Outsourcing UI/UX Design: A Step-by-Step Guide

According to the Forrester survey, every $1 invested in UX design yields a return of $100 (ROI = 9,900 %).

Of course, the numbers may vary depending on your business size and the field you operate in.

Still, this staggering ROI emphasizes the importance of prioritizing user experience when building a website or mobile app.

And we can’t agree more.

UI/UX design isn’t just about aesthetics.

It’s about creating meaningful, efficient, and enjoyable interactions between your platform and potential clients.

Ensuring your design is clean, easy to understand, and usable means that users stay engaged, businesses thrive, and digital experiences leave a lasting impact.

Clear navigation, logical flow, and consistent design elements improve usability.

When users can easily find what they need, they’re more likely to engage with the product.

If you are thinking about redesigning your website or launching a new app, UI/UX designers should be a part of your team.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of design outsourcing, rates and hidden costs, and share some tips on how to find a perfect partner.

Reasons to Outsource UI/UX Design

It is critical for digital products and services to have a good UI/UX design.

For example, intuitive interfaces enhance user satisfaction.

Users who come across an app or website with intuitive navigation are more likely to stay engaged and return.

A well-designed user experience (UX) ensures users can accomplish tasks efficiently, leading to higher retention rates.

Let’s examine this design. We have two options that look quite similar.

However, the three active buttons on the left might confuse the user, whereas the design on the right is clear and easy to interact with.

These small details can make or break your user experience.

But you don’t always need an in-house team of web designers.

Finding and hiring specialists takes time and effort, and we understand that.

That’s when you can contact an outsourcing UX/UI services provider.

Outsourcing UI/UX design can bring several advantages to businesses.

Here are a few compelling reasons to consider outsourcing.

Stay Current with Industry Trends

The field of UX design is dynamic. Sometimes, it feels like new trends appear daily.

Frameworks like Angular, Vue, and React evolve rapidly.

If you keep an internal team, you should train them and keep them up-to-date on these trends, which requires significant effort and time.

With outsourcing, however, you take this burden off your shoulders.

You can now rely on external experts who stay on top of crucial mobile app UI/UX design trends, such as voice interfaces, unique illustrations, and advanced animations.

Whether you lack a UX specialist or have a small team, delegating UI/UX tasks ensures alignment with the latest industry developments.

Focus on Core Business Activities

You and your team can finally focus on your core competencies when you delegate design tasks to specialists.

There is no need to allocate resources to build an in-house UX team. You can partner with external experts.

As a result of this strategic move, internal teams are able to concentrate on innovation, growth, and other crucial business functions.

Cost Efficiency

If you decide to outsource UX design to an external vendor, it can significantly reduce operating costs.

Here is why.

When you hire specialists in-house, it usually comes with recruitment, salaries, benefits, and infrastructure expenses.

With outsourcing, you can eliminate and even avoid these overhead costs.

Additionally, external teams often work on a project basis. This allows you to pay only for the services you need.

As a result, you can see improvements in financial management.

Risk Mitigation

Hiring external specialists also means mitigating risks associated with internal resource limitations, skill gaps, and project management challenges.

External UX design companies can handle various aspects of the design process. This translates into smoother execution.

Outsourcing is like a safety net. Especially when you have large-scale projects, like mobile app design or deal with tight deadlines.

You can leverage external talent to enhance user experiences and drive better outcomes in the competitive marketplace.

4 Steps to Outsource UI/UX Design

Now that you know what types of design work you can delegate to third-party specialists let’s see how to find a reliable partner you can delegate all these tasks to.

Here are four steps to outsourcing the UI/UX design team.

These tips are based on our 10+ years of collaboration with multiple businesses.

We hope that this information will help you find a perfect match.

Define Project Scope and Requirements

Clearly articulate the objectives, scope, and specific requirements of your UI/UX design project.

This includes identifying target audience demographics, desired features, technical specifications, and any other important details.

For example, when we collaborated with a real estate platform, the top priority task was designing a visually stunning website that would make a lasting impression on visitors and effectively convey their brand identity.

They needed a design partner who had experience working with startups and could offer valuable advice and best practices.

On top of that, factors like clear communication and cost-efficiency were crucial as well.

Check out the case study to see how we’ve met those needs and how the collaboration turned out.

Research and Evaluate Outsourcing Partners

Do thorough research to find outsourcing partners who have the right experience and skills in UI/UX design. 

Evaluate factors such as portfolio quality, client testimonials, industry reputation, and cultural compatibility.

Conduct Portfolio Reviews and Testing

At this point, you need to review the portfolios of the shortlisted agencies.

Make sure you examine their previous projects on Behance or Dribble.

Analyze their design style. See if r it matches your brand aesthetic.

Evaluate if prioritize user experience over just aesthetic look.

Additionally, you can conduct usability testing on their sample websites to assess functionality and responsiveness.

Don’t know what features to look at? According to Clutch, 7 top website features are crucial for users.

These are:

• easy navigation
• descriptions of products and services
• visuals
• good-looking design
• links to social media
• about us/company team page
• company blog

Make sure you evaluate these designs when looking for a team.

Launch Collaboration and Monitor KPIs

Once you’ve selected the outsourcing partner, launch the collaboration.

Set up desired project deliverables and KIPs.

Monitor and monitor them to evaluate their effectiveness and impact.

Track metrics such as user engagement, retention rates, conversion rates, and user satisfaction to measure success and identify areas for improvement.

UI/UX Design Outsourcing Rates and Hidden Costs

Many UI/UX design agencies or freelancers charge hourly rates or project-based fees.

Hourly rates can vary widely depending on the designer’s experience, location, and expertise level.

When it comes to budget predictability, project-based pricing is often preferred, but it requires a clear scope definition to prevent scope creep.

On platforms like Clutch, where UX/UI design agencies are reviewed, the cost of UX design services typically ranges from a few thousand dollars to several tens of thousands.

The average cost for UX/UI design projects reviewed on Clutch falls within these brackets:

• <$10,000
• $10,000 – $49,999
• $50,000 – $199,999
• >$200,000

Factors that influence the cost are project scale, web design and development support, the scope of services, and team location.

For example, outsourcing digital design services from Ukraine will be much cheaper than racing out to American or British specialists. At the same time, the level of Ukrainian designers’ expertise will the same or even higher.

Check out the cost breakdown:

Hourly Rates for Specific UX Services

Here are some common services and their average hourly rates:

If you are building a mobile app and want to learn more about design prices in this field, check out this article on calculating app design budget.

What are the Hidden Costs to Be Aware of?

If the scope of work is not clear, misunderstandings or changes can happen and that means hidden costs.

Freelancers may charge hidden fees for file transfers, software licenses or 3rd party tools.

If you work with an outsourcing services provider, these costs are not your problem. They are all covered by the outsourcing company.

To avoid hidden costs and be transparent you should:

• Define project requirements, deliverables and timelines in a detailed contract or agreement.
• Discuss additional costs upfront, revisions, extra services or unexpected project complexities.
• Get a breakdown of costs and any hidden fees before signing the contract.
• Keep communication open throughout the project to address any concerns or changes.

Remember, investing in UX/UI design is investing in your users and your business.

Choose wisely to create delightful experiences!

Why Outsource UX/UI Design to SpdLoad?

Superior UX sets a product apart in a crowded market.

Users compare experiences across different apps and websites.

A delightful and efficient interaction can make a product stand out, attracting more users and retaining existing ones.

Here’s where SPDLoad’s UX/UI designers can help.

We will ensure that all of your digital products deliver a seamless user experience that meets their expectations.

You can trust our UX designers to understand your business and hit your goals while staying within your budget and deadline.

The benefit of collaborating with us is that we bring fresh perspectives and industry experience to the table.

Besides, we are pretty flexible when collaborating, so you can always adjust cooperation terms and team size as needed.

Tell us about your project, and we will help you create high-quality UI/UX design tailored to your needs.