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It might seem that choosing a UI/UX design company is straightforward. You just look at their portfolio, and if you like something, you hire them, right? That should be real simple.
However, as it usually is in life, hiring a truly reliable and talented UI/UX design services company isn’t quite that easy.
A portfolio is a significant factor in this process, but it’s not the only thing that marks a great designer. In fact, did you know that to be a high-class professional, a web designer must possess some very specific character traits? Only a few of them have to do with creative talent.
Any UI/UX design services provider must have those qualities in some measure. So if you want to hire a team that can help your business achieve outstanding results, keep reading to learn what you should be looking for.
5 Qualities to Look For in a UI/UX Design Company
An individual UI/UX designer should know their business instruments, such as Figma, Illustrator, and so on. In addition, they have to be creative and understand the trends in UI/UX design. But aside from these professional requirements, they need some personal qualities to fit into this job.
- Optimism
- Tenacity
- Adaptability
- Emotional intelligence
- Curiosity
- Empathy
- Passion
These are character traits that UI/UX designers need to understand their clients and ‘see’ and share their vision.
Let’s be honest, this kind of creative job can be emotionally draining. So, tenacity, resilience, and adaptability are all qualities that will help the professional to do their job well. They have to emphasize with the client, so they can see the project ‘through their eyes’.
And on a larger scale, a UI/UX design company should also have these traits. However, in this case, the qualities to look for in UI/UX design services providers sound a bit different.
Strong work ethic
Having a strong work ethic for a UI/UX design company means being ready to understand and solve the client’s problems no matter how hard the challenge might seem. Sometimes design discussions are wrought with conflict. Moreover, some people might not be responsible enough to consistently complete their work on time and maintain the desired quality.
Therefore, during the interview, the client needs to discuss things like ‘what’s your protocol for implementing design changes?’. Talking about such things and studying the company’s reviews will help you understand whether the team’s work ethic is good. You should also check out services like Clutch to get more feedback about the company’s services.
High level of UI/UX design company professionalism
No amount of creative talent can offset the lack of professional training for a UI/UX designer. Therefore, you always need to find out what skills the designers have.
Ask about the tools the company uses for work. A skilled UI/UX designer should be a master of multiple solutions.
For wireframes and prototypes, and mockups:
- Figma
- Sketch
- InVision studio
- Adobe XD
- Axure
- Proto.io
- Framer
- Marvel
- Miro
- FlowMapp
- Balsamiq
For graphic assets, illustrations, and icons:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
In addition, for documentation and presentations:
- Google suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
- Microsoft Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Inquire about seeing samples of the professional’s work in some of these solutions.
Proactivity in everything
The best UI/UX design company should proactively communicate with the client. Let’s face it, the client isn’t a professional and might not know the latest trends and best practices. So, the designers should offer their ideas with examples and explanations of why precisely this way is the best for business.
Well-developed in problem solving
Many unexpected problems can occur with UI/UX design services. That’s why designers must work closely both with the client and developers. They should be proactive in finding solutions or the best way to visualize the ones provided by the development team.
Great at communication
Communication is a crucial skill for designers. In fact, soft skills outweigh hard skills in this profession. As a client, you should talk to the designer and evaluate whether your communication is indeed effective.
- Does the designer understand your vision?
- Can you discuss changes or complaints constructively?
- Does the team understand the ideas you want to communicate the way you need them to?
- Can you, from your side, understand the designer’s vision and reasoning behind it?
Finding a person that you really enjoy communicating with can be challenging. However, it’s always best to find the UI/UX design services company you just ‘click’ with.
Bottom Line: How to Hire the Best UI/UX Design Company
It might be surprising for some, but communication is the best way to hire a UI/UX design company. Of course, you should look at the designers’ portfolios and inquire about their experience working with your niche.
However, a truly great designer’s strength is thinking outside the box of niche-imposed cliches. So, having experience with multiple industries is a benefit instead of a drawback.
It’s communication that will show whether the company truly has your business’s best interests in mind and whether the team can and will bring your vision to life.
Let’s start with communication! Contact us to schedule a free consultation.