Quick answer
What does a UI/UX designer do and why hire one before development?
When you hire a UI/UX designer, you get a specialist who studies your users, plans user flows, creates wireframes and designs the final screens and prototypes in Figma. Hiring one before development saves coding time and makes your site or app easier to use. SI Experts offers UI/UX designers by the hour, month or project.
Key takeaways
- UX is how a product works; UI is how it looks.
- Design before code saves time and avoids costly rework.
- Typical outputs are user flows, wireframes, UI screens, prototypes and a design system.
- Figma is the main tool for modern web and app design.
- Cost depends on the number of screens, research needs and revisions.
- Good designers test with real users and hand off clear files to developers.
What does a UI/UX designer do?
A UI/UX designer decides how a website or app should work and how it should look, so people can finish tasks quickly and without confusion.
When you hire a UI/UX designer, you usually get both skills in one person or a small pair. For most business projects, one designer who handles both UX and UI is enough.
What we design
- Business websites and landing pages
- Mobile app screens for Android and iOS
- SaaS products and web app dashboards
- Ecommerce stores, product pages and checkout flows
- CRM, HRM and internal tool interfaces
- Redesigns of old websites and apps
- Design systems with reusable components
UI vs UX: what is the difference?
UX is about the steps and logic; UI is about the look on each screen. A product needs both to work well.
| Point | UX design | UI design |
|---|---|---|
| Main question | Is it easy to use? | Does it look clear and on-brand? |
| Work done | Research, user flows, wireframes, testing | Visual screens, colours, fonts, icons, components |
| Outputs | Flow maps, sitemaps, grey wireframes | Final Figma screens and style guide |
| Example | Cutting checkout from five steps to three | Making the pay button stand out |
If you need a full brand identity, such as a logo and brand colours, start with our branding experts. A UI/UX designer then applies that brand to your screens.
Who needs to hire a UI/UX designer?
Hire a UI/UX designer when you are building a new product, redesigning an old one, or seeing users drop off on key pages.
Startups
Need clear screens and a clickable prototype to test ideas or show investors before coding.
Businesses with web apps
Have staff or customers who find the current system confusing or slow to use.
Online stores
Want simpler product pages and checkout so more visitors buy.
Agencies and dev teams
Need design support for client projects, under their own brand.
Design is the first step before a React developer, mobile app developer or Shopify theme developer starts coding.
Our UI/UX design process
We follow a simple path: understand, plan, design, test and hand off. Each stage has a clear output you approve.
- 1
Discovery call
We learn about your business, users, goals and any current site or app.
- 2
Research and audit
We review competitors, existing analytics and user problems where data is available.
- 3
User flows and sitemap
We map the main tasks users need to complete and the pages or screens needed.
- 4
Wireframes
Simple grey layouts show structure and content order, without colours.
- 5
UI design
Final screens are designed in Figma with your brand colours, fonts and components.
- 6
Clickable prototype
Screens are linked so you can click through the product like a real app.
- 7
Developer handoff
Developers get organised Figma files, spacing, assets and notes for each state.
Work hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm IST. Design reviews happen on short calls or through comments in Figma.
What is included when you hire a UI/UX designer?
You get the design files and everything a developer needs to build them. The exact list depends on your project.
- User flow diagrams for key tasks
- Sitemap or app screen map
- Low-detail wireframes
- Final UI screens for desktop and mobile
- Clickable Figma prototype
- Style guide: colours, fonts, buttons, form fields
- Reusable component library
- Exported icons and images
- Notes for empty, loading and error states
Need help with UI/UX Designers?
Talk to the SI Experts team. Free first call, simple advice, clear quote.
How much does it cost to hire a UI/UX designer?
Cost depends on the number of screens, how much research is needed, the number of devices and how many review rounds you need. You get a clear quote after a free call.
- Number of unique screens or page templates
- Desktop only, mobile only, or both
- Research depth: interviews, surveys or data review
- Whether a brand style guide already exists
- Prototype and user testing needs
- Design system or component library work
- Number of revision rounds
Indian clients get a GST invoice and can pay by bank transfer or UPI. International clients pay by bank transfer. You can hire hourly for small changes, monthly for ongoing product work, or per project for a new design.
Skills and tools to look for in a UI/UX designer
Look for strong Figma skills, a clear portfolio with real flows, an understanding of how developers build, and the habit of asking about users first.
- Figma: auto layout, components, variants and prototypes
- User flows and wireframing
- Mobile-first and responsive design
- Basic accessibility: contrast, font size, tap target size
- Design systems and consistent spacing
- Knowledge of Android and iOS design guidelines for apps
- Simple user testing and feedback methods
- Clear handoff notes for developers
Designing for Indian users
Many Indian users browse on budget Android phones with slower internet. Good designers keep screens light, use clear text, support Hindi or other Indian languages where needed and make UPI, WhatsApp and phone call options easy to find.
What is a UX audit and when do you need one?
A UX audit is a review of your existing website or app to find where users get stuck. You need one when traffic is fine but sign-ups, leads or sales are low.
The designer checks key flows, such as sign-up, search, product pages and checkout. They look at analytics and heatmaps where available, and note problems like unclear buttons, long forms, slow pages or confusing menus. You get a list of issues by priority with suggested fixes.
Small fixes from an audit, such as clearer button text or a shorter form, can often be done quickly by your current developer. Bigger changes may need new screens designed first.
A UX audit works well with our conversion optimization experts, who can test the suggested changes and measure results.
Questions to ask before you hire a UI/UX designer
Ask how they understand users, how they work with developers, and how they handle feedback. Their answers show if they design for results or only for looks.
- Can you walk me through one project from research to final screens?
- How do you decide what goes on each screen?
- Do you design mobile screens first or desktop first, and why?
- How many review rounds are included?
- How do you hand off designs to developers?
- Will all Figma files be in our account?
- Have you designed for apps used on low-end Android phones?
Freelancer or team-backed designer?
A single freelancer can be fine for a small one-off design. For a product that keeps growing, a team-backed designer is safer. You get senior review, backup when someone is on leave, and easy access to developers and SEO experts who check that the design also works for search and speed.
Whichever you choose, agree the scope, number of screens and review rounds in writing before work starts.
Mistakes to avoid when hiring a UI/UX designer
Avoid judging only on pretty pictures, skipping wireframes and getting designs that developers cannot build.
- Choosing a designer only for good-looking Dribbble shots
- Skipping wireframes and going straight to colourful screens
- Designing desktop only and leaving mobile for later
- No empty, loading or error states in the design
- Design files kept in the designer's account
- No developer input until design is finished
SI Experts is backed by Shivah Web Tech, with 11+ years and 500+ projects. Our designers work side by side with our developers, so designs are practical to build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a UI/UX designer if I already have a developer?
Usually yes. Developers are skilled at building, but planning user flows and visual design is a different skill. A designer gives your developer clear screens to follow, which reduces guesswork, rework and back-and-forth. For small changes, a developer may manage without a designer.
What tools do your UI/UX designers use?
Our designers mainly use Figma for wireframes, UI screens, prototypes and design systems. They may also use FigJam for flow diagrams, and tools like Google Analytics or heatmap tools for audits. Files are shared in your own Figma account so you keep ownership.
How long does a UI/UX design project take?
It depends on the number of screens, research needs and how quickly feedback is given. A small landing page design is quick, while a full app or SaaS product with many screens takes longer. We share a clear timeline with each design stage in the written scope.
Can you redesign my existing website or app?
Yes. We first review the current product, check analytics if available and list the main problems. Then we plan improved flows, create new wireframes and design fresh screens. We can redesign in stages so your developer can update the most important parts first.
How much does it cost to hire a UI/UX designer in India?
Cost depends on screens, devices, research depth, prototypes and revision rounds. Hourly blocks suit small changes, while a project quote suits new designs. SI Experts shares a clear quote after a free call, with a GST invoice for Indian clients.
Will the designs be ready for developers?
Yes. We organise Figma files with named layers, components, spacing and colour styles. We add notes for hover, empty, loading and error states, and export icons and images. Developers can inspect measurements directly in Figma.
Can a UI/UX designer help improve my conversion rate?
Yes. A designer can find where users get stuck, simplify forms, make buttons clearer and improve page layouts. These changes often help more visitors complete a purchase or enquiry. The best results come when design changes are tested and measured, not just guessed.
Can agencies hire a white-label UI/UX designer?
Yes. Agencies can hire our designers to work on client projects under their own brand. The designer follows your process, brand rules and review steps. Client details stay private and we do not contact your clients unless you ask.