How to Hire a UX Designer in 2024

Hiring a UX designer is essential for various projects, whether launching a new app or refining an existing website. Understanding your specific needs is crucial, as UX designers specialize in different aspects of the development and design process. 

Without UI/UX experts on our team, we wouldn’t have been able to handle as many design projects as we did, including Infinity, QTalent, and Player's Health. This article offers guidance for hiring the right UX specialists.

Skills and Qualifications of UX Designer

UX designers rely on a combination of technical expertise and workplace skills to effectively complete their tasks. Pay attention to the following requirements:

Prototyping and User Flows

For crafting user interfaces that are intuitive and efficient, UX designers should excel in wireframing, prototyping, mockup creation, and user flow mapping. Consider proficiency in prototyping tools like InVision, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

Visual Design Principles and Software

UX designers should understand visual design principles, including typography, color theory, layout, icons, and design theory. They put theory into practice, leveraging specific software like Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, or Illustrator to craft visually engaging interfaces.

User Research and Usability Testing

UX designers are skilled at conducting comprehensive user research to gain insight into users’ needs and pain points. At the same time, they can perform usability testing to iteratively refine the product and ensure optimal usability and user satisfaction.

Agile

UX designers understand the Agile methods to collaborate efficiently with other team members and align the design process to this iterative approach.

Information Architecture

UX designers should structure and organize content to improve user navigation and task performance. By creating clear paths, they simplify information search and product understanding.

Application Development

While UX designers typically don't code, familiarity with JavaScript, CSS, and HTML aids in setting realistic expectations for design feasibility and enhances collaboration with development teams. 

Prioritization and Time Management

To manage their workload, UX designers must also be able to effectively juggle multiple projects or tasks, prioritizing based on critical needs and project schedules to meet deadlines effectively.

How to Hire a UI/UX Designer

Let's look at the steps that will help you find and hire the right professional. 

Define Requirements and Create a Job Description

Define the requirements for the UX designer role, considering the specific skills, experience level, and qualifications.

Craft a detailed job description outlining the responsibilities of the UX designer position. Articulate the company's mission, values, and culture to attract candidates who resonate with the organization's ethos.

Evaluate the UX Designer's Portfolio

A UX designer's portfolio should showcase their talent, skills, experience, and problem-solving approach. Look for diversity in projects to assess adaptability across different products and industries, especially in the niches relevant to your company.

Avoid prioritizing aesthetic appeal over functionality, as solving problems should be a priority. Also, ensure candidates have systems knowledge and analytical thinking.

Conduct the Interview

Arrange interviews with selected candidates to evaluate their technical proficiency, problem-solving capabilities, and suitability for the position. Prepare structured interview questions to assess their experience, approach to design projects, and familiarity with design tools and methodologies. 

Use behavioral interview techniques to understand their past experiences and how they approach challenges. For example, the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) will help you assess candidates' past experiences and behaviors:

• S: Please share an instance where you encountered a deadline challenge.
• T: What specific task were you working on during that time?
• A: Could you describe your role in the situation? Were you collaborating with others or working independently?
• R: How would you evaluate the outcomes of your actions? Reflecting on this experience, what adjustments would you make for future situations?

Test Task 

A test task should be closely related to the product or service relevant to the role. Clear instructions and a defined schedule allow candidates to demonstrate their abilities under realistic constraints. 

Constructive feedback facilitates a dialogue where UX designers can articulate their approach to the task, revealing their thinking process and decision-making skills.

Job Offer

After a candidate successfully completes the interview process, extend a formal job offer. It typically includes the position title, start date, compensation package, benefits, and other terms and conditions.

Onboarding

Familiarize the designer with the company's culture and organizational structure, as well as their role, responsibilities, and expectations. Make sure the specialist has all the necessary materials and access to start work.

Top UX Designer Hiring Strategies

The particular configuration of the UX hiring process depends on project requirements, preferences, budget, and labor market conditions. Below, we outline three popular options.

Freelancer UX Designers

The freelance cooperation model involves hiring independent contractors or self-employed individuals on a temporary or project basis to fulfill specific tasks or projects. 

Pros

• Freelancers are typically paid only for the hours worked, making it a cost-efficient option compared to full-time employees or agencies.
• Hiring freelancers allows access to a global talent pool, regardless of geographical constraints, providing access to specialized expertise.
• Freelancers can accommodate time-sensitive projects and offer quick turnaround times.

Cons:

• Some freelancers may exhibit inconsistent communication or deliver substandard quality work, posing reliability concerns.
• Communication barriers, especially across different time zones, and language proficiency issues may arise.
• Freelancers may lack access to the same equipment and facilities as in-house employees or agency staff, impacting project execution.

Where to find:

• Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, and Guru offer a wide range of talent with varying experience and expertise.
• Websites like Dribbble, Behance, and UX Collective serve as online communities for designers to showcase their portfolios and connect with potential clients.

In-House UX Designer

You may opt to recruit full-time employees, building and maintaining a company's core team and culture.

Pros:

• In-house UX designers become intimately familiar with the company's product, audience, and end-users, leading to deeper insights.
• Having an in-house designer ensures continuous availability for making frequent changes and introducing upgrades to the UX design.

Cons:

• In-house designers may have specialized skills but can’t cover all areas.
• Hiring an in-house UX designer can be expensive, increasing the company's payroll expenses.
• Hiring in-house staff requires providing a stable workload and ensuring employee job security.

Where to find:

• Online job boards such as Glassdoor or LinkedIn allow companies to post job listings and search for potential candidates based on location, industry, and service categories.

Outsourcing UX Design Agency

Hiring an outsourcing company for UX design means partnering with a third-party agency such as Arounda or a firm to handle the design aspects of a project.

Pros:

• Agencies often have a diverse team of experts to handle various projects effectively.
• Design agencies usually assign dedicated project managers to ensure timely communication and delivery.
• Top UX design agencies are known for delivering high-quality work and can handle complex projects due to their experienced team and rigorous quality checks.

Cons:

• Outsourcing companies may have set processes and workflows that may not align with your preferences or project requirements.
• You have less control over the design process.

Where to find:

• Platforms like Clutch and Good Firms provide reviews and ratings of various outsourcing companies.
• Design agencies have websites showcasing their services, portfolios, and client testimonials, providing insight into their capabilities.

Find out more about choosing a digital design agency or freelancers for your project.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a UX Designer?

The cost of hiring a UX designer varies based on experience level, location, and project complexity. We analyzed data from Glassdoor and DOU to show you the difference in rates depending on the country.

Summary

Finding, assessing, and recruiting a UX designer poses challenges. However, with a proactive mindset and strategic approach, you can successfully onboard talented professionals to your team. We hope this guide will put you on the right track.

Looking for an outsourcing design agency or considering extending your team with design experts? Arounda is at your service. We offer a full cycle of design services — branding, graphic design, UI/UX design, and other solutions for healthcare, fintech, retail, SaaS, Web3, and blockchain companies. Want to discuss the details? Contact our specialists.