What to check when hiring for ui/ux design

For a product UI/UX engagement, check whether the agency can explain the user problem, show the flows it changed, identify its research and design role, and connect the work to a tested or launched product. A polished screen alone does not establish that the underlying experience was validated.

Questions to put in the brief

  • Which user journeys did the team research, redesign, and validate?
  • What did the agency own, and what did the client or engineering team deliver?
  • Can the proposed team show the process behind a relevant shipped or tested experience?
  • How will accessibility, content, and product constraints shape the work?

Evidence to compare

Ask for a case with a named product, a clear agency role, and examples of the changed flow. A strong account connects research or a defined design rationale to the interface, then explains what was tested, implemented, or left as a prototype.

A common evidence gap

A polished screen can demonstrate visual craft without showing whether the full journey works. Check how navigation, errors, empty states, accessibility, and engineering handoff were handled.

For a broader comparison framework, read How to evaluate agency case study evidence.