
Hire Startup Design Experts
Hire the Top 3% of Freelance Startup Design Experts
Hire startup designers, on demand. From pitch decks and MVP prototypes to brand-identity assets and investor-ready visuals, Toptal startup designers create compelling designs that help early-stage companies attract users and funding.
No-Risk Trial, Pay Only If Satisfied.
Hire Freelance Startup Design Experts
Bill Stewart
Bill is a product design director and principal designer with 15+ years of experience delivering high-value outcomes for clients and customers. He excels as a player-coach design leader, mentor, and innovator through the PM-UX-ENG agile design process for B2B or B2C. Bill loves building value in fast-moving 0-1 startup-like environments and in established products. He has proven success in delivering the highest business value (ARR) and the highest user value (usability) through design.
Show MoreGuilherme Cerqueira
Guilherme is a seasoned UI/UX product designer with over 15 years of experience. He has a proven track record designing products for millions of users at Booking.com and helping SaaS startups achieve success through user-centered design and data-informed solutions. Specializing in web and mobile design, design systems, conversational AI interfaces, and rapid prototyping with AI tools, his work has been used by major brands including GSK, Unilever, Danone, Nestlé, and BRF.
Show MoreHugo Barbera
Hugo specializes in pro-grade AI creative work, with 16 years of experience in advertising, working with global icons like Nike, Volkswagen, Audi, Coca-Cola, Hugo Boss, & Vogue. His work has earned awards at major advertising festivals. He's delivered 30+ commercial AI projects & has been exhibited in Milan, Paris, & NYC. A seasoned keynote speaker, he inspired audiences at Digital Fashion Week Paris, Upscale Conf, & Cannes Lions, showcasing the transformative power of AI-driven creativity.
Show MoreGiorgio Campo
Giorgio is a design consultant with 15 years of experience. He drives growth and efficiency on digital products by enhancing the customer experience through design. He leads design and cross-department challenges and executes UX and UI himself as a solo designer. An ex-Deloitte, ex-Condé Nast, and design lead at US/EU-based startups, Giorgio brings together the vision of consulting with the iterative approach and practicality of working inside products.
Show MoreArtur Maklyarevsky
Over the last 10 years, Artur has built a few startups and has helped others create their designs via his studio, Design2Dev. He has an extensive background in iterative UI/UX, IxD, and solving problems creatively. Since 2000, he's also worked with a plethora of Silicon Valley agencies as a lead designer and art director. Artur has a master's degree in interactive telecommunications from ITP-NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Show MoreLjubomir Bardžić
Ljubomir is a UI/UX designer and an Adobe Certified Expert. He has been working with tech startups for the last ten years, helping them deliver better experiences across desktop, mobile, and web apps. Besides doing client work, Ljubomir also teaches design online. His courses have been attended by over 6,000 students so far.
Show MoreKim Eun Kyung
Eun Kyung is a multi-cultural, all-rounded product designer based in Singapore with more than 10 years of experience. She has worked with various enterprises and startups in US and Singapore. As a seasoned product designer, she is specialized in finding easy-to-use solutions to complex problems.
Show MoreTrent McBride
Trent has more than 15 years of design experience in agencies, in-house, young startups, and global corporations. He specializes in digital product design and brand identities, but his main goal is to conceptualize and design great products, brands, and experiences for his clients. He also co-founded Tadaku, a platform for cultural exchange through home-based cooking parties, which was acquired by Gaiax in 2015.
Show MoreOskar Rutten
Oskar has 9+ years of experience as a UI/UX designer. He has worked with a wide range of clients from multinational corporations like Marchex to startups and charities. As the creative director of the Housing All Australians Charity and a freelancer, he has worked on multiple projects across fintech, B2B, B2C, and everything in between with teams of varying sizes.
Show MoreMichael Signal
Michael is an experienced creative director with over 20 years of industry experience in all aspects of the design process. He's gained his experience by founding a web design agency as well as working for a larger global telco organization as their creative digital lead. Michael has an acute sense of visual design aesthetics and strives for continuous improvement outcomes—this experience has led to his own startup initiatives.
Show MoreRaphael McDonnell
Raphael is an award-winning digital product designer and product manager focused on UI/UX and strategy. With decades of experience working on multi-platform products for companies in the entertainment, gaming, pharmaceutical, and SaaS industries, such as Netflix, HBO, 2K, Riot Games, SAP, Pfizer, and early-stage startups. Raphael's approach to human behavior and user-centered design allows him to solve problems—ultimately helping to shape and make digital products better.
Show MoreDiscover More Startup Design Experts in the Toptal Network
Start Hiring... 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.




How to Hire Startup Design Experts Through Toptal
Talk to One of Our Client Advisors
Work With Hand-selected Talent
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
EXCEPTIONAL TALENT
How We Source the Top 3% of Startup Design Experts
Our name “Toptal” comes from Top Talent—meaning we constantly strive to find and work with the best from around the world. Our rigorous screening process identifies experts in their domains who have passion and drive.
Of the thousands of applications Toptal sees each month, typically fewer than 3% are accepted.
Capabilities of Startup Designers
Startup designers use their creative skills and aesthetic sensibilities to help early-stage companies move from idea to impact. Toptal’s startup designers build intuitive interfaces, build scalable design systems, and develop cohesive brands that accelerate product validation and growth.
MVP User Interfaces
Brand Identity and Visual Language
Investor Pitch Decks and Marketing Assets
User Research and Testing
Prototypes and Wireframes
Collaborating With Founders and Engineers
Designing for Product-market Fit
Scalable Design Systems
Rapid Iteration Cycles
Go-to-Market Strategy
FAQs
Typically, you can hire startup design experts with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or full end-to-end project delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your startup design expert, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
To hire the right startup design expert, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect startup design experts for your project.
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our startup design experts to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.
In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.
When you hire startup design experts with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched startup design experts ready to help you achieve your goals.
You can hire startup design experts on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the project end-to-end based on your specific requirements as part of our Consulting and Services offerings. Whether you hire a startup design expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our startup design experts can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
We make sure that each engagement between you and your startup design expert 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 startup design expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
Explore Related Toptal Services
Looking for an end-to-end business solution? Browse Toptal's portfolio of services.
Toptal Lets You Hire Fast,
With Unparalleled Success
Trusted Talent Only
Our talent network is composed of thoroughly vetted professionals who ramp up quickly, function as essential team members, and deliver results.
Precise Matching
Our experienced talent matchers specialize in identifying talent that fits your needs. They work to understand your exact requirements and hand-select the best professionals for your project.
Seamless Hiring
We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDAs, streamlining the hiring process so you can focus on innovation, not overhead.
No-risk Trial Period
We want to be sure your engagement is a total success, so we offer a no-risk trial period. Work with your new hire for up to two weeks and pay only if you’re satisfied.
Effortless Scaling
We help you scale your team up or down as needed, with quick and efficient hiring in under 48 hours.
Flexible Engagements
Our flexible engagement models allow you to choose the engagement type that suits your needs and adjust it anytime: hourly, part time, or full time.
Featured Toptal Startup Design Publications
Top Startup Design Experts Are in High Demand.





























































