Things to Consider When Outsourcing UI/UX Design
By: Manish Barthwal
Tags: UX, Outsourcing, UI Design, UX Design, Ui Ux Design

UI/UX is the backbone of a product. It is the first thing that users notice or are drawn towards when they land on a website or an application, and this is why businesses tend to pay a lot more attention to the UI/UX part as compared to the other aspects. Many businesses even look to outsource a design consultancy for professional UI/UX services, and if you are looking for the same, there are a few points that you need to consider before you outsource UI/UX. First things first, it is important to understand what significance does UI/UX design hold and how it can make or break any business.

Importance of a Good UI/UX Design

A great design sets the foundation for a great product. If the app or website looks cluttered and is hard to navigate, it indicates a poor UI/UX design. This eventually turns away your potential customers and they might never visit the application again. This can be backed by an AWS report which suggests that 88% of the online shoppers say they would not return to a website after facing a poor user experience. Additionally, 70% of online businesses fail because of bad usability, reports Uxeria.

Product design signifies how users perceive your brand. A good UI/UX design keeps users engaged and doesn’t let them drive away to your competitors easily. Today, there are tons of applications in the app marketplace. What really stands out as best among the rest is how intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly the app design is of a particular app. Within a few seconds, by just having a glimpse of the application, users make up their minds whether they want to continue with that app or not. A poor UI/UX design not only affects your conversions but the brand image as well. Users very well understand that if there is no significant effort put into the design, the services won’t help them much either.

The prime objective of any business is to scale up its sales and make its name in the market. With consumers becoming more experience-driven, brands that keep their primary focus on providing an attention-grabbing user interface and a rich user experience alongside quality products and services are most likely to taste success. The more convenient the platform, the more satisfied the users, and UI/UX design plays a crucial role in assisting customers to get what they want.

Before we proceed with how to outsource UI/UX, let’s understand the role of UI and UX designers separately.

Who is a UX Designer?

A UX designer is concerned with how the elements of a website or an application operate. UX designers focus on creating wireframes to form an appropriate structure of all the elements and components in order to create a convenient user flow. Put simply, they design the user journey which includes screen flows, placement of the buttons, etc. to enhance usability, accessibility, and provide better functionality. If all the things are put well in place, users will eventually have a good experience with the product.

Who is a UI Designer?

A UI designer, on the other hand, focuses on the visual aspects of the application- the look and feel of the product. Once the UX design is in place, the role of a UI designer begins. UI designers focus on creating attractive and user-friendly interfaces that not only reflect the brand image but help users perform a task effortlessly. They work on the product style which comprises images, buttons, icons, text, call-to-actions, colors, and all the elements users interact with. A UI designer puts life into the prototype.

Both UI and UX hold paramount importance in app development. They work together closely with a simple objective, i.e. to make the user journey smooth, exciting, and hassle-free. Now that we have understood the role of a UI/UX designer, let’s come back to our main topic.

Read: Understanding the difference between UX and UI

Points to Consider Before Hiring/Outsourcing UI/UX Designers

Outsourcing is a challenging task. There are countless design consultancies and picking a suitable one for your project can be a bit daunting. You would want to ensure that the one you hire can understand your thought process well and deliver the needful. Here are a few things you should consider when you plan of outsourcing UI/UX design services.

1. Lookout for Online Design Communities

The process of UI/UX design outsourcing UI/UX starts with thorough research. First of all, seek referrals. Discuss with your team or someone in your circle if they have any references or some high-quality designers they have worked with, in the past. This would minimize your search efforts in finding someone with UI/UX design expertise and help you acquire some trustworthy referrals. Next up, look for the online UI/UX design communities. You will find plenty of designers on the Internet showcasing their design skills. You just need to make the right selection. Check out the consultancies on these platforms and prepare a list of the ones that you feel fit right for your requirements. But before you approach anyone, ensure you have set your benchmarks and defined the specific things you are looking for in a design consultancy. For instance, if you need someone specifically for the purpose of website design, you need to outsource designers who also have extensive knowledge of the platform you are using.

2. Check Portfolio

Once you have picked up a few prospects, go through their portfolio thoroughly and obtain insights into their project details. Check out their previous work samples or case studies, their expertise, the experience they possess in UI/UX design, and their overall background. Read the testimonials shared by past clients to get an idea of their performance level. In fact, you can even contact one of their clients and ask about the work structure and process. This would help you get a better understanding of the type of work they offer and the quality they put in their work. Also, check whether the designs they have crafted are currently running or not. If none or only a few are using it, simply means that it didn’t stand out for the client in the long run. Needless to say, expert UI/UX designers will have an amazing portfolio; impressive enough to catch your attention instantly.

3. Communication

Communication is an important factor to consider when hiring a UI/UX designer. A good design consultancy will put up several questions before they take up a project. They will ask you about the ideal target audience, how the product is supposed to add value to users and keep communicating whenever required.

So, there needs to be proper communication between both parties to avoid any sort of confusion later. Besides, good communication helps improve performance and achieve the best output.

4. Knowledge of Latest Trends

Technology is evolving every day and so are the design trends. Check if the consultancy is updated with the latest mobile app design trends and technologies. Designers need to be aware of current and upcoming trends, and constantly learn, improve, and expand their design toolkit in order to stay updated about the current market. Animated illustrations, micro-interactions, 3D Graphics, AR and VR, are some of the ongoing design trends and the UI/UX designers you hire should be able to replicate the same, if asked for. This also proves that the company has the required skills and expertise to adapt to the changes whenever required.

5. Tools and Workflow

It is ideal to ask the consultancy about the tools they would be using for the web/app development, and how the workflow would be. Asking about the workflow helps you understand their approach towards the project and how effectively they utilize their skills to create a design ideal for your target audience and handle the associated complexities.

It is also suggested to check for the work structure they follow as different companies tend to work in different time zones. Asking it beforehand ensures timely communication.

Your product’s UI/UX makes a significant contribution to the success of your website/app. Even if you are doing everything right and the products and services are top-notch, a poor UI/UX design will eventually let you down. Outsourcing a good design consultancy that caters well to your requirements is, therefore, necessary for a great product.