UI/UX Design
Hire UI/UX Designers for Product Interfaces
UI/UX designers work out how a product should behave and then how it should look, so people can use it without instructions.
The role
What UI/UX designers do
UX work covers research, user flows, structure and wireframes: deciding what goes where and why. UI work turns that into the visual design: type, colour, components and every state a screen can be in. Some designers do both and some specialise, so check which half your project needs.
Typical deliverables
- User flows and wireframes
- Clickable prototypes
- High-fidelity screens for mobile and desktop
- A component library or design system in Figma
- A developer handoff with specs and assets
Tools you will see
- Figma
- FigJam or Miro
- Maze and usability testing tools
- Design tokens
- WCAG accessibility guidelines
Choosing
How to choose UI/UX designers
What to look for
- Case studies that explain the problem and the decisions, not only final screens.
- Evidence of testing with real users, and of changing the design because of it.
- Designs that include empty, error and loading states.
- Files a developer can build from: organised layers, components and clear naming.
- Attention to accessibility: contrast, text size and keyboard use.
Questions to ask
- 1What did you change in a recent project after testing it?
- 2How would you learn about our users before designing?
- 3What exactly do you hand over to developers?
- 4How do you handle feedback that conflicts with usability?
- 5Which part of this project would you start with?
Planning
Before you post the job
Research or execution
If you already know what to build, you need UI execution. If you are unsure what users need, budget for research and wireframes first.
What drives cost
The number of distinct screens and states, whether a design system already exists, and how many rounds of testing you want.
Handoff to developers
Agree how handoff works before design starts. A design nobody can build as drawn gets paid for twice.
Hiring on Open Lance
- Posting a job and reviewing proposals are free.
- Each milestone is funded into escrow before work starts and paid when you approve it.
- Hire fixed-price, hourly, as a monthly Dedicated Hire, or buy a packaged Drop-In.
- Client fees are shown before you pay and added on top of the work.
FAQ
Questions about hiring UI/UX designers
What is the difference between UI and UX?
UX is how the product works: flows, structure and behaviour. UI is how it looks and feels on screen. Most projects need both, in that order.
Do I need user research?
For a new product, or a redesign of something people struggle with, a small amount usually pays for itself. For a single straightforward screen it may not.
What should I receive at the end?
Usually an organised Figma file with components, working prototypes, and any exported assets your developers need.
Related
Related skills
Post a job for UI/UX designers
Describe the work and compare proposals. You only fund the first milestone once you have chosen someone.