Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Design Researchers.

Toptal is a marketplace for top Design Researchers. Top companies and start-ups choose Toptal Design Researchers freelancers for their mission-critical design projects.

Hire a Top Design Researcher Now

No-Risk Trial, Pay Only If Satisfied.

Trusted by leading brands and startups

Hire Freelance Design Researchers

View Mike

Mike Slone

Design Researchers Designer, Sketch, User Experience (UX), Agile, Creative Direction, UX Direction, App UX, Mobile UI, Responsive UI, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Responsive, Project Management, UX Research,  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since March 14, 2017

Mike is a highly experienced and successful product, UX, UI, visual, and branding designer with many years of experience creating large- and small-scale designs. He has worked for global clients in many industries including ExxonMobil, Reebok, Taco Bell, Nike, and many others. He has also provided his design leadership and experience to startups in healthcare, higher education, and SaaS companies.

Show More
View Project
Southwest Airlines Mobile App
View Project
ExxonMobil Safety and Learning Platform
View Project
Reebok One Fitness Professional Web App Platform
View Project
Panera Web, Mobile and In-Store Apps
View Heiko

Heiko Sacher

Design Researchers Designer, User Experience (UX), Information Architecture (IA), User Flows, High-fidelity Mockups, iOS App Design, Screenflows, Android, iOS, Digital Storyboards, UX Prototyping, UX Research, Sketch,  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since March 2, 2017

Heiko has more than two decades of experience with planning, managing, and executing UX designs for industry leaders like Apple, Motorola, Google, and Skype/Microsoft. His mobile user interfaces, messaging experiences, and immersive media interactions have shipped in millions of phones, tablets, and apps.

Show More
View Project
Skype | Mobile Clients
View Project
Feedc | Connecting People and Places
View Project
Google | Android OS Design
View Project
Microsoft | Skype for Outlook
View Saurabh

Saurabh Mathur

Design Researchers Designer, Sketch, Photoshop 2017, iOS, Android, Web, User Interface (UI), User Flows, UX Research, Wireframing, Web UI, User Experience (UX), Web App UX,  + 0 more

GermanyToptal Member Since March 2, 2017

Saurabh is a UX/UI designer with over 14 years of experience— designing for platform-specific iOS and Android apps and the responsive web. He excels at helping with product strategy, micro-copy, and motion prototyping (Principle, FramerJS). He's also worked with multiplatform Scrum teams using the Agile approach. In his career, Saurabh's worked at SlideShare (LinkedIn) and Babbel and co-founded two startups in the B2C/B2B space.

Show More
View Project
ZipIQs | Fleet Management App
View Project
1Kauf
View Project
UNICEF Lotteriet
View Project
BookEnough
View Alejandro

Alejandro Velasco

Design Researchers Designer, Visual Art, Responsive UI, Sketch, User Research, Product Design, Digital Design, Web Design, UX Design, Digital Product Design, Adobe Illustrator, Web App Design, Freelance Design,  + 0 more

SpainToptal Member Since March 29, 2017

Alejandro is a passionate designer—a former industrial designer turned digital over the years—taking advantage of his skills in user-centered designs and interests in technology and digital image rendering. He's been working in the user interface field for more than eight years—specializing in working with teams to create visual and interaction languages. Nowadays, he's helping startups build their identities through their interfaces.

Show More
View Project
BANYU | Brand and Product—2017
View Project
TRAITY | Visual—2016
View Project
AYVRI | Brand, UI/UX, Illustration—2018
View Project
TELEFONICA (Tuenti) | Apps and Workflow—2015
View Anna

Anna Vasyukova

Design Researchers Designer, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, iOS, UX Research, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Mobile App Design, Wireframing, Prototyping,  + 0 more

ArmeniaToptal Member Since October 11, 2016

Anna is a UX designer with over ten years of experience in the field. She helps companies meet the needs of digital consumers by creating experiences that cover both user needs and business goals. Anna specializes in user research, ideation, prototyping, wireframing, and UI design. She is a good communicator and listener who has explored the boundaries of user experience both at startups and large enterprises.

Show More
View Project
Eventgeek
View Project
FR8 App
View Project
EYE CARE PLUS
View Project
Express Curate
View Katrina

Katrina Talley

Design Researchers Designer, Information Architecture (IA), UX Strategy, Sketch, Web Design, Interactive Design, UX Research,  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since November 16, 2015

Katrina is an innovative user experience and interaction designer with more than a decade of experience in product design for the web, desktop, mobile, and embedded applications. She creatively translates complex problems into elegant, usable solutions that exceed expectations and across devices. She approaches product design with a broad experience, a big picture focus, and a passionate user advocacy.

Show More
View Project
Pearson Online Learning Exchange Community
View Project
GDMissionSystems.com
View Project
NBC Learn on Pearson OLE
View Project
Modular Design in Content Strategy
View Lis

Lis Fernandez Ojeda

Design Researchers Designer, Axure RP Pro, Sketch, UX Design, Mobile Design, Visual Design, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Information Architecture (IA),  + 0 more

ArgentinaToptal Member Since July 20, 2015

Lis has over five years of experience working as a product designer specializing in designing mobile experiences and more than three years of expertise as a user experience specialist. She has designed meaningful mobile experiences for companies such as Almundo.com, Personal Telecom, and Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 throughout her professional career. Lis is a team player with great communication skills that are utilized on every project.

Show More
View Project
Almundo.com mobile application UX Design
View Project
Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 Product Design
View Project
Personal FEST *14 Product Design
View Project
Personal FEST Summer *15 Product Design
View Jenna

Jenna Law

Design Researchers Designer, Sketch, iOS, Wireframing, User Research, Visual Design, UI Design, UX Design, OmniGraffle, Adobe CC, Product Design, Brand Design, User Experience (UX),  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since April 20, 2017

Jenna is an award-winning director of design. She has partnered with clients such as Microsoft, Jaguar, UK Government, GSK, Jack Daniels and more for over 13 years. Her unique hybrid skills—of UI, UX, brand and product design—has seen her exceed business and user expectations time and again. Her process for success: user-focused, experience-driven, design-led.

Show More
View Project
Sensodyne | Responsive Website
View Project
Thomson Reuters | Financial Applications
View Project
ViiV Healthcare (GSK) | Responsive Web App
View Project
Jack Daniel's | Responsive Website
View Abe

Abe Serrano

Design Researchers Designer, Sketch, User Experience (UX), Digital Product Design, Visual Design, Web Design, Adobe Photoshop, Prototyping, Internet of Things (IoT), User Research,  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since March 30, 2016

Abe has spent the past 14 years designing digital solutions for clients such as TED, XPRIZE, Samsung, and ExxonMobil. As a versatile UX/UI designer, Abe has a keen sense of understanding business objectives and defining a clear pathway to achieve desired outcomes. Clients hire him for his lean UX methodology, human-centric approach to design, creative leadership in teams of all sizes, and his ability to get things done.

Show More
View Project
7x Webby Award Winner TED-Ed
View Project
XPRIZE Microsite for Potential Investors
View Project
Oral-B iOS App to Sync with the Power Toothbrush
View Project
Animation Design for Nissan Advertorial Unit
View Jenny

Jenny Shen

Design Researchers Designer, Sketch, iOS, Android, UX Design, UI Design, Mobile App Design, Usability Testing, Product Design, Information Architecture (IA), UX Research, Lean UX, UX Strategy,  + 0 more

TaiwanToptal Member Since December 5, 2016

Jenny is an award-winning UX strategist who helps global enterprises create new business value with innovation, global expansion strategy, and customer-winning UX design. She has worked with startups and brands including Neiman Marcus (US), Crate&Barrel (US), Randstad (NL), and Babylon Health (UK). She specializes in defining product/UX strategy and designing user-centric experiences for travel, eCommerce, and SaaS businesses.

Show More
View Project
Neiman Marcus Japan
View Project
Randstad Direct – Corporate Innovation
View Project
TravelBird – Online Travel Agency
View Project
Crate&Barrel Singapore
View Chris

Chris Mismash

Design Researchers Designer, User Experience (UX), Product Design, Information Architecture (IA), UX Strategy, User Research,  + 0 more

United StatesToptal Member Since August 31, 2017

As a creator of software-based products for almost two decades, Chris has worked on some truly amazing projects. His passion for putting the customer first has resulted in products used by millions. Along the way, Chris has been noted as a member of innovators 40 people under 40, had products noted as “Excellent 4/5” from PC Mag, and have built award-winning consumer products.

Show More
View Project
Blytz SMS Payments
View Project
Zilla
View Project
Veterans First Launch
View Project
Summit Events

Sign up now to see more profiles.

Start Hiring
Trustpilot
Toptal in the press

... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.

Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.

Our clients
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Thierry Jakicevic
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
1
2
3
Creating an app for the game
Conor Kenney
Creating an app for the game
1
2
3
Leading a digital transformation
Elmar Platzer
Leading a digital transformation
1
2
3
Testimonials

Michael is an incredible designer, and has been a great fit for our project. He just gets it in a way that can’t be taught. My goal was to pay Toptal to find me a high quality designer for my project, and that is exactly what happened. It was easy. Being able to see the portfolio work on Toptal’s platform is what gave me the infomation I needed to choose Michael. I have nothing but good things to say about Toptal and am looking forward to using Toptal for other projects in the future.

Edward Daniel, Co-Founder

improvemygun.com

I've worked very closely with Martina for over a year and have to say she is one of the best people I have ever worked with. Instead of simply following instructions blindly, she thinks through the task at hand, becoming a thought partner to help with whatever the project may be. Besides being super talented at design, she possesses specific qualities that make her exceptional to work with given the fast paced nature of being a startup. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, professional designer who doesn't need much direction to hit the ground running.

Sahil Khanna, Sr. Manager, Marketing

LeanTaaS, Inc.

Darko did a great job figuring out the user architecture for our concept, which led him to produce terrific wireframes. His knowledge of usability and design was a perfect match for the outside voice we needed to help jumpstart our project. We would certainly recommend him and work with him again in the future.

Rich Danker, Founder

Prose Market

Carlos has the unique talent of blending both quantitative and qualitative research to keenly identify UX challenges and opportunities. He thinks methodically, emphatically, and holistically to produce data-driven strategies and well-executed designs. Over the past 8 years of working with fully or partially distributed teams, Carlos manages working remotely far better than anyone I've encountered because of his strong communication and presentation skills. He is the first on my list the next time I need a UX designer.

Michelle Krogmeier, Project Manager

Union Station

Rafael is an amazing designer. His aesthetic sense is spot on, and he seems to be able to anticipate our needs before we even know what they are. He's taken the time to understand both our company and our clientele, and his solutions are consistently in-line with our values, interests, and our customers' needs. He delivers on time (if not earlier), works quickly, is well organized, and very effective. He's a pleasure to work with, and we're very happy to have found him through Toptal.

Ethan Brooks, CTO

Langlotz Patent & Trademark Works, Inc.

Toptal gave us access to the best designers out there. They’re not easy to find. Those designers integrated very quickly with our existing teams. They very quickly understood our business case and the value of our solution. Toptal really allowed us to focus on building the best possible product and save a lot of time on the typical administrative pains that goes with it -- specifically, finding the best talent. Toptal designers were very responsive, always online -- and that made life very easy for us. We have ambitious goals on how to grow the application and already Toptal has been a key contributor to that success.

Thierry Jakircevic, General Manager, Digital Solutions, Bridgestone Head Office, Tokyo

Bridgestone Corporation

We had an amazing experience working with our Toptal designer. In only two weeks, we accomplished what would've taken most companies 3 months to complete. We also enjoyed working with the Toptal team to make sure we were paired up with the right designer that would fit both our company culture and working style.

Ted Blosser, Head of Sales and Customer Success

WorkRamp

Dean blew us away. He ranks right up there as one of the top five designers of the hundreds I have worked with in the past. He listened, was totally professional, and came up with a 3D rotating cube design completely on his own. We didn't even ask for it, and yet it has become the centerpiece of our app and how users engage with it right off the bat. What he produced inspired all of us at Votify, and put us on track for launch and investor funding.

Michael Lawrence, Founder & CEO

Votify LLC

Hire Design Researchers Seamlessly with Toptal

1

Talk to One of Our Industry Experts

A Toptal director of design will work you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2

Work With Hand-Selected Talent

Within days, we'll introduce you to the right Design Researcher for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3

The Right Fit, Guaranteed

Work with your new Design Researcher for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.

FAQs

  • How are Toptal Design Researchers different?

    At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our Design Researchers to ensure we only match you with talent of the highest caliber. Of the more than 100,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut. You'll work with design experts (never generalized recruiters or HR reps) to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics. The end result: expert vetted talent from our network, custom matched to fit your business needs.

  • How fast can I hire Design Researchers through Toptal?

    Depending on availability and how fast you can progress, you could start working with a Design Researcher within 48 hours of signing up.

  • What is the no-risk trial period for Design Researchers?

    We make sure that each engagement between you and your Design Researcher begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you're completely satisfied with the results, we'll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you'd like. If you're not completely satisfied, you won't be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.

Tap Into World-Class Talent

  • Trusted Experts Only

    Trusted Experts Only

    All of our talent are seasoned experts who ramp up quickly, readily contribute as core team members, and work with you to minimize onboarding time.

  • The Right Fit

    The Right Fit

    We have a knack for matching you with the right fit. Start working with your new hire on a no-risk trial period, paying only if satisfied.

  • Scale as Needed

    Scale as Needed

    Hire in under 2 weeks and scale your team up or down as needed, no strings attached.

  • Seamless Hiring

    Seamless Hiring

    We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDA’s. Let us take care of the overhead while you focus on building great products.

  • Flexible Engagements

    Flexible Engagements

    Choose the engagement type that suits your needs — hourly, part-time, or full-time — with the ability to change anytime.

  • Expert Talent Matching

    Expert Talent Matching

    Focus on your project and enjoy support from your dedicated account executive and expert talent matcher.

Top Design Researchers are in High Demand.

Start Hiring
By continuing to use this site you agree to our Cookie Policy.
Got it