Duane Smith Design

06/15/2020

Do you love building custom themes? Would you like to work on some exciting projects? My development partner Bill is hiring a Junior Developer to join our team.

I’m searching for a Junior Developer to help us build custom WordPress themes and support our clients. This is the perfect role for a WordPress developer with limited freelance work…

06/01/2020

Duane Smith Design stands against racism and injustice. Read my full statement here:

https://duanesmithdesign.com/2020/05/31/duane-smith-design-stands-against-racism-and-injustice/

03/01/2020

https://duanesmithdesign.com/2020/02/27/junior-designer-needed/

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You are looking for a UI design job.

You're a good designer now but are driven to be great. Your portfolio is killer. You're getting interviews, but you don't have much experience, so every good position you apply for goes to someone with 3+ years of experience.

You're considering applying for that cog-in-the-machine corporate design job churning out banner ads (ugh) because let's face it, you need to eat and pay rent.

But the thought of that job turns your stomach.

A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY

Duane Smith Design helps organizations launch websites, apps, and brands. Right now, I'm designing a website for a technology company, another for a hair care product line that retails in Walmart, a native mobile app for a recipe publisher, a rebrand for a dating site, and last but not least, a little website for the MoMA (yes, that MoMA).

I'm also already booked out to August. I'm overloaded with work and need help with website visual design.

I could hire a Senior designer with 6-10 years of experience, but I want to provide the kind of meaningful entry-level opportunity I wish I'd had when starting my career.

DETAILS

I need help with website visual design. That means User Interface (UI), not User Experience (UX). The Junior UI Designer will create/revise website mockups in Sketch working with established style guides, design systems, and work processes, for eventual handoff to the development team.

This is a long-term contract engagement with full-time employment potential for the right candidate who grows into the position. As a contractor, you will work 40 hours a week on-site in our downtown Richmond office, working together with me as well as our team of remote designers and developers in a collaborative environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A killer portfolio with demonstrable user interface design (UI) skills
• Proficiency with Sketch (I don't have time to teach you how to use software)
• Familiarity with HTML & CSS (just a general understanding of how it works)
• Familiarity with Wordpress and/or a CMS in general

DREAM QUALIFICATIONS
• A killer portfolio with demonstrable user interface design (UI) and user experience (UX) skills
• Advanced proficiency with Sketch (libraries, nested symbols, design systems, the works)
• Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
• Understanding of HTML & CSS (semantics, DOM, CSS syntax, CSS box model)
• Understanding of Wordpress functionality (including the Gutenberg block editor)
• Bachelor’s degree in a design-related field

Duane Smith Design is committed to diversity and inclusivity and everyone is welcome to apply. Please include a link to your online portfolio with your application to be considered.

02/27/2020

Help wanted: Junior UI Designer needed in Richmond, VA

Are you a website visual designer with skills and potential, but limited work experience? I'm looking for a Junior UI Designer in Richmond, VA

09/20/2019

Recently, I was asked why I started my own business. Without hesitation, I replied, “to get a seat at the table.” Here’s what that means, and why it’s important.

Recently, I was asked why I started my business. Without hesitation, I replied, "to get a seat at the table." Here's why that's important.

06/10/2019

100% all-new website redesign just went live! Check it out—especially the Knowledgebase, which is my favorite part of the site. (and if you see something you like, click the 😀face, which is located at the bottom of each page).

Designed in using fluid grids, , , and principles. Created with I designed in Sketch for the new WordPress 5.0 editor. Expertly developed in record-setting time by my dev partner Erickson Web Consulting

Duane Smith Design helps organizations define the Product Strategy, Branding, User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI) of websites and apps.

06/05/2019

My development partner Bill just rebuilt his website to be a Native AMP site in WordPress. See how he did it here:

I'll walk you through building a Native AMP WordPress site, discuss common issues, and provide tools to make development easier.

04/08/2019

I wrote this for my buddy Josh Beaton but if you're a designer dealing with creative burnout, it probably applies to you too.

Design burnout comes from not having the creative opportunities you want at work. Here's what you can do to fix it.

03/05/2019

I love design conferences. I couldn’t begin to count the number I’ve been to, but I can tell you this: attend any design conference and you’ll walk away a better designer, guaranteed. (And also: can I get a selfie? 📸)

I love design conferences. I couldn't begin to count the number I've been to, but I can tell you this: attend any design conference and you'll walk away a better designer, guaranteed.

12/06/2018

My development partner Bill Erickson just launched his brand-new WordPress website built 100% with Gutenberg. You'll find tons of examples of our work on the site, but more importantly you'll see just how much can be done with custom WordPress development using the all-new Gutenberg editor.

I provide custom WordPress design and development services. I develop easy-to-edit websites that are fast and increase conversions.