Hiring a top-notch UX (User Experience) designer is crucial for creating products that are easy to use, engaging, and effective. A UX designer focuses on making digital experiences seamless for users. But finding the right one can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. Here are five essential tips to help you hire the best UX designer for your team.

1. Look at Their Past Work (A Portfolio Is Key!)

A designer’s portfolio is the best way to evaluate their skills and creativity. It directly looks at their past projects and how they solve design problems. Here’s what to focus on when reviewing a UX designer’s portfolio:

• Functionality over Aesthetics—A UX designer is not just a graphic designer. Their work should focus on usability and user flow, not just how pretty the interface looks.
• Case Studies–A strong portfolio should include case studies explaining the design process, challenges faced, and how the final design solved a problem.
• Variety of Work–If they have experience designing different types of products (mobile apps, websites, dashboards, etc.), it shows adaptability.
• User Research and Testing – The best UX designers don’t just design; they also test their work. Look for details about usability testing and how they improved their designs based on user feedback.

A weak portfolio with only visual designs and no explanations of the thought process might indicate that the designer lacks real-world problem-solving experience.

2. Test Their Thinking, Not Just Skills

A great UX designer is not just someone who knows design tools like Figma or Sketch. They must be able to think critically and solve problems creatively. Here’s how you can test their thinking skills:

• Give Them a Design Challenge – Ask them to improve an existing app or website and explain their approach.
• Ask About Their Design Process – A good designer should be able to clearly explain how they move from research to wireframes to the final design.
• Watch How They Handle Feedback – Give constructive feedback and see how they respond. Do they get defensive, or do they take it as a way to improve?
• Scenario-Based Questions – Ask, “What would you do if users find a particular feature confusing?” Their answer will tell you if they think from the user’s perspective.

A designer who focuses too much on tools rather than the user experience might not be the best fit.

3. Check How They Work with Others

UX design is a collaborative process. A designer needs to work closely with developers, product managers, and marketers. Even the best designs will fail if they can’t communicate and work well with others. Here’s how to check their teamwork skills:

• Ask About Past Team Projects – Have they worked in a team before? How did they handle disagreements or conflicting ideas?
• Communication Skills – A UX designer must be able to explain their design choices in a way that non-designers understand. Can they justify their decisions?
• Experience with Developers – A great UX designer understands the technical limitations of their designs and collaborates with developers to make them feasible.
• How They Handle User Feedback – A UX designer’s work doesn’t end when a design is launched. They should be open to feedback and ready to make improvements.

A talented designer who struggles to communicate or collaborate can create unnecessary roadblocks in your project.

4. Prioritize Real-World Experience Over Fancy Degrees

Unlike some technical fields, UX design is more about practical skills than academic qualifications. Many top UX designers are self-taught or have taken online courses rather than attending a prestigious design school. Here’s what to focus on instead of a degree:

• Hands-on Experience – Have they worked on real-world projects, even if they were freelance or personal projects?
• Certifications & Online Courses – Many great designers have learned UX from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or Google’s UX Design certification.
• Internships and Side-Projects – A designer who has worked on multiple small projects often has better problem-solving skills than someone with only a degree.
• Contributions to Open-Source or UX Communities – If they contribute to UX forums, write articles, or attend UX meetups, it shows passion for their field.

A candidate with a solid portfolio and hands-on experience is often more valuable than someone with a fancy degree but no real-world work to show.

5. Hire for Problem-Solving and Empathy

UX design is about understanding user behavior and making things easier for them. The best UX designers are problem solvers and have empathy for users. Here’s how to check for these qualities:

• Ask About Their User Research Process – How do they gather user feedback? Have they ever changed a design based on user frustration?
• See If They Focus on User Needs – A great designer should discuss how users feel when using a product, not just how it looks.
• Look for Storytelling Skills – The best UX designers can explain their work in a way that tells a story—what problem they faced, how they solved it, and how users benefited.
• Check Their Ability to Handle Real-World Constraints – Ask how they would design something with limited time or resources. Great designers find creative solutions within constraints.

UX is not just about making things look good; it’s about making things work well for people. A designer who understands this will always deliver better result

Final Thoughts

Hiring a great UX designer is not just about checking their design skills; it’s about finding someone who understands users, solves problems creatively, and works well in a team. Look at their past work, test their thinking, check their collaboration skills, and focus on real-world experience rather than just degrees. Most importantly, hire someone who has a deep understanding of users and is always willing to improve their designs based on feedback.