Principal Visual Designer

Location

Victoria, BC | Canada

Job description

Principal Designers elevate the quality of our work and evolve the skillsets of those around them. They bring a passion for product design thinking and execute on a variety of project types and product platforms. As the most senior designers at Metalab, Principal Designers consistently deliver on the most complex tracks of work. They have deep industry knowledge, domain expertise, and help define design quality and process at Metalab. 

Principal Visual Designers define the product experience through art direction, UI design and prototyping for motion and interaction. They translate the character of the product brand, and the intention of the product strategy and UX, into a highly thoughtful and refined visual system. 

Responsibilities:

Major phases of work:

• Lead visual design and art direction for key parts of the product.
• Guide the design of Production Hi-Fidelity: the nitty-gritty detailed layout and interface design of the product flows.
• Lean-in to the design of hero moments of experience: push the boundaries of visual design in the most memorable and important parts of the user journey 

Lead in-the work:

• Personally design the most important and challenging parts of the solution.
• Support Product Designers to design alongside you by framing their work with solid design briefs and UX frameworks for the overall product.
• Review Product Designer’s visual design and brand application work and ensure the quality of what the team delivers.
• Prototype new approaches to the work, respectfully declining the status quo pushing both clients and colleagues outside of their comfort zones.

Lively collaboration with your team and clients:

• Collaborate directly with Design Leads and key client team members, presenting your thinking and work effectively in internal meetings and client workshops and presentations.
• Participate with research to generate and evaluate design opportunities, and test solutions using storyboards and prototypes.
• Work hand-in-hand with engineers and product team members to foster innovation and ensure feasibility and fidelity of implementation.
• Help promote an inspiring and inclusive environment for the team.
• If desired, opportunity to coach and mentor other designers.
• Share your knowledge and approach to the craft with the broader design team at MetaLab.

Technical Competencies:

Visual Design Mastery: You will be entrusted with the task of meticulously crafting the visual and aesthetic qualities of our user interfaces and brands. Your artistic prowess will shape our digital landscapes, ensuring that every pixel and element resonates with a sense of elegance and purpose.

Critique and Collaboration: You will excel in your ability to critically evaluate work through effective group discussions. Your keen eye and insightful feedback will empower our design teams to refine their creations, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and excellence. Collaboration and constructive critique will be your guiding principles in shaping our visual identity.

Elevating Through Motion Design: Incorporating motion and interaction into our work will be your forte. Your expertise in motion design will breathe life into our digital experiences, creating engaging and dynamic interactions that captivate our users. Your mastery of the mechanics of motion will elevate our work to new heights.

Selling the Design Story: Communication is key, and you will possess the ability to artfully communicate the rationale behind design decisions. You will be the storyteller, conveying the purpose and value of our designs to clients and stakeholders. Your persuasive skills will ensure that our creative choices align with strategic objectives.

Visionary Leadership: Your visionary leadership will be instrumental in defining and facilitating the overall creative impact of our projects. You will possess the unique ability to envision and create forward-thinking, aspirational products and services. By identifying emerging design technology and trends, understanding user needs, and generating innovative solutions, you will drive positive business outcomes and secure our clients' competitive edge in the market.

Systems Design Expertise: You will also bring to the table the ability to define standards for managing design at scale using reusable components and patterns. Your systematic approach will streamline our design processes, ensuring consistency and efficiency across projects. Your contributions will lay the foundation for scalable and sustainable design practices.

Strategic Branding: Brand strategy will be your domain, as you make decisions that lay the groundwork for compelling and richly layered design to be built upon. Your strategic thinking will define the essence of brands and shape the narrative that connects with our audiences. 

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in visual design and motion design at a senior level.
• A portfolio that showcases your exceptional visual design skills, including user interfaces and branding.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, enabling effective critique and design discussions.
• Proficiency in motion design tools and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate design rationale and strategy effectively.
• A visionary mindset with a track record of shaping creative projects.

Pay Range

While this role can be filled in a variety of global regions, as an organization headquartered in BC, Canada we are required to include the pay range for this role if it were to be filled in BC. This range may be higher or lower depending on the candidate's region and market conditions, when outside of BC. 

Expected Pay Range: CAD $130,000 - $170,000

Equal opportunity employer

Research shows that women and other marginalized groups tend to only apply for a job when they meet every single criteria. Does this role sound like it was made for you, yet you don’t check every box? Reach out anyways!  We’re an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment for employees from all walks of life.  We hire based on talent, and we’re proud of our global perspective.

Job tags

Salary

$130k - $170k per year