Hiring a designer for your SaaS app might sound like quite an easy task. As there are millions of options starting from a simple freelancer who draws icons and ending up with a UI/UX design-oriented agency, it all gets rather confusing.
However, appearance plays the key role in creating an engaging and usable SaaS app—your goal is to attract and maintain users.
Well, if you’re trying to avoid an encounter with the wrong designer, then how does one select the appropriate designer? This guide is to assist you in addressing the ‘How’, ‘Where’, and ‘When’ of hiring a designer for your SaaS app.
First of all, Why Design Matters for Your SaaS App?
Before moving to the ‘How’, ‘Where’, and ‘When,’ it is high time to answer the ‘Why’ of design to your SaaS application.
First Impressions Count: First of all, the look of the app is often the first thing that a user is going to see. The design of an app is important since a user makes first conclusions about this app, whether this is a positive or negative experience.
User Experience is King: This is not to say that UI/UX is just for the art, but it has to do with the art of functionality and usability. Smooth cross-platform user flows create and maintain users’ interest, prevent churn, and therefore, lead to the company’s success.
Brand Identity: The design of your app is your brand image. A distinct, sustained design cuts your SaaS application out from rival applications and boosts brand-identity recall.
For example, let us take a look at the case of Slack, which became immensely popular in recent years. It was easy to adopt and implement since it came with an outstandingly clean and easily understandable UI/UX design. But does not give enough emphasis on one of its greatest strengths: that well-implemented design improves collaboration.
How to Hire a Designer for Your SaaS App
Hiring a proper designer for your SaaS app is not just about searching and guessing; it is about planned and smart selection.
Here’s how you can approach the process:
1. Discover your needs and your objectives
This should be done with a lot of clarity so that it is evident what exactly you want from a designer.
Are you looking for a designer for the whole design of UI/UX from scratch, or do you want the existing design to be made better?
It is compulsory to seek the services of a designer who- specializes in an area such as mobile app design.
Skills Needed: Determine if you shall hire a graphic designer, a UI/UX designer, or both. Regarding a SaaS app, the UI/UX design can be considered important because it is mostly about the user experience and the design of a graphical user interface.
Project Scope: What is the extent of your project? Will the designer only work on a short-term basis, or will the designer have lengthy developmental processes?
2. Research and shortlist potential designers.
After you know what you want, look for the designers who offer it. The best thing is to look out for those freelancers or design agencies that specialize in SaaS app design.
Portfolios: One can look at portfolios in order to determine the quality and preferences of a designer’s style. It is important to find out the previous work that has something to do with your ideal. Popular UI/UX designer’s portfolio websites for SaaS app interfaces can be found at Behance, Dribbble, and personal websites.
Client Reviews: Hearing it from the client can be very informative in determining the level of dependency, communication, and adherence to the time frames of a particular designer.
Case Studies: Many agencies have started publishing case studies where they explain the conceptual development of a website up to its development. These can be especially helpful in determining whether or not their style will work for you.
3. Evaluate and Test Their Skills
The next stage in the decision-making process is to make a critical appraisal of the designers or agencies shortlisted in the first place.
Technical Proficiency: Make sure the designer is well versed in the design tools and platforms you want to use, for example, Figma, Sketch, or any other.
Problem-Solving Abilities: UI/UX design is not just about beautiful-looking designs; it is about solving problems. Candidates should be asked to describe the design they created for an earlier assignment and how she/he overcame certain difficulties.
Test Projects: For the first time, it is better to engage the designer in a small project before going to full-scale cooperation. This will help you to gauge their working style and whether they are getting you as a client or not.
4. Consider the Cost
The fee for web designers depends on different factors that include their experience, location, and level of difficulty of the task.
Freelancers vs. Agencies: A freelancer is usually cheaper, although design agencies have more experience and greater resources behind them.
Firms, such as FRD Studio or other firms that have specialized in SaaS app design, may have higher fees per hour or per project, but they may include more people for different designers, project managers, and even the post-delivery support.
Budget: Before you start, it is wise to set your budget. But be ready to compromise if you come across a designer whose talent and wavelength match with your vision.
Where to Look for a Designer for Your SaaS App
Here are some of the best places to find top-notch designers for your SaaS app.
1. Design Platforms
Websites such as Behance, Dribble, and 99 Designs are some of the best sites to source for talented designers. It includes platforms through which one can see the portfolio detailing of the designers, read the reviews, and even contact the designers.
2. Freelance Marketplaces
For more openness and choice, there are a number of freelance platforms where you can find designers of different skills and price ranges, such as Upwork, Toptal, and Fiverr.
3. Design Agencies
If you need the service for a much larger project, then a design agency might fit your needs better. This means agencies offer a team of designers, which is an added advantage since all aspects of your project are catered for.
FRD Studio is a highly professional design agency that focuses on SaaS app design; the team aims at providing highly detailed and effective designs.
When to Hire a Designer for Your SaaS App?
Timing is everything when it comes to hiring a designer for your SaaS app.
Here’s when you should consider bringing a designer on a project:
1. Early Stages: The idea, concept, or viable product stage.
The earliest point to hire a designer is in the initial stages when you are developing an MVP, which is a basic version of the app you intend to create…
An experienced designer can assist in the design of the way the commodity will be operated by the consumer, particularly when you are testing the product in the market.
2. If you plan to do a major update or redesign
The app is live, and you are only preparing a massive update or redesign—involve a designer before writing code. This way the design and the layout, as well as the interaction with the updates or changes, are also in concordance.
3. If you are in the situation when user engagement or retention is low
If you are getting that the users are leaving or are inactive, then it is high time that you redesign your mobile application. Employing a designer also offers an opportunity to come up with UX challenges and potential changes to improve user retention.
Conclusion
Selecting the right designer is not a simple task, but considering some steps, you will be able to meet the right designer who will develop your SaaS app.
Now, whether you want to employ a freelance graphic designer, hire a UI/UX design agency like FRD Studio, or simply hire a full-service graphic design agency, the greatest tip here is essentially to determine what your requirements are, do your homework, and decide wisely.
Just a tip: Your success greatly relies on your SaaS design; double-check if it’s in the right hands.
