EarthDNA · 15 hours ago
Design Engineer / UX Design Technologist (Contract / Fractional)
Boston, MA
Full-time, Contract
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
4+ years expEarthDNA is seeking a talented UX Designer / Design Engineer to lead the design and user experience for Project S.H.O.E.S., an AI-powered mobile platform focused on footwear sustainability. The role involves designing a mobile-first experience, creating intuitive user flows, and collaborating with engineering teams to implement innovative product designs that engage users and promote sustainability.
EducationEnvironmental ConsultingGreenTechRenewable EnergySustainability
Responsibilities
Design the complete mobile application experience for iOS and Android platforms
Ability to work with AI tools in the design process
Create intuitive user flows for core features
Develop dark mode and light mode interfaces optimized for battery efficiency
Design gamification elements to drive user engagement and retention
Create visual representations of complex data (pricing trends, environmental impact, material recovery value)
Establish a comprehensive design system ensuring consistency across all touchpoints
Create reusable component libraries for rapid feature development
Define typography, color palettes, spacing systems, and interaction patterns
Document design principles and guidelines for engineering handoff
Ensure accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA standards)
Conduct user research with target demographics (Massachusetts consumers, retailers)
Design and facilitate usability testing sessions for MVP and beta releases
Analyze feedback from 1,000+ beta users and 25 retail partners
Create user personas and journey maps for different stakeholder groups
Iterate designs based on quantitative and qualitative feedback
Collaborate with engineering team to ensure feasible implementations
Create responsive designs optimized for mobile performance (<100ms response times)
Design camera viewfinder overlays and AR guidance for shoe scanning
Prototype micro-interactions and animations using tools like Framer or Principle
Work within technical constraints (mobile AI processing, edge computing limitations)
Design compelling visualizations for environmental impact metrics
Create engaging ways to display: CO2 emissions avoided, Materials recovered, Economic value unlocked Community impact scores
Develop reward/incentive interfaces that motivate sustainable behavior
Design educational content that makes circular economy concepts accessible
Partner with AI/ML engineers to understand model capabilities and limitations
Work with data scientists to visualize complex analytics (ValueLens™ predictions)
Collaborate with sustainability experts to accurately represent environmental data
Coordinate with brand partners (New Balance, Vibram) on co-branding opportunities
Support marketing team with app store assets and promotional materials
Qualification
Required
4+ years of UX/UI design experience with focus on mobile applications and website
Strong portfolio demonstrating B2B or consumer-facing mobile app design
Proven experience with camera-based or AR/computer vision interfaces
Expertise in design tools (Figma)
Experience with prototyping tools (Framer, Principle, ProtoPie)
Understanding of mobile platform guidelines (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design)
Experience designing for technical/complex products made simple for consumers
Familiarity with mobile development constraints and best practices
Basic understanding of AI/ML capabilities and limitations
Experience working with engineering teams in agile environments
Knowledge of responsive design and performance optimization
Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design
Strong problem-solving skills with user-centered approach
Ability to balance business goals, technical constraints, and user needs
Experience with data visualization and information architecture
Portfolio showing work that simplifies complex processes
Demonstrated ability to design for behavior change
Preferred
Experience with sustainability, circular economy, or environmental tech products
Background in fashion, retail, or e-commerce platforms
Experience designing gamification systems or reward mechanisms
Knowledge of marketplace/two-sided platform design patterns
Familiarity with blockchain/NFT/digital twin concepts
Experience with design engineering (HTML/CSS/JavaScript implementation)
Previous work on products serving diverse demographics
Experience with products that reached 100,000+ users
Company
EarthDNA
EarthDNA is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower everyone.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$1MKey Investors
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
2025-10-16Grant· $1M
Recent News
Government Technology US
2025-11-04
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