If there's one common thread among early-stage startup founders I speak with, it's their lack of experience in hiring for UI/UX design. The most frequent questions they ask include:

• When should I hire a founding designer?

• Where can I find reliable designers?

• We've had mixed experiences with Agency X in the past. Should we hire an agency again?

I've been in the role of a founding designer twice. Once, I was let go within two weeks. The other time, I saw the company grow from seed stage to a 90-person Series B company. Hiring a founding designer is incredibly challenging. Here are some insights on this topic.

When to Hire a Founding Designer

You're building highly specialized, vertical SaaS software

If your software requires extensive contextual knowledge, targets multiple ideal customer profiles (ICPs), and involves many moving parts, hiring a founding designer might be wise. A dedicated designer can thoroughly understand the platform, conduct customer research, and manage other intricate design needs. In specialized verticals, the intricacies and nuances of the industry demand a designer who can navigate these complexities, ensuring the software meets all user requirements efficiently.

You've already worked with a contractor or agency

If you've already collaborated with a contractor or agency to establish your MVP's foundation and have tested it with potential customers, hiring a founding designer might be the next step, depending on your design capacity requirements. A founding designer can build on the work already done, providing continuity and deepening the design expertise within your team. This seamless transition from a contractor or agency to an in-house designer can help maintain design consistency and momentum.

You need greater customer discovery/solution ownership

Smaller agencies and contractors typically focus on execution. If you require someone to also engage in discovery work, including user interviews, research synthesis, and customer support, a founding designer would be better suited to own these tasks. A founding designer can bridge the gap between identifying customer problems and crafting effective solutions, ensuring the design process is tightly aligned with user needs and business goals.

You're prepared to manage a designer

The role of a founding designer is one of the most challenging to fill in a startup. About 50% of the startup founders I've talked to have hired a full-time founding designer only to see them leave or be fired within the first three months. The instability, constantly shifting priorities, and intense pressure to find product-market fit through rapid iteration make this role particularly stressful. If a designer doesn't feel supported, they may quickly realize the opportunity isn't the right fit. Ensuring you have the right management skills and support structures in place is crucial for the success of a founding designer.

When to hire a freelancer/agency

You haven’t found product market fit

If you're still experimenting with different ideas, it’s not practical to hire a full-time designer. However, a design partner, freelancer, or agency can help you visualize ideas and prototype solutions before investing too much time in building. This approach allows for greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness, enabling you to pivot quickly as you refine your product-market fit. Freelancers and agencies can provide valuable external perspectives and specialized skills that can accelerate your design process during these formative stages.

You have a limited budget

A tight budget often makes hiring a freelancer or agency more feasible than bringing on a full-time designer. Freelancers and agencies can offer high-quality design services on a project basis or non-contractual retainer, allowing you to control costs and allocate resources more efficiently. This can be particularly beneficial for startups that need to manage their cash flow carefully while still delivering a polished product to the market.

You just need an MVP

If your goal is to develop an MVP, hiring a full-time designer isn't necessary. Collaborating with a design partner can ensure your MVP is functional and poised for success by incorporating good design patterns. Working with an experienced design partner can help you avoid common pitfalls and create a user-friendly product that meets market expectations. This can also provide a solid foundation for future design work as your startup grows and evolves.

Conclusion

Finding the right design talent at the right time is a complex challenge for any startup. There's no perfect solution, but generally, we recommend founders start with a design partner, whether a freelancer or an agency, to lay the groundwork for their MVP and early iterations. As your product and company grow, transitioning to a full-time founding designer can provide the dedicated focus and deep expertise needed to take your design to the next level. By carefully considering your specific needs, budget, and stage of development, you can make informed decisions that will set your startup up for long-term success.