Designer L2
Designs and ships small projects alongside an engineer, with light guidance.
What we expect at L2
| Scope | Runs point on the design of small projects and milestones, from concept to shipping, alongside an engineer. |
|---|---|
| Independence and judgment | Sets their own direction once work is assigned and asks questions when they need help. Sets scope on small projects with little oversight, and may need help deciding how and when to cut it. Has a point of view, expresses it, and can disagree and commit. |
| Design and writing | Design sense that fits the KODE design system and our principles, with occasional correction from more senior designers. Writes clear, brief product copy in our product's voice, with guidance and proofreading. |
| Technical skills | Writes modern HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Works in our Rails codebase with Tailwind and Hotwire to apply designs and interactions to real code, with review and feedback. |
| AI-assisted delivery | Uses approved AI design and prototyping tools to explore options quickly, and checks every result against the design system and real use before relying on it. |
| Quality and review | Checks their designs in the running product, across screen sizes and with keyboard and screen readers. Looks for small improvements to make along the way. |
| Communication and influence | Shares progress in standups and the project channel. Creates tools, documentation and shared resources that make the team more effective. Receives feedback with a growth mindset. |
Growing toward L3 Senior Designer
What changes on the way to the next level. Use it in your quarterly career conversation to pick one or two areas to practice.
| Run projects with less guidance |
Set scope and manage your projects with minimal oversight, and develop a good sense for when to cut scope to hit the target date. |
|---|---|
| Make the right design calls on your own |
Make design decisions that fit the KODE design system and our principles without needing correction. |
| Write without guidance |
Find the balance between expressive, clear and brief in product copy, needing only light editing. |
| Get comfortable in the codebase |
Apply your designs and interactions directly in our Rails codebase with less review and fewer handoffs. |
| Guide others |
Help teammates and new designers, give specific feedback in your area when asked, and handle difficult conversations directly. |
| AI-assisted delivery |
Design AI-assisted workflows the team can reuse, such as prompts, context, prototypes and review steps. |
At every level
Every designer's work gets reviewed, whatever their level, and leading a project is an assignment, not a promotion. Read more on the design overview.