How to Hire a UX/UI Designer: Step-by-Step Remote Hiring Playbook

Hiring a UX/UI Designer is one of the highest-leverage decisions for product velocity, user experience quality, and company growth.
Simera is an AI-powered global talent platform providing vetted professionals for US and Canadian companies, specializing in UX/UI Designers from LATAM, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
This playbook covers the full process scoping, sourcing, evaluating, interviewing, and onboarding a remote UX/UI Designer.

Step 1: Define the UX/UI Role You Need

Product-Focused UX/UI

User flows, wireframes, IA, dashboards, web apps, mobile apps.

UI-Heavy Designer

High-fidelity visuals, components, style guides, responsive layouts.

UX-Heavy Designer

Research, personas, interviews, journey mapping, usability feedback.

Balanced UX/UI (Most Common)

Full-spectrum product design from flows → Figma files → prototypes.

Clarity on the role ensures faster and more accurate hiring.

Step 2: Identify the Best Regions to Hire From

UX/UI Designers from LATAM, MENA, and SEA consistently outperform global averages due to strong digital cultures, excellent English, and professional experience with SaaS products.

LATAM Strengths

• System thinking
  
• UX process clarity
  
• Strong communication
  
• Figma mastery
  

Middle East Strengths

• Polished UI
  
• Advanced visual design
  
• Strong conceptual understanding
  

Southeast Asia Strengths

• Fast iteration
  
• Detail-oriented design
  
• High-volume UI production
  

Step 3: Evaluate Their Portfolio the Right Way

A UX/UI portfolio must communicate more than aesthetics.

Look for UX Thinking

• Problem definition
  
• User flows
  
• Wireframes
  
• Rationale
  

Look for UI Consistency

• Layout and spacing
  
• Components
  
• Style systems
  
• Color & type discipline
  

Look for Prototyping Ability

Test whether they can express interactions, not just static screens.

Step 4: Conduct a Structured UX/UI Interview

Ask Design Process Questions

“What steps do you take from brief → final UI?”
“What tools do you use at each stage?”

Evaluate Communication

Clarity in explaining decisions is critical for product collaboration.

Review a Case Study Live

Ask them to walk through:

• Their UX process
  
• Alternatives considered
  
• How they incorporated feedback
  

Collaboration Questions

“How do you work with product managers and engineers?”

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Step 5: Use a Short, Realistic Test Task (Optional)

Recommended tasks:

• Improve a flow of 3–5 screens
  
• Create a small UI component set
  
• Redesign a single dashboard or homepage section
  

Evaluate:

• Clarity of decisions
  
• Speed
  
• Fit with your brand
  
• Communication
  

Step 6: Onboard for Successful Long-Term Collaboration

Week 1 Setup

• Figma access
  
• Product context
  
• Brand guidelines
  
• Design system overview
  

Communication Cadence

• Weekly design reviews
  
• Async comments in Figma
  
• Slack/Notion workflows
  

Delivery Expectations

• Screens per week
  
• Revision cycles
  
• Component system updates

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FAQ

Q1: What regions provide the best UX/UI Designers?
LATAM, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Q2: How long does hiring through Simera take?
Typically 5–7 days.

Q3: What skills should a UX/UI Designer have?
User flows, wireframes, UI design, prototypes, and component systems.

Q4: Do remote designers work US hours?
Many offer partial or full overlap.

Q5: What tools do UX/UI Designers use?
Figma, FigJam, Miro, and Adobe Suite.