Toptal is a marketplace for clients to find website designers and web design services in the world. Each Toptal freelance web designer is thoroughly vetted and trusted by top companies for their most critical web design projects.
Todd has been a full-time creative professional his entire career. He is a UX designer, Figma expert, video editor, and AI art enthusiast with a one-person studio in Seattle. Todd does app design, motion graphics, web design, UX design, app prototyping, presentations, and illustration. He's trustworthy, fun, friendly, on time, and on budget. His enthusiasm and love of design are infectious.
Erin has over 10 years of experience in product design and agile product management, leading various responsive web and native app projects for eCommerce, B2C, and B2B organizations. She works with US and global organizations ranging from startups to large Fortune 500 companies to create inspired and innovative products. She also enjoys helping build new, agile product teams and is well-versed in Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
Victoria is a senior product designer from Los Angeles, California, with eight years of experience designing clean, authentic web and mobile cross-platform interfaces. She creates wireframes, prototypes, and unique web and app designs for clients' projects following their comprehensive business goals. Focused on turning ideas into delightful and meaningful solutions, Victoria always pays attention to users' needs, embracing her work efficiently and without delay.
Manoj has nearly a decade of design experience, including print, web, user interface design, and user experience design for web, mobile, and enterprise applications. He is an expert in human-computer interactions and user-centered design methodologies.
Vitalii is a highly skilled product designer with extensive experience creating comprehensive and holistic design services for any kind of web and mobile app, including SaaS. With expertise in UX design and design systems and a considerable background in UI design, Vitalii can help transform your vision, business goals, and user needs into a digital reality with a creative and precise approach.
Dapomola is a senior product designer with a multidisciplinary background encompassing product design, creative design, art direction, branding, and strategic leadership. With 10 years of industry expertise, he excels in UI, UX, visual, and web design, addressing challenges through well-researched and thoroughly tested solutions. As an entrepreneur and startup founder, Dapomola leads design projects from inception to execution, collaborating seamlessly with diverse teams.
As a product designer, Martina crafts end-to-end user experiences with a focus on interaction design and how user research can transform the way you approach problems. She has over 10 years of experience designing for native mobile apps and responsive web while working on cross-functional teams with engineers, product managers, and other designers in a variety of industries. Martina has a special interest in new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and voice-user interfaces.
Adam is a full-stack UX/UI product designer with a strong background in branding and deep expertise in mobile app and web design. His data-driven designs always follow the latest trends, ensuring that he delivers the best experience to the targeted audience. Adam believes in a robust, user-centered design process; he values attention to detail; and he enjoys using animation as one of many design tools.
Erwin is a brand expert and designer with around 20 years of experience in visual communication. Equally capable of leading teams and delivering directly, he can fulfill the most complicated jobs in advertising, publishing, and graphic and web design. Erwin's specialties are branding and identity, web design, and typography, and he has extensive web programming knowledge. He is communicative, flexible, and loves consistency and turning people's ideas and dreams into reality.
Chris is a full-stack UI/UX product designer and art director with 15+ years of international experience. His expertise includes UI, UX, mobile (iOS and Android) and web design, advertising, and branding. Chris has planned, designed, and shipped B2C and B2B products for startups like Curve and multinationals like Meetup. His industry experience includes fintech, gaming, real estate, and transportation. Originally from Australia, Chris has spent time in New York and is now based in London.
Backed by deep research and an appreciation for cultural nuance, Similoluwa creates great user-centered digital experiences and interfaces across the web and mobile. Her design experience varies across industries such as marketing, advertising, telecom, fintech, real estate, safety and security, insurance, education, and gaming.
Web designers are experts at creating and maintaining websites and online content. This guide to hiring web designers features an overview of relevant skills, job description tips, and interview questions and answers that will help you identify the best candidates for your company.
... 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.
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Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
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Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
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
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
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
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
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
How to Hire Web Designers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of design will work with 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 web designer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new web designer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled designers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
Typically, you can hire a web designer with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed 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 web designer, 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.
How are Toptal web designers different?
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our web designers 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 with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched web designers ready to help you achieve your goals.
How do I hire a web designer?
To hire the right web designer, 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 web designers for your project.
How much does it cost to hire a web designer?
The cost associated with hiring a web designer depends on various factors, including preferred talent location, complexity and size of the project you’re hiring for, seniority, engagement commitment (hourly, part-time, or full-time), and more. In the US, for example, Glassdoor’s reported average total annual pay for web designers is $82,000 as of August 2024. With Toptal, you can speak with an expert talent matcher who will help you understand the cost of talent with the right skills and seniority level for your needs. To get started, schedule a call with us — it’s free, and there’s no obligation to hire with Toptal.
What industries do web designers work in?
Web designers work in all industries and sectors, such as technology, e-commerce, media, marketing, and more. Every online business requires a website, whether their style of commerce is B2B, B2C, or government contracting, as the demand for visually appealing and user-friendly websites is essential for businesses in the digital age.
How in demand is web design?
Top web designers are in high demand due to the billion-plus existing websites and the many commercial and organizational sites that need to be created, maintained, and updated every year. In the US, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported 97,350 web designers in 2022.
Can you hire web designers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?
You can hire web designers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an 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 web designers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal web designers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your web designer 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.
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How to Hire Web Designers
How to Hire a Web Designer
Demand for Web Design Continues to Expand
There are currently more than 1 billion websites, and even more being created every year. Well-designed, easy-to-use websites are crucial touch points between organizations and their audiences, whether users go online to make a purchase, find information, book an appointment, or complete other tasks. In the retail space, for instance, e-commerce sales are predicted to account for 24% of all retail sales by 2026.
To stay competitive, businesses need individuals with design expertise to create, maintain, and update content such as business websites, e-commerce platforms, blogs, and landing pages—generating significant demand for skilled web designers. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in May 2023, 111,060 web and digital interface designers were employed in the US alone.
All types of companies, from startups and small businesses to midsize and large corporations can benefit from web design services. However, identifying and hiring high-quality web designers can be challenging. In this guide, we describe the key skills and qualities employers should look for when hiring freelance and remote designers to help develop websites and user interfaces. These qualities include tool mastery, depth of portfolio, business savvy, creativity, a meticulous approach, knowledge of rapidly evolving technology, and, most importantly, a focus on the user.
What Attributes Distinguish Quality Web Designers From Others?
What you look for when hiring a professional web designer will depend on your project scope. However, many skills and qualities are essential for any design project. Designers with these abilities stand out:
User-centric Mindset
The best websites combine usability and utility, meaning they are easy to use and enable users to achieve what they set out to do. When hiring a web designer, look for a candidate who emphasizes user and customer needs throughout their design process.
In résumés and interviews, you can recognize a user-centric mindset and expertise from phrases such as user experience (UX) design and user-centered design (UCD). Even better, when you review candidates’ portfolios, notice whether their work samples connect to user needs or whether the designs focus only on aesthetics without serving a clear purpose.
Business and Marketing Savvy
In addition to understanding the needs of users, look for web designer candidates who understand business priorities, such as optimizing conversions, increasing time on site, meeting SEO needs, and building brand credibility. Designers should learn what a business wants to achieve with its online presence and marketing plans to achieve these objectives. They should then align design strategy with business goals.
Creativity and Problem-solving
Creativity is an essential skill for any designer. It helps them solve problems, ask the right questions, incorporate user and stakeholder feedback, and find innovative solutions that support user needs and business goals. The design process—from identifying goals to the development of wireframes to polishing the final product—is iterative, and designers should be able to resolve any problems they encounter along the way.
Attention to Detail
Minor details matter in design. Meticulous attention to detail is especially important when you hire a remote web designer because they will work with less direct supervision than on-site staff. You can identify this quality from the sites in a designer’s portfolio, as well as during the interview process.
Aesthetic Sensibility
Visual aspects of design are extremely important. Correct use of visual elements like typography, imagery, and color schemes can help users process information. Designers with an understanding of UI design and a clear vision of what a webpage should look like can forge the path toward success.
How Can You Identify the Ideal Web Designer for You?
While finding the best web designer for your project can be challenging, the considerations below can help you determine the project’s needs and identify the right fit:
Junior and Senior Talent
Depending on budget and other project constraints like team size and talent availability, you may need different levels of experience in web designers.
Senior designers have both broader and deeper experience and are better able to craft a coherent vision of how a site should appear. They have mastery of the overall design process as a result of significant years of experience in the field. Veteran designers are more capable of handling a variety of problems and circumstances and are better-suited for leading teams and projects. On the other hand, junior designers, eager to establish their credentials, are often inclined to stay updated with the most recent tools and trends in the design industry. Less-experienced designers can do a great job on assignments that closely match their particular skills and knowledge.
Talent Requirements
By matching the skill sets and designer qualities described above, you can maximize your chances of hiring top talent, whether at the junior or senior level. When searching for the right freelance web designer, begin by identifying the specific skills needed on a per-project basis—and which skills your team may lack that a freelance designer can bring to the table.
Designer-Project Match
There are several considerations when matching candidates with projects. For example, if you’ve already chosen a design tool suite, candidates must have experience with that tool or software. Even without a predetermined tool set, candidates should have up-to-date experience with popular tools and packages. Industry experience in your particular commercial sector is also important, as is a portfolio with websites similar in form and function to the one you intend to create or update.
Additional Skills
If you are planning to build a new website from scratch, chances are you will need more than page design skills. Depending on the needs of your project, you might want to look into hiring a web designer that has experience in related fields such as website development, graphic design, or UI/UX design.
A web designer with technical skills will commonly be well-versed in front-end web development, proficient in HTML and CSS, and capable of writing code in programming languages, such as JavaScript, to build the visual components of your website and ensure its correct functionality on the client side.
If you are looking for a web designer who will also design elements of your website, you can look for candidates with graphic design skills. They should have expertise in specific areas that will concern your project, such as logo design or creating customized fonts, depending on your business needs.
When looking for a web designer, organizations often seek out candidates who are also skilled in UI/UX design. Nowadays, user experience is an area that cannot be overlooked when it comes to building websites. Your designer should be able to demonstrate expertise in areas such as user research and responsive design, as well as wireframing and prototyping.
Will the hire be a full-time web developer as well as a designer? Will they perform their own user research, or will they work alongside a UX specialist? The answers to these questions will help determine the skills to look for when screening applicants. For additional support, talent agencies are well-versed in matching candidates with projects that fit their web design services.
How to Write a Web Designer Job Description for Your Project
The leading job boards and agencies have templates for web designer job descriptions that you can customize for your project. Some key competencies to include are:
Mastery of Relevant Design Tools
The right web designer will use a combination of tools to create visually appealing, functional websites. If you need a designer with experience using a particular tool, list that in the job posting as a required skill. Figma and Sketch are prominent web design tools. In addition, consider whether your project requires experience with a website builder such as Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, or Webflow, or an image-editing tool such as Adobe Photoshop.
Experience With Responsive Web Design
Responsive web design ensures that content adapts to the user’s screen size whether they’re on a desktop, mobile phone, or tablet. This is essential for ensuring content is accessible and user-friendly regardless of device. According to Statcounter, more than half of web traffic worldwide is driven by mobile devices.
Emphasize the terms responsive design or adaptive design to ensure candidates can design for multiple device types and screen sizes. If you’re also looking for design support for a mobile app in addition to web design, include that in the job description.
Strong Communication and Presentation Skills
These skills are especially important for design leads and remote hires, but all designers should cultivate strong communication skills and be able to articulate design decisions and rationales to key stakeholders.
Ability to Work Effectively in a Collaborative Environment
No designer works in a vacuum. Creative feedback is an essential aspect of design iteration and refinement. Most web projects include designers from multiple disciplines (such as graphic design and user experience design experts), along with stakeholders from nondesign departments such as sales, marketing, and engineering.
The ideal candidate will also understand that rounds of revisions and even redesigns may be required to achieve results that not only meet but exceed clients’ expectations.
What Are the Most Important Web Designer Interview Questions?
While you can screen web designers’ suitability for your project using résumés and portfolios, the interview process is crucial to confirm these assessments and to validate their soft skills. Consider questions such as:
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a designer?
This question allows you to get to know candidates more in depth, and it gives them an opportunity to highlight what skills they would bring to the project. Look for strengths such as the ability to balance user needs and business objectives, creativity, and attention to detail. The answer to this question will also give you a sense of each designer’s growth areas.
How do you employ a user focus in website design? Please give some examples of user research or incorporating user feedback in your past projects.
User research is a crucial resource for web design. Asking about a designer’s specific experience with incorporating user feedback can give you an insight into their approach. Top candidates are familiar with user research techniques such as interviews, surveys, or usability testing, as well as the use of personas or empathy maps.
Do you understand the business goals for this project? Please explain your impression of our needs.
While the designer may not yet know your business’s unique goals, they should understand the general goals of businesses in your sector. The answer to this question can help you understand whether a candidate is the right designer for a particular project.
How do you go about solving design problems? Please give some examples of creative problem-solving you’ve performed on other projects.
Challenges will arise in any web design project. Stories about problems that the designer encountered in past projects—and how they overcame those issues—will give you insight into how they will manage future obstacles. This question also gives candidates a chance to showcase their creativity in achieving business goals and maximizing the utility and usability of a website.
How do you approach a new web design project from start to finish?
Web designers should have mastered every project phase from inception to ideation to site maintenance. Responses to this question reveal a candidate’s ability to see a project through and can provide a feel for how they collaborate and communicate during every step.
How do you ensure a seamless experience across different devices and screen sizes?
Users may access your content from various devices, and a poor experience can cause them to navigate away. Ensuring usability across devices and screen sizes is a prerequisite for web design. Designers should understand the importance of responsive design and be able to speak to their knowledge of ensuring a smooth experience across screen sizes.
Why Do Companies Hire Web Designers?
A strong online presence is no longer a nice-to-have for businesses. Consumers expect to be able to access information and make purchases online. Web designers fill an important need: designing and maintaining aesthetically appealing, user-friendly, on-brand websites that support business goals while paying meticulous attention to detail in all phases of development.
While staffing a web design project can be challenging for business owners and hiring managers, outlining your specific needs and goals will help you find the right designer to deliver value for your company.
