Freelance Senior Digital Designer (Web Experience Design)

Location: Remote (UK-based preferred)

Reports to: Head of Digital Design

Contract Type: Freelance — Project‑by‑Project Basis

Rate: Competitive, based on experience and project scope

About Happydance

At Happydance, we are transforming HR technology through world‑class careers website design. Our mission is simple — to create a world where everyone loves their job. We collaborate with some of the world’s most recognized brands to redefine their employer branding through design, storytelling, and digital craft. Our cutting‑edge technology, seamless candidate experiences, and creative excellence position us as leaders in the space — and we’re only just getting started. We’re scaling fast, with an ambitious goal to reach $20 million in annual recurring revenue within the next 2–5 years. To get there, we’re partnering with exceptional freelance talent who share our passion for design innovation and creative excellence.

A Note Before You Apply

We’re building a trusted freelance list of brilliant collaborators. To keep things efficient, please only apply if you meet the criteria listed. Applications that don’t align with the requirements will not be reviewed. If you’re a great fit, we’ll keep your details on our freelance list and reach out when the right opportunity comes up!

About The Role

As a Freelance Senior Digital Designer (Web Experience Design), you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping visually stunning, interactive, and emotionally engaging websites for global brands. This is an opportunity to flex your creative strength, showcase your craft, and contribute to high‑profile projects that push design boundaries. You’ll collaborate closely with our internal team and clients — taking concepts from early mood boards and art direction through to final pixel‑perfect designs. You’ll bring together creativity, technical skill, and a deep understanding of UX to create responsive, accessible, and memorable digital experiences that inspire confidence and connection.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Creative Direction: Take ownership of the visual identity and interface design for client projects, from concept to final delivery.
• Concept & Moodboarding: Develop innovative design concepts and art direction that set the creative tone and narrative for each project.
• UI Design Craft: Produce high‑fidelity designs with precision — combining typography, layout, colour, and hierarchy to deliver world‑class quality.
• Interactive Storytelling: Integrate motion, transitions, and micro‑interactions to enhance user engagement and emotional connection.
• Prototyping: Use tools like Figma, Protopie, or Framer to bring design concepts to life through interactive prototypes.
• Client Collaboration: Confidently present ideas, guide creative discussions, and explain design rationale with clarity and authority.
• UX Integration: Apply best practices in structure, hierarchy, and responsive behaviour to ensure intuitive and accessible design solutions.
• Accessibility & Standards: Design in alignment with WCAG 2.2 AA standards and Happydance’s design system principles.
• Collaborative Workflow: Work hand‑in‑hand with developers, strategists, and content specialists to deliver cohesive, high‑quality outcomes.
• Creative Contribution: Help evolve Happydance’s creative standards, toolkits, and processes with new ideas and inspiration.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Senior Digital Designer, Senior UI Designer, or Senior Web Designer within a creative or digital agency.
• A standout portfolio showcasing large‑scale, responsive web design projects with visual storytelling at their core.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Figma for design systems, prototyping, and component‑based design.
• Strong grasp of layout, grid systems, typography, and colour theory.
• Experience using motion and interaction tools such as Protopie, Framer, or Principle.
• Understanding of UX best practices, accessibility, and responsive design behaviour.
• Familiarity with HTML/CSS principles to ensure design‑to‑development alignment.
• Confident communicator, able to present ideas and rationale to clients and teams alike.
• Ability to deliver creativity, precision, and consistency under project timelines.

Bonus Skills – Ideal But Not Essential

• Experience designing for modular systems or enterprise CMS environments.
• Knowledge of Webflow or other no‑code tools.
• Experience building and maintaining design systems.
• Skills in After Effects or other motion design software.
• Interest in AI‑driven design tools and emerging creative technologies.
• Experience contributing to brand evolution or style guideline development.

Why Collaborate with Happydance

• Work With Global Brands: Collaborate on digital experiences for some of the world’s most recognized companies.
• Creative Freedom: Push boundaries, test ideas, and shape experiences that stand out.
• Flexible Collaboration: Work remotely, set your own hours, and choose the projects that inspire you.
• Portfolio‑Defining Work: Add world‑class projects to your portfolio that demonstrate your creative range and expertise.
• Ongoing Opportunities: Build an ongoing relationship with Happydance for future collaborations.

Our Core Values

• We See You. — We empathize deeply with customers and candidates, understanding their experiences through human insight.
• We Take Care. — We act with thoughtfulness and intention, improving every interaction through understanding.
• We’ve Got This. — Collaboration is our cornerstone; together, we deliver.
• We’re All In. — We’re obsessed with meaningful experiences that move people and bring focus to our mission.
• We Make It Happen. — We never stand still. We evolve, innovate, and drive forward through action.