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The Best User Experience Designer Agencies of 2021
How We Chose the Best User Experience Designer Agencies
The last two decades have seen rapid growth in the number of user experience designer agencies, as more and more services move online and companies look to improve their products, increase conversion rates, and deliver an overall great customer experience.
A simple Google search would reveal hundreds of user experience designer agencies, but that doesn’t mean all of them would be a good fit for your business. When choosing a designer agency, it’s important to look for a company that understands your business, the needs of your customers, and the industry you operate in.
When evaluating user experience designer agencies to choose the top 15, we considered agencies that offer a wide range of services, employ enough staff to deliver both small and larger projects, and have a wide range of industry experience to meet the needs of a variety of businesses.
Multiple Service Lines
Building quality products and standout brands requires a diverse skill set, so we looked for agencies that offer a broad scope of services, from building mobile applications and product design to brand and UX strategy.
Size of Firm
The size of the firm can directly affect cost, timelines, and your overall satisfaction with the service. Smaller firms can offer a more personalized and flexible approach to project delivery, so they can be great for businesses that want to really get to know the people they’re working with. On the other hand, larger companies are great if you want to work with tried-and-tested processes where you can see quick turnaround on prototypes and project deliverables.
Industry Focus
Prior industry experience means agencies already have a good grasp of the needs of your end customer, understand the competitive landscape you operate in, and can get up to speed with your project goals relatively quickly. To make sure they can deliver for you, we looked at agencies that have worked with recognized brands from various industries.
The 15 Best User Experience Designer Agencies of 2021
| Company | Price | Service Lines | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| CreateApe | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Conversion Optimization, Web Development | Visit CreateApe |
| Divami Design Labs | $25-$49/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Divami Design Labs |
| DMI (Digital Management, LLC) | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Branding, Mobile App Development | Visit DMI (Digital Management, LLC.) |
| Experience Dynamics | $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Experience Dynamics |
| Fuzzy Math | $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | Visit Fuzzy Math |
| Idea Theorem | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Idea Theorem |
| NetBramha Studios | $50-$99/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit NetBramha Studios |
| Neuron | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | Visit Neuron |
| Qubstudio | $50-$99/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Qubstudio |
| Rossul | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Rossul |
| Sherpa | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Sherpa |
| Slide UX | $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit Slide UX |
| The Skins Factory | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit The Skins Factory |
| UX 4Sight | $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | Visit UX 4Sight |
| Wandr | $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | Visit Wandr |
CreateApe
CreateApe is a creative UX/UI design agency based in Irvine, California, that specializes in improving sales conversions through a clean, user-friendly interface built with an agile, iterative approach. Its small staff works closely with customers not only to design the best user experience, but also to deliver applications and websites that support sales goals.
The agency has been around for over 15 years and has developed a comprehensive portfolio of services, which can suit a variety of small and medium-sized businesses. Its UX design services undergo extensive and real-time user testing to ensure the end result is of the highest quality. Other services include A/B testing, mobile-responsive solutions, front-end development, and e-commerce site design.
CreateApe boasts a range of recognized brand names in its customer base, including American Express, Sony, Oshyn, Bank of America, and Lynda.com. Their starting rate is $100 per hour, and it can go up to $149 per hour depending on the scope of the project.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Conversion Optimization, Web Development | >Number of employees: 2-9 >Notable clients: American Express, Bank of America, Oshyn, My Eye Media Storm, Renovation Angel, Apria Healthcare >Industries served: Automotive, e-commerce, healthcare >More info at CreateApe |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers praise CreateApe for offering great solutions that are technically sound and highly imaginative. One customer shared, “CreateApe produces superior deliverables that continuously exceed expectations.” Another client described their service as “top-tier design work” and loved the tangible results they were able to see such as “10% user growth per week over the last three months.”
Divami Design Labs
In the world of UX/UI design, “divami” stands for adaptable and compelling, a concept that Divami Design Labs uses to deliver imaginative solutions to hundreds of customers across the financial, IT, and retail industries.
The agency has operated for over ten years, with offices in New Jersey and Hyderabad, India, making it a great fit for businesses that need support across multiple time zones. Customers can choose from a range of services, such as UX strategy, usability testing, front-end engineering, user research, and strategy consulting. Each project starts with a discovery phase, and customers can expect multiple wireframe iterations, high-fidelity clickthrough prototypes, test plans, and test reports as the project evolves.
The services are very affordable, starting at $25 per hour and going up to $49 per hour as the complexity of the project increases. The agency has a proven track record with a number of customers including Hospice Source, INCX, Onemoney, and Airtel.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $25-$49/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 50-249 >Notable clients: Hospice Source, INCX, Semantify, Pivotal, SAP, Informatica >Industries served: Financial services, information technology, retail >More info at Divami Design Labs |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers are impressed with how the team at Divami Design Labs works, with one customer saying that “the speed of their delivery and the team’s strong design skills were very impressive.” Other customers praise the quality of their work, with one head of growth saying that “Divami Design Labs’ optimization efforts were incredibly impactful, resulting in significant decreases in load time and bounce rates, and an increase in page speed.”
DMI (Digital Management, LLC)
This global digital innovation agency, with multiple offices across the United States, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and India, works with a number of well-known names, such as Rosetta Stone, the USDA and Addison Lee. The agency works with government entities and businesses in the financial, health care, and retail sectors, making its service portfolio truly diverse and adaptable.
DMI uses proprietary prebuilt platforms and tools on each project to reduce the lead time and cost of implementing solutions. Customers have a range of specialized services to choose from, including digital transformation, AI and machine learning, digital marketing, mobile app development, and digital commerce. The agency particularly focuses on using predictive analytics and agile development to create designs and platforms that are secure and efficient.
DMI is the largest service provider on our list, with over 1,000 employees, and offers midrange pricing, starting at $100 per hour and going up to $149 per hour.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Branding, Mobile App Development | >Number of employees: 1,000-9,999 >Notable clients: Addison Lee, Aerosoles, African Wildlife Foundation, NYC, AB InBev >Industries served: Government, retail, manufacturing, healthcare >More info at DMI |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers praise DMI for its commitment to delivering excellent results, or as one head of mobile said, “DMI implements best practices in app design and project management, and the team is willing to go the extra mile to meet project goals.” Another customer appreciated their expertise and said, “DMI demonstrated extensive skill in hard data science and big data environments. The team has provided valuable recommendations and consultation services.”
Experience Dynamics
Experience Dynamics is a UX/UI designer agency driven by the motto, “make your users smile” and has been around for 20 years. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the agency also has offices in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City and boasts some big names in its customer base including IBM, HP, Logitech, and Johnson & Johnson.
Despite its small team of 10-49 employees, the company offers a range of powerful services including usability testing for validating initial designs, user research for understanding the emotional aspect of user behavior, and eye-tracking for identifying parts of the design which aren’t working as intended. The agency also offers usability seminars and training for businesses that want to upskill their workforce.
Its specialized services come with a higher price tag, starting at $150 per hour and going up to $199 per hour. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive overhaul of your designs with your users in mind, this might be worth the investment.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Nike, Intel, Microsoft, Capital One, BlueCross BlueShield, IBM, HP >Industries served: Information technology, financial services, healthcare >More info at Experience Dynamics |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love working with Experience Dynamics as the agency not only delivers results, but it also offers valuable guidance and insights along the way. One says, “Experience Dynamics exceeded expectations, delivering valuable information and ideas to guide brand strategy and initiatives. The team was transparent and worked rapidly to ensure the project remained on schedule.” A former digital art director shared that “through Experience Dynamics’ well-researched recommendations, the improved site boosted ROI and satisfied customers.”
Fuzzy Math
Fuzzy Math is a Chicago-based UX design and innovation agency with notable customer names in its portfolio, such as SAP, the Mayo Clinic, and United Airlines. Founded in 2009, the agency operates across the health care, financial, and business services sectors to deliver solutions that align with the overall business strategy of its customers.
In addition to offering digital product strategy for new products and standard UX/UI services, Fuzzy Math also helps businesses evaluate and level-up their current team of designers by building a personalized playbook (DesignOps) of design processes, offering scorecards for assessing and improving existing processes, and planning a phased approach for implementing UX organization change.
The agency can take full ownership of your design needs and help not only with the delivery of design solutions, but also with hiring UX design candidates. Fuzzy Math can define job descriptions, conduct interviews, and advise on the best candidates for your business. The end-to-end service comes at a higher price tag, though, starting at $150 per hour.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Allstate, GE Healthcare, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines, Wells Fargo >Industries served: Healthcare and medical, financial services, business services >More info at Fuzzy Math |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love Fuzzy Math for its hands-on approach to design delivery, with one customer calling the team “clearly experts in their field, the team exceeded expectations by recommending strategies without additional costs.” Another customer appreciated the strategic input Fuzzy Math provided and said that “they’ve helped clarify UX opportunities to the executive leadership team.”
Idea Theorem
Idea Theorem is a Toronto-based UX/UI design agency that offers a range of development and e-commerce services to businesses in the financial, health care, and not-for-profit sectors. Some of the customers in its portfolio include Aviva, the City of Toronto, and Unilever.
Customers can rely on Idea Theorem for speedy front-end development using React, Angular, and Vue frameworks, using two-week sprint cycles to gather and iterate customer feedback. The agency also offers e-commerce customization services using Magento and Shopify, as well as content management systems based on WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal.
Its smaller team of about 50 employees and its midrange price tag of $100 per hour make Idea Theorem ideal for smaller businesses looking to forge a partnership with their design agency. However, the agency might not be as good of a fit for organizations needing to deploy large and complex solutions that require the involvement and management of multiple stakeholders.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Aviva, Fidelity National Financial, City of Toronto, Unilever >Industries served: Financial services, health care and medical, nonprofit >More info at Idea Theorem |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love working with Idea Theorem for its sound designs, speed of delivery, and impeccable teamwork. One customer says that “the team’s dedication, efficiency, and communicativeness set it apart from others.” Another customer praised the end result and shared that “the final application has impressed everyone involved in the pre-launch process with both its features and design.”
NetBramha Studios
NetBramha Studios is an India-based UX/UI designer agency with over 11 years of experience, and its customers include some global brands such as Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. The agency also works with a number of big players in the financial and e-commerce industries.
NetBramha Studios offers end-to-end design services, from qualitative and quantitative research and usability testing, design thinking, and strategic roadmap development to UX/UI design delivery. Companies can rely on the agency to develop new product lines, scale existing ventures, or execute an overall digital transformation strategy for the business.
Its services are among the most affordable on the market, starting at $50 per hour, making it ideal for smaller businesses with limited budgets and exacting standards. One limitation you should consider is the time zone difference, as the company doesn’t have a North American/European presence.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $50-$99/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, Cisco, Shell, Intel >Industries served: Consumer products and services, financial services, e-commerce, automobile and transport, agritech, education and learning >More info at NetBramha Studios |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers are impressed with the attention to detail NetBrahma Studios demonstrates when delivering projects. One reviewer says, “By getting an in-depth understanding of the end user’s challenges, NetBramha Studios created impressive designs that were simple and intuitive to use.” A business founder loved the outcomes the agency produced and said, “I don’t think we’d have done as well as we did if not for NetBramha Studios.”
Neuron
Neuron is a San Francisco-based UX/UI design agency for the business and health care industries, with clients such as LinkedIn, Bosch, and General Motors. Despite its small team, the company has a presence in several other U.S. locations, including New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, as well Vancouver, Canada.
Customers can expect full support when it comes to their digital and web development needs. Neuron assists businesses with strategic insights during the product development phase by offering competitive analysis, information architecture, and roadmap development advice. Other available services include brand development, prototyping, usability testing, and product management.
Neuron customers can expect to receive a UX architectural guide for their project, which serves as a product blueprint that includes user personas, the business case, and the overall visual design of the product. The service costs $100 to $149 per hour.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Vivint, Intuit, LinkedIn, ThoughtSpot, Paycom, General Motors, Bosch >Industries served: Business services, financial services, healthcare and medical >More info at Neuron |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers are impressed with Neuron’s commitment to excellence, with one stating, “Neuron excelled at understanding the agency’s vision, ultimately bringing a brand to life in digital form and setting the project up for long-term success.” Another customer shared the overwhelming positive response they received for their design and said, “The appealing new interface has received rave reviews both internally and from customers, who have lauded it for its user-friendliness.”
Qubstudio
This Ukraine-based UX/UI design studio boasts 15 years of experience in the industry. The agency specializes in delivering services for both start-ups and larger enterprises in the digital marketing, arts, logistics, and entertainment sectors. The agency boasts a number of established brands in its customer base, including Oracle, SoftServe, and Scoutbee.
Qubstudio offers a unique take on quick service delivery, branding it as Espresso Services, which can be delivered in a matter of days instead of months. These include UX/UI review for product improvements, Express branding for creating a visual identity, and on-demand design workshops for identifying the value proposition and customer journey for your products. Its standard services include strategy and UX consulting, mobile app development, website development, and full brand design.
Qubstudio is one of the more affordable design agencies on the list, with consultative rates ranging between $50 and $99 per hour.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $50-$99/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Oracle, Fishka, Scoutbee, Klip, Go To-U, Myloqta, Finova >Industries served: Arts, entertainment and music, business services, healthcare >More info at Qubstudio |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers describe the service received by Qubstudio as “stand-out,” with one customer saying that they’re “happy with the UI/UX designs and impressed by Qubstudio’s ability to come up with unique ideas.” One business cofounder who used the services for web development says, “The new landing page has already generated more conversions, and industry professionals have complimented the page.“
Rossul
Rossul is a Toronto-based UX/UI design agency that specializes in web and mobile app development for businesses in a range of industries, including education, finance, and the manufacturing sector. Despite its small team of about ten employees, Rossul has been around for over 15 years and boasts established brands in its portfolio, including PepsiCo, Panasonic, and Johnson Controls.
The agency commits to conducting thorough research of industry and end-user needs before working on the design and delivery of clients’ products, ensuring the end result matches the exact needs of their target audience. As part of the development process, customers can expect to receive wireframes and click-through prototypes, on-site and remote user testing, front-end development using HTML, Javascript, and CSS, as well as support during any back-end integrations.
Customers have a 60-day warranty for testing the design and code for any imperfections. The agency’s services come at a standard rate range of $100 to $149 per hour.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 2-9 >Notable clients: Libro, ABB, Pepsico, Hatch, Orea, Covidien >Industries served: Education, financial services, manufacturing >More info at Rossul |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers praise Rossul for delivering outstanding solutions that sit well with their end users. One client says, “Rossul exceeded expectations and had a big impact on the project’s success.” Another customer and business cofounder shares, “I’m impressed with their ability to take under-defined concepts and translate them into usable designs.”
Sherpa
With offices in Istanbul, Turkey, and London, Sherpa is a user experience design agency serving customers in the financial and business services sectors. Since its founding in 2013, it has built an extensive list of clients, including Mastercard, BEKO, CarrefourSA, and Decathlon.
The agency takes full ownership of the UX design process, from requirements discovery, usability analysis, content strategy, and information architecture. Its research methods include card sorting, workshops, quantitative surveys, and focus groups. Customers can also expect to receive a full UX analytics audit report for their existing digital assets and areas in which they might be underperforming, A/B testing for improving ROI, and a wider conversion optimization.
Sherpa prices its services at the standard market range of $100 to $149 per hour, and it can be a good fit for businesses who need UX-specific support.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: IATA, Hippo.co.za, THY, Mastercard Advisors, Arçelik >Industries served: Financial services, business services, e-commerce >More info at Sherpa |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers are amazed at how quickly Sherpa is able to understand their industry and target market and deliver great results. One reviewer says that “the new design, which received positive feedback from customers, significantly improved the website’s functionalities and increased organic traffic.” Another customer echoes the sentiment and shares that their “new website led to a decrease in the number of support tickets and an increased conversion rate,” while a third customer says it boosted the company’s conversion rate by 30%.
Slide UX
Slide UX was founded in 2012 to help businesses with their UX design needs and has since worked with some big brands, such as Harvard University, AT&T, and Indeed.com. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has served a number of clients in the financial, IT, and health care industries.
Slide UX differentiates itself from other agencies in that it offers more than UX/UI design services — it also helps businesses improve their website copy, brand voice, tone, and SEO strategy. The agency also offers UX-specific writing services, as words/calls to action can impact product usability just as much as the design itself.
Slide UX is more expensive than most of the other agencies on this list, but this could be justified by the additional services the agency offers in the realm of digital marketing.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $150-$19/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: AT&T, Sysco, UPS, Harvard, Indeed.com >Industries served: Information technology, health care and medical, financial services >More info at Slide UX |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers emphasize the level of care and dedication the team at Slide UX demonstrates when working on projects. One client says that “they have top-shelf people. I always feel like I’m their only customer.” Aside from the great team, customers also appreciate the tangible results the agency produces for them, with one stating, “Thanks to their data-driven and well-thought-out approach, Slide UX’s efforts have resulted in an increase in the website’s conversion rate.“
The Skins Factory
The Skins Factory is a boutique UX/UI design studio based in South Florida that works with businesses across the financial, art, entertainment, and business services industries. Some of the businesses on the studio’s roster are Disney, Microsoft, Intel, and HP.
Despite its small team, the company has been around for 20 years and has developed an extensive list of specialized services. Aside from standard UX/UI design work, the agency specializes in iconography design, desktop customization, and widget/gadget design. After the discovery phase is complete, customers can expect to receive a prototype for their application within five to ten business days.
Customers receive all of their deliverables as a core set of Adobe Photoshop CC.PSD files, which means there’s no coding or export of images required. The agency services come at a standard rate of $100 to $149 per hour, and customers are expected to pay 50% of the price up-front before the project launches. The remaining 50% is due at different time intervals depending on whether the business is based in the U.S. or not.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 2-9 >Notable clients: Microsoft, Disney, Intel, Bank of America, Target, HP, Toyota >Industries served: Business services, financial services, arts, entertainment and music >More info at The Skins Factory |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love working with the team at The Skins Factory, and one emphasizes that “the team is obviously passionate about graphic design.” Clients also love the output of the agency’s work, with one customer sharing, “The Skins Factory created an excellent product. They did a great job and they managed the workflow excellently.”
UX 4Sight
UX 4Sight is a Chicago-based UX design firm whose motto, “find the courage to be kind,” drives the team to deliver a “kinder user experience.” Working with customers such as IBM, Disney, and CVS Pharmacy for more than a decade, the company offers an extensive list of UX-specific services.
The agency specializes in developing intuitive application designs and persuasive websites. It achieves this via a thorough UX review, user research, usability testing, and application design and validation. What differentiates UX 4Sight from other agencies is its specialization in all things UX. The agency also offers UX training workshops, as well as speaking engagements for businesses that might want to improve their own in-house talent.
UX 4Sight’s services come at the standard rate of $100 to $149 per hour and can be an ideal option for businesses that want to specifically work on their user experience and conversion rates.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $100-$149/hour | UX/UI Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: Disney, CVS Pharmacy, IBM, AT&T, Accenture, Visa, Boeing >Industries served: Business services, entertainment, information technology >More info at UX 4Sight |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers love that they were able to immediately see results from the work UX 4Sight did for them. One client notes, “The redesigned website has boosted conversion rates, lowered bounce rates, and increased confidence in the brand.” Another customer enjoyed working with the team at UX 4Sight, describing it as “creative, communicative, and ensured everyone was kept up to date at all times.”
Wandr
Wandr is a product strategy and UX/UI design firm with offices in Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, plus a remote global team. Founded in 2016, the agency has already worked with a number of established names, including Geico, the U.S. Air Force, and PwC.
The agency offers a range of UX/UI services and can support your in-house team or act as an extension to your business by tackling all of your design work. Wandr’s UX audit includes a full assessment of your existing projects, UX research, and competitive analysis with other existing products on the market to create a standout design.
What differentiates Wandr from other agencies is its boot-camp start-up service, which supports early-stage businesses with the conceptualization and delivery of new products and services. The agency commits to designing, testing, and budgeting product concepts in just four weeks, helping you impress your investors and partners early on.
Wandr’s services come at a slightly higher price tag, $150 to $199 per hour, but it can be worth it if your business is just starting out or you’re launching a new product that requires a quick turnaround time for its proof of concept.
| Price | Service Lines | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $150-$199/hour | UX/UI Design, Product Design | >Number of employees: 10-49 >Notable clients: U.S. Air Force, WWF, IBM, Dollar Shave Club, Geico, Samsung >Industries served: Information technology, transportation, financial services >More info at Wandr |
What Customers Are Saying
Clients enjoy working with Wandr because of the high-quality work. One says that “internal stakeholders are thrilled with how the site portrays their brand.” Another customer appreciated how quick and adaptable the team at Wandr was and went as far as to say that “not only we are very happy with their work, but we also got new friends.”
What Is User Experience (UX)?
The term “user experience” was coined by Don Norman, a cognitive scientist and professor, when he joined Apple in 1993 as a user experience architect. The term was used to refer to the overall experience end users have when they interact with a company and its products and services.
The world has changed dramatically since then as new technologies and services emerge on the market, and UX is at the core of making sure these services deliver what they promise. However, UX refers to more than just digital products and can be applied to physical products too, such as coffee machines, printers, and cars.
The aim of a good UX design is to make sure users get the most value from a product, with the least friction or inconvenience. For instance, a UX designer of coffee mugs would look at making the cup easy to hold, stable, suitably sized, and perhaps made of a material that can keep your coffee hot longer. On the other hand, a web UX designer will focus on how easy a website is to browse and how quickly visitors can find what they’re looking for.
User interface (UI) is closely linked to user experience and focuses on the look and feel of the final product. Unlike UX, though, UI often refers to digital products and services and aims to make the users feel a certain way. A good UI should be invisible and let users do what they want without being distracted by the interface itself.
Benefits of User Experience Designer Agencies
UX and UI are crucial when you’re conceptualizing and designing your products because they can make or break your business. Having a great idea for a product is almost futile if your customers don’t have an easy way to interact with it or use it. However, not every business can hire in-house UX/UI designers. So using an agency can be beneficial by offering:
- Value: Small businesses have tight budgets that are allocated in advance to mission-critical spending, and they might not be able to afford hiring internal talent. Likewise, some businesses may need temporary help on one-time projects and might not need to have a full-time staff member. Hiring an external user experience designer agency can help in both of those scenarios. Though an agency’s hourly rate might be higher than what you’d pay a staff member, it can be cheaper overall because you would use the agency only for a limited time and avoid the overhead of payroll contributions and taxes.
- Experience: Another benefit is the economy of scale you gain by using the agency’s existing experience. New hires take time to be onboarded and might require additional training before they can begin contributing to your projects. In contrast, a user experience designer agency that has dozens of similar projects under its belt can get up and running quickly and offer ideas on how to improve and streamline your services.
- Flexibility: Finally, the biggest benefit of all is perhaps the flexibility you get in deciding how you’d like to work with an agency. An outside agency can supplement your in-house talent and take the spillover workload, or it can replace an entire UX/UI department and become an extension of your business.
What to Look for in a User Experience Designer Agency
User experience became popularized with the dot-com boom, as almost every business on the planet wanted an online presence. The increased demand for UX/UI services meant new agencies were born almost daily, although not all of them can achieve the desired results for every business. When assessing user experience designer agencies, you should look for the following:
- Design of the agency’s website: One of the great things about UX/UI services is that you can immediately see the quality of a designer’s work simply looking at that person’s online presence. If an agency needs to deliver a standout website for your business, what’s better than looking at its website? Is the homepage clear and appealing? Are you drawn in to browse more? Can you easily find what you’re looking for?
- Proven track record: When it comes to creative services, “good” is sometimes subjective, so be sure to check an agency’s past customers and case studies. Has it delivered similar projects in your industry? Does it have data about how its designs have helped customers succeed? Being able to see these things can instill trust that the agency can deliver for your business too.
- Range of services: User experience encompasses more than the look of your products. Hiring an agency that offers a range of services, including product design, usability research, brand strategy, and search engine optimization means you can rely on it to not only design your products but also put them in front of the eyes of your target audience. That way, you can avoid working with multiple agencies for different services and can save time by having one trusted partner that understands your business and can deliver accordingly.
The Cost of User Experience Designer Agencies
The cost of hiring a user experience designer agency varies greatly based on factors such as the agency’s location, size, and range of services. For instance, an agency that’s headquartered in India or Eastern Europe will have lower overhead and can offer a more affordable rate of $24 to $50 per hour. On the other hand, agencies located in North America or the United Kingdom and those that can deliver both UX design and brand strategy might charge up to $199 per hour. For some businesses, the latter option might be preferred, because even though they might need to pay a higher rate, they can rely on a single agency for all of their design and marketing needs. This means they can save on the research and coordination costs of working with multiple agencies at once.
Most agencies work on retainers and have various payment structures, although most ask that at least a percentage of the total project cost be paid up-front. Some agencies charge a per-project rate, while others charge a combination of a fixed amount and per-hour rate.