Ask HN: Where do you go for adhoc/freelance design resource? Hi all We're hitting a stage in our product development where we're looking for some design work to be done (layouts, icons etc) and I was just wondering if anyone has any recommended design/ux specific sites (like elance.com for example) that they have used to get bits and pieces done?? TIA |
Do not pay for custom icon design unless you absolutely need to.
For site design your best bet is to look at CSS galleries. Tons of designers put their portfolios up there.
Also check out deviantart.com for a huge selection of freelance art.
Be forwarned that good designers are usually very busy and/or very expensive. A lot of overseas designers are pretty decent and a little cheaper (Asia/Eastern Europe). In 10 years as a programmer Ive had better luck finding top coders than top designers.
At the very least, you'll know someone 'in the industry' who has a very positive impression of you (and your company), and who can pass talent to you down the road.
In fact, I will go so far as to say this: most design projects should begin with a contest at 99designs.
There are reasons for this: you get to see a large sample set of competing designs rather than being restricted to whatever designs the neural pathways of your dedicated designer can come up with. You go with 99designs in order to see 100 designs (or 500) sitting on a page. After that, you take one or two designs and you run with them. In my opinion this is bar none the most effective way to start any design project. Make 99designs.com your first step as it gives you a breadth of design options. Then choose one and work on depth and polish.
When you have the design you can run with it - and if you actually want to develop a working relationship with the winner you can always do that.