NewMCP: Let an AI agent help you find your next job
All jobs

Design Lead - Design Systems - Freelance

AKQA🏢 Hybrid·Seattle, USA·$2,500–$3,000 / week
Apply on AKQA

AKQA (part of WPP) is hiring an experienced Freelance Design Lead to support a globally recognized consumer brand. The role is hands-on, guiding designers, leading the evolution of complex design systems, and ensuring creative excellence across a flagship digital product experience. The posting states the role is remote (United States only), starts ASAP, lists end dates of September 30, 2026 and December 23, 2026, is 40 hours/week, and specifies expected weekly compensation of 2,500 to 3,000 USD.

What you'll do

  • Provide hands-on leadership and creative direction, guiding a team of designers to produce world-class digital product experiences
  • Oversee the creation, maintenance, and evolution of complex design systems, ensuring scalability, consistency, and craft at every level
  • Shape the creative vision for digital platforms and products, aligning with client goals and the needs of a diverse, loyal user base
  • Collaborate closely with UX, strategy, and development teams to deliver cohesive, high-quality solutions
  • Present creative concepts and design solutions to clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic insight
  • Actively mentor and support junior and mid-level designers, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth
  • Contribute to a culture of creative excellence, pushing for the most distinctive and effective solutions at every stage of the work

What they're looking for

  • 6+ years of experience in UI design, art direction, or a related field, with a strong portfolio showcasing digital platforms and products
  • Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, with a track record of mentoring and elevating designers
  • Deep expertise in creating and evolving design systems, with a focus on scalability, consistency, and innovation
  • Strong working knowledge of user interface, application, mobile, and responsive design principles
  • Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced component and library management
  • Exceptional communication skills, including 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

Learn the skills this role asks for

Into Design Systems is the conference on Claude Code and Figma MCP and design system automation, taught by the teams who run them in production.

Learn these skills

Am I a fit for this role?

Let your own agent answer that. Connect this board once with the command below and the agent reads this posting in full instead of guessing from the title.

claude mcp add --transport http ids-jobs https://jobs.intodesignsystems.com/mcp

Then paste this and add your background

Use the ids-jobs MCP server and read the job "akqa-design-lead-design-systems-freelance-lsw797". Tell me which requirements I already meet and which ones I am missing. My background:

How the MCP server works

Summary written by Into Design Systems from the public job posting, without guarantee of accuracy or completeness. Always verify the details and apply on the company's official page.

Related Design System roles