Senior Web / Visual Designer

WANTED: Senior Web/Visual Designer

About the job…

Taoti is looking for a visual designer that specializes in website design. Even more specifically, we’re looking for a web designer that is savvy in modern methods of building websites and prefer to leverage tools like Figma, Webflow, Framer, etc. Someone with strong UX fundamentals, but an even stronger penchant for great looking, highly engaging, interactive design. Someone who truly appreciates how leveraging design patterns and existing frameworks can save you production time that you can re-invest back into polishing your work. Someone who gets how content is usually what drives a website’s success and knows how to carefully consider content when laying out a page. Someone who embraces AI-enhanced tools as time savers into their workflow and has a mind for efficiency without sacrificing design fidelity.

To be clear, we’re looking for a bone fide web designer with a proven portfolio of high-end, live web projects.  We don't need you to be a web developer, but front-end code and UX experience is a bonus. We also recognize that with low-code systems like Webflow and Framer, the line between UX, web design, and front-end code is blurring, but we have dedicated UX and full-stack development teams who can support all the other aspects of building a website from end-to-end.  While most of Taoti’s web work is currently in Drupal and WordPress, we are actively spinning up a new practice area that will lean into these new, low-code models to allow us greater flexibility in our solutions and serve a wider spectrum of clients and budgets. Which is all to say, experience with Webflow, Framer, or other emerging generative AI design and low-code tools and platforms is a big plus that you’ll want to highlight in your application!

Some boxes to check...

• You have a minimum of 5 years designing websites (or have at least “dozens” of website designs under your belt.
• Your go-to design tool is typically Figma, XD, or similar platforms.
• You have experience with design libraries, design patterns, or other existing repositories as a foundation for your designs.
• You design not just the graphic visuals, but consider micro interactions, animations, etc.
• You’ve at least dabbled with generative AI tools.
• You always design with accessibility standards in mind.
• You have a strong online portfolio that demonstrates your visual design range, typography, layout, storytelling, attention to detail, and personality.
• You thrive in a fast-paced setting where same-day or next-day design requests or not typical, but not out of the ordinary.
• You are comfortable owning high-impact design deliverables based on existing art direction.
• You thrive in client-facing settings and know how to convey confidence without arrogance.
• You’ve grown a thick skin and are comfortable receiving and executing on constructive design critique.
• You're a kind person who plays well with others and views design as a team sport.
• Your attention to detail is second to none.
• Experience developing in Webflow and/or Framer is a huge plus.
• If you have other peripheral visual design skills, such as video editing, After Effects, logo/branding, illustration/animation, etc. that would be a huge plus.

Logistics 

This is a full-time, W2, “in-house” role based out of our Washington, DC office. With our hybrid schedule, we expect employees in the DC area to be in the office at least 3 days a week on average (more is better). Certain roles (such as managers or people involved in projects that require more on-site meetings) may be in more, and that may change from time to time. Ultimately, our goal is to embrace a hybrid office culture that balances the needs of the agency with the needs of employees. (Please note that if you are not local but intend to relocate for the role, please be sure to note that in your application somewhere. Otherwise, we may not respond to non-local applicants.)

Is there room for career growth?

That’s one of the best parts about this role, specifically at Taoti. In a larger shop, the creative hierarchy is usually large, layered, and not-so-flexible. Or at a smaller shop, you may have lots of flexibility, but not enough of a team to really benefit from true collaboration. Taoti is the Goldilocks of creative agencies. We have enough clout to let you do top-tier work while being small enough to allow for the flexibility for you to carve out your niche and grow in a way that makes sense for you. So, your career trajectory has far more to do with your own aptitude and initiative than it does with an org chart.

Tips for getting your application onto our shortlist…

• Stand out. When you apply, make an impression.
• Make it easy for us to view your portfolio. Maybe point out the work you’re most proud of and why.
• While we love a good finished product, we really love to see your process. Please show us your precursor deliverables (wires, IAs, mockups, mood boards, even scratch pads, etc.).
• Talk to us about your favorite tools.
• Give us some insight into your general design philosophies. We’d love to know how you feel about AI in particular.
• Tell us why you want to work at Taoti, specifically. And what was wrong with your last gig that makes you want to leave?
• Show us your passion and energy. We like passion and energy.
• Too many people try to “be professional” in their applications. We’re a creative agency, so it’s okay to let your hair down and be yourself. We give a lot of points (not that we ‘give points,’ per se) for authenticity and personality.

What’s the corporate culture like?

“Fun but focused,” as one Taoti put it, is a great way to sum up our culture.  We’re a fun and casual shop.  The kind of place where you can wear whatever, come and go as you please, and have autonomy over your own day for the most part.  But we take the work seriously and believe deep in the mission to make meaningful and measurable impacts for our clients.  All the perks and shenanigans and borderline irreverent tone are fun, but to really fit in here, you need to be about the work. 

We believe in something we call our “QIST Culture.”  Quality.  Innovation.  Service.  And Teamwork.  We are always striving to improve these four areas (to the extent that we have a fund of a quarter million dollars per year that anyone can spend from in the interest of going above and beyond towards any of these four values.   

We also believe in total transparency and open communication across teams and across ranks. Instead of chain-of-command, we want everyone to have and share their own voice. Every other Thursday, the CEO holds ‘CafeClutch’ just so he can hear ideas and feedback directly from the team instead of through the filter of management. 

Want to see what life at Taoti looks like?  Check out our Instagram or ‘about us’ video.  There’s even a 360 tour of the office.

What about benefits?  

•  5 weeks of PTO (including 11 holidays).  This number goes up automatically with each year of tenure. 
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.  (50% for qualifying dependents.)  And we have good insurance.  
• Paid family leave for men and women (including PTO plus short and long-term disability options.)  
• 3% retirement plan matching (plus access to a financial advisor).   

• Home buyer help (including a $1200 closing credit)  
• Mobile phone reimbursement  
• You can opt for a company-supplied PC or Mac laptop.  Or if you want to use your own, we’ll reimburse you for it.  
• Charitable contribution matching  
• Tax-free metro benefits  

• A sincere respect for work/life balance  
• Money and time off allocated for professional development (also increases with tenure)  
• A diverse team hailing from over 15 countries last time we checked  
• A very hip/cool/funky/quirky office space on Barracks Row, in the heart of Capitol Hill.  Just 2 blocks from the metro!    

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Great ideas happen when diverse perspectives come together.  Those perspectives are Taoti’s secret sauce. So building a diverse team and culture where everyone has a voice and is included in the process is not just the right thing to do.  It’s good for business.  We’d love your own perspective to add to our mix!  We're eager for new, diverse voices to join the team and sincerely hope people from every walk of life will apply! 

A bit more about Taoti…

Established in 1996, Taoti Creative is a boutique, full-service creative agency located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  We are privately owned and have no corporate overloads (nothing personal, WPP.)  We do stuff like web development, social media management, branding, experiential marketing, video, AR/VR, etc.  Our mission is to ‘move the needle’ for our clients.  We leverage technology, creativity, and innovation to generate meaningful and measurable results for our clients—that’s what drives us.  Speaking of clients, they’re about 60% non-profits, 20% commercial, and 20% federal government.  Some of our customers include World Bank, USAID, DC Water, Discovery Education, American Chemical Society, Jane Goodall Foundation, and dozens of ‘National Association of _____________,’ etc.  Our full time team of about 50 employees is about 65% in-house and 35% remote.  We hail from over 15 countries.  And for the last four years in a row, we’ve made the Inc5000 list of fastest growing companies in the United States.  There’s of course plenty of additional information on our website.  If you’ve not done so already, be sure to check out our culture video: https://vimeo.com/289302105.  Or if you’re feeling virtual, here’s guided tour of the office in 360 video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7KkzdmSGTM (Warning: not suitable for printers.)

Next Steps

If you’re qualified and interested, please apply on our website (https://www.taoti.com/careers.)   Please note that these job ads often get placed onto other websites with their own application systems (we’re looking at you Jooble!)  and some sites (looking at you Indeed!) have made up random salary ranges. We aren't able to respond to applications that don’t come through our own website (Because we use software to manage our hiring process, and without it, it would be the wild west here. So please be sure you’re applying on our website.)