as the specialist and leading it. Jack and I will be your collaborators and sounding board and we’ll have opinions worth hearing, but the design systems expertise sits with you. We want someone who can take the lead, guide us where needed, and bring a perspective that challenges and elevates what we’ve been doing.
Design Systems Expert (2-3 Month Contract) employer: Easol
At Easol, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and innovative work culture that empowers our team members to lead and create impactful design solutions. As a Design Systems Expert, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the future of our platform while collaborating closely with passionate colleagues in a fast-paced environment. We offer competitive compensation, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to professional growth, making Easol an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the world of AI-native interfaces.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Systems Expert (2-3 Month Contract)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design and tech space. Attend meetups, webinars, or even online forums where you can chat with industry folks. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect contract role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to design systems and AI-native interfaces. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing – first impressions matter!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Easol, and express your interest in working with them. A well-timed email can open doors that aren’t even visible yet.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got a streamlined process that makes it easy for you to showcase your talents. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. Let’s get you in the door!
We think you need these skills to ace Design Systems Expert (2-3 Month Contract)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Design Thinking:When you apply, make sure to highlight your design philosophy and how it aligns with our vision for AI-native interfaces. We want to see your thought process and how you approach systems thinking, not just a portfolio of pretty designs.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Don’t just list your past roles; dive into the specifics of your experience with design systems. Tell us about the challenges you faced, how you audited existing systems, and what you learned from building or overhauling them. We love details!
Keep It Clear and Concise:While we appreciate creativity, clarity is key in your application. Make sure your writing is straightforward and easy to follow. Remember, we’re looking for documentation that non-designers can understand, so show us you can do that right from the start.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Easol
✨Know Your Design Systems Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in design systems, especially those that focus on AI-native interfaces. Familiarise yourself with the principles outlined in the job description and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with them.
✨Prepare Your Audit Strategy
Since the role involves auditing existing systems, think about how you would approach this task. Prepare examples from your past work where you successfully identified issues and consolidated components. This will show your proactive mindset and problem-solving skills.
✨Showcase Your Figma and CSS Skills
Be ready to demonstrate your hands-on experience with Figma and Tailwind. Bring a portfolio that highlights your best work, particularly any design systems you've built or overhauled. If possible, prepare a live demo of a component you’ve created to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Engage in a Collaborative Mindset
This role requires collaboration with the team, so come prepared to discuss how you can lead while also being a team player. Think of ways you can challenge the current design practices positively and elevate the team's output. Show that you’re not just a designer but a strategic partner.
