Freelance Senior Designer

Markage is looking for a Freelance Senior Designer to join our fully remote Canadian team.

This role focuses on providing senior hands-on design support across brand, campaign, digital, and multidisciplinary assignments. You will join projects for defined periods or scopes, understand the brief and existing direction quickly, and deliver senior-level work with limited ramp-up. Assignments may involve concept development, design systems, production, or additional capacity for active teams.

You will work with design directors, senior designers, strategists, producers, developers, and client-service teams. Clear communication, reliable follow-through, and careful work are expected.

AI-assisted tools may be used for research, visual exploration, content preparation, presentation development, and production checks. All AI-assisted work must be reviewed for accuracy, relevance, confidentiality, and fit before it is shared or used.

Essential duties:

• Lead significant design workstreams from brief and concept through final delivery.
• Develop strong visual concepts and translate them into clear systems and applications.
• Set a high standard for typography, composition, hierarchy, consistency, and production quality.
• Present design thinking clearly to internal teams and clients when required.
• Guide revisions and resolve design problems without losing the intent of the work.
• Provide practical direction and review for designers working on related assignments.
• Coordinate with strategy, production, technology, and client teams on complex deliverables.
• Prepare or oversee accurate final files, handoffs, specifications, and implementation materials.
• Maintain organized design files, systems, components, and key decisions.
• Use judgment to identify quality, scope, timing, or production risks early.

Essential requirements:

• Strong professional portfolio showing senior-level design thinking and finished work.
• Experience owning design workstreams and carrying work from concept through delivery.
• Advanced working knowledge of professional design tools and production workflows.
• Ability to explain decisions clearly and give useful design feedback to others.
• Holds a valid Dex Professional Senior Specialist Certification (DEX-PSS) in the Arts, Media & Creative Production domain.

Preferred qualifications:

• Agency, studio, or multi-client experience.
• Experience contributing to design systems, brand systems, or multidisciplinary programs.
• Experience guiding junior or mid-level designers.