UI / Visual Designer - Contract

This is a part-time contract position with variable hours, typically 10-20 hours per week with the possibility of conversion to full-time hire based on performance and fit.
Elevated Third is a global B2B digital agency and Drupal expert. We design, build, and optimize complex digital experiences that drive measurable growth for enterprise and mid-market clients.
We're looking for a senior contract UI / Visual Designer to own the visual design layer on our B2B web engagements. You'll work alongside our UX strategist and front-end team during discovery and design, translating brand and strategy into web experiences that convert. This is a marketing site and web platform role, not a product design role. Our work is corporate sites, campaign pages, and lead-gen experiences for B2B SaaS and enterprise clients.
We hire dot-connectors over doers. The execution layer of design is getting faster every month thanks to AI. What we need is someone who can frame the visual system, hold their own in a client conversation, and use modern AI tools (Figma AI, Claude, image generation, Cowork) to compress production so you can focus on the strategic and craft decisions that move the needle.
What You'll Do
•    Own the visual design layer. Translate UX wireframes and brand systems into high-fidelity web concepts, component libraries, and responsive layouts in Figma.
•    Set the visual direction. Present concepts to clients with rationale. Defend decisions with strategic reasoning, not aesthetic preference. Push back constructively when something isn't working.
•    Build component systems that scale. Document tokens, components, and states so front-end devs can ship fast without ambiguity.
•    Use AI as a force multiplier. Leverage Figma AI, Claude, image generation, and other modern tools to compress production time. We expect you to bring a working AI workflow, not just curiosity about one.
•    Connect dots across the team. Spot when a design decision has SEO, performance, accessibility, or conversion implications. Loop in the right specialist before it becomes a problem.
•    Maintain craft. Typography, layout, color, and micro-interaction details are non-negotiable. Tight hand-offs save dev time and protect quality.
What You'll Bring
•    6+ years of UI / Visual Design experience, with at least 3 years designing B2B marketing sites or web platforms (not primarily app or product UI).
•    A portfolio that shows high-fidelity web mockups, design system thinking, and confident brand interpretation. Not templates. Not mood boards.
•    Expert Figma proficiency, including auto-layout, variants, tokens, and component documentation.
•    Demonstrated AI-forward workflow. You can show how you've used AI tools on real client work, not just personal experiments.
•    Comfort presenting and defending design decisions directly in front of clients. You don't need a PM to translate for you.
•    Available 10-20 hours per week on a flexible, variable schedule aligned with U.S. business hours. Workload will spike during discovery and concept phases and taper during dev support.
•    Authorization to work in the United States.
Bonus Points
•    Webflow or Framer proficiency.
•    Motion or micro-interaction design (Lottie, After Effects, Rive).
•    Experience designing for Drupal, WordPress, or similar enterprise CMS workflows.
•    Working knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards and performance-conscious design choices.
•    Public work, talks, or writing on design systems, AI in design, or B2B web strategy.
How We Measure Success
•    Concepts are approved by clients in 1-2 rounds, not 4-5.
•    Component documentation is clear enough that dev questions are rare.
•    Visual quality holds up post-launch. The live site looks as good as the Figma file.
•    You bring strategic input, not just polish. Clients reference your contribution by name in retrospectives.
•    Demonstrable use of AI in your workflow that compresses turnaround without sacrificing craft.
Working at Elevated Third
We're remote-first, spread across four U.S. time zones, and united by curiosity, candor, and a commitment to measurable results. You'll enjoy:
•    Flexible schedule built on accountability, not seat time.
•    A smart, supportive team that takes craft seriously.
•    Real ownership over the visual layer of meaningful B2B web programs.
Hourly Rate
The expected hourly range for this role is $60-75/hour USD. Exact compensation within this range will depend on skills, experience, portfolio strength, and demonstrated AI fluency. 
Pursuant to pay transparency laws in Colorado, California, New York City, and Washington, we are disclosing the hourly range for this role. Final compensation may also include other forms of compensation and benefits.
Sound like a fit? Show us a portfolio that proves you can connect strategy to pixels, and tell us how AI has changed your design process in the last 12 months.