Yakubu Binuyaminu
If you’re planning to have your product or service feature user-interface and user-experience design, you’re probably starting to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there when it comes to hiring Ui/UX designers.
How do you find one that’s going to work with your particular project? How much should you expect to pay? Will they understand exactly what you want? Thankfully, these answers can be found in this guide on how to find and hire the perfect Ui/UX designer to make your project a success.
Get Experience in Design (Ui/UX)
One of those advantages I mentioned above is that if you’ve got at least some experience in design, you’re going to have a leg up over your competition. Most people are not professional designers and if they see something or have a problem, they don’t necessarily know how to go about solving it.
Sure, everyone has an opinion, but really…don’t you think someone with real experience in design will be able to do a better job with your UI/UX than someone who doesn’t? I do. It will probably cost you more money initially, but hiring someone with real-world experience will pay off in spades down the line.
See Also: 4 Steps on How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency: The Ultimate Guide
Know What You Need
One of your most important tasks is to make sure you have a clear understanding of what exactly you need for your new website or application (project). You might think you know—but if so, your project’s going to run into trouble pretty quickly.
Always do a quick audit before even thinking about hiring a company: The last thing you want is an end result that falls short of what you were hoping for. The sooner everyone involved knows what needs to be done, and why it needs doing, the better off everyone will be in terms of budgeting, time frames and communication.
Be clear about how long everything should take; try not to leave room for assumptions on either side.
Recommended: How to Create an Engaging UI/UX Design Case Study for Your Project
Know What You Can Offer Them
If you’re looking for a graphic designer or front-end developer, start by asking yourself what you can offer them in exchange. Even if they work remotely, they still need an income—can you pay them a fair hourly rate and guarantee consistent work? If not, don’t bother—you won’t find many high-quality UX designers or developers willing to take on your project for free.
Check Their References
When hiring a designer, it’s easy to get caught up in samples and portfolios on behance or dribbble, but remember, these are just representative examples. When possible, ask for references from past clients.
Or hire someone who was recommended by another entrepreneur you respect. Having heard directly from their previous employer(s), you can more easily gauge whether or not they are a good fit for your company and your project.
Don’t Just Look at Their Work
We all know that portfolios are important, but when you’re looking for a Ui/UX designer, it’s tempting to jump straight to your favorite design sites and hunt for designers who have beautiful work. However, if you simply rely on your eyes, chances are good that you’ll end up hiring someone whose style is similar to yours—which may or may not be right for your business.
Instead of simply taking a designer’s portfolio at face value, look beyond their samples and consider: Where do they come from? What products has he or she worked on in the past? Who hired them before? Interviewing candidates makes sure that not only is their work relevant and appropriate, but also that they are comfortable with all aspects of UX Design.
Don’t Use a Recruiting Agency.
Recruiting agencies may have experience in hiring UX designers, but that doesn’t mean you need to use them. In fact, you should never hire from a recruiting agency unless they can prove they’ve hired at least two UX designers in your particular area. Recruiters tend to represent their top 1-2% of talent and will not provide candidates that can match your expectations or needs.
If you do decide to use a recruiting agency, insist on speaking with a representative directly so you can choose who on their staff will work with you and know what questions to ask before beginning your search.
I hope this guide helps you in hiring your next product designer for both your company and your project.
I am a product designer with four years of experience in the industry, you can check out my contact page to contact me.
