Today, outsourcing web development is a highly popular way to build high quality custom applications. What was often associated with completely delegating software development operations to a third-party, is now open to any kind of arrangement – be it fully outsourced, partially outsourced, or a combination of the two.
There is much buzz around the topic of cost savings when it comes to software development outsourcing. However, delving deep into what makes a competent software development team isn’t always a topic of focus – albeit bearing much insight for businesses that are looking to maintain high quality software as well as long-term partnerships with their software development outsourcing company.
Likewise, knowing what to look for when hiring a UI/UX designer is essential in order to build a website or web application that truly understands its audience – while also building a skilled software development team that is customer-centric enough to withstand the tests of time. With markets heavily saturated with a myriad of product options even across vertical sectors, companies need to go the extra mile to stand out – and being well tuned to the ever-shifting needs of your customer helps companies stay on top of mind with consumers.
As a web development company, we at EFutures have ample experience on what it takes to build great user interfaces, as well as the calibre of people that can make it happen. Here, we outline what makes a good UI/UX designer, as well as how your company can choose the right candidate to add to your software development team. Read on to know more!

The hallmark characteristics of a good UI/UX designer
Thoroughly understands your business model and target audience
A competent UI/UX designer will always show keenness towards understanding your product and its business model better, while taking any exceptions into consideration as and when they come. In turn, this makes your UI/UX designer a subject matter expert of sorts when it comes to user journeys, as well as psyches surrounding certain behaviour patterns (with the help of quantifiable insights, of course).
Top web development companies in Sri Lanka that offer end-to-end software development services always focus on these UI/UX designer qualities, as they help leverage innovative solutions for even the most complex of business requirements.
Doesn’t underestimate the value of small things
Attention to detail is indispensable for many professional roles, and UI/UX design is no exception. In the case of design expertise, though, failing to read between the proverbial lines could compromise your design strategy, thereby placing much emphasis on elements that may otherwise seem trivial to the individual who isn’t as design-savvy.
This means noting any inconsistencies across CTAs, eliminating steps in the user journey (even if it is one small step) or incorporating white space where needed. Of course, these are only some out of many examples. As a result, this goes to show that observation skills are non-negotiable when it comes to UI/UX design – something that you as a business leader need to keep in mind, when considering UI/UX candidates prior to hiring.
Is open to feedback from all team members
While UI/UX designers have an eye for detail that their non-design-savvy team members don’t, they are always open to feedback from all team members across the hierarchy in order to gain perspectives that may have been missed. Subject matter experts in other business areas (especially those for which a web application or piece of software is being developed) will know their field of expertise the best – thereby making them great candidates for suggesting solutions on a UI/UX level as well.
In addition to consolidating feedback from across the board, UI/UX designers who are ever-innovative will also be open to conducting brand-related exercises that help teams understand (and decide, in some cases), what a brand represents, and what each of their roles represent when it comes to the organisation at large. This also helps collate more brand-level insights that UI/UX designers can then use in order to deliver further enhancements to the designs and layouts they develop.
UI/UX designer hiring checklist
Identify your business needs first
Conducting a business evaluation is always the first step any organisation needs to take in order to decide what is required on a design level (or for any other purpose, for that matter). In order to conduct a business evaluation, discuss concerns with relevant team members surrounding topics such as:
- Business challenges that are causing resource crunches or information gaps,
- Complaints from customers,
- Lack of visibility or engagement for certain products,
- Outdated interfaces, redundant design elements or bugs.
Questions pertaining to the above topics are bound to serve as ‘ice-breakers’ that will help all team members involved understand what’s problematic, and how it can be resolved from a UI/UX design perspective. In turn, this shall also enable your business teams to identify what to look for in a UI/UX designer, especially if specific expertise in a particular industry or specialty is needed.
Interview and assess candidates
Now that you have a criteria that needs to be fulfilled by the ideal UI/UX hire, start posting jobs in order to source candidates. Leading software companies in Sri Lanka can do this on your behalf, as they offer end-to-end software outsourcing services that begin from headhunting and hiring the right candidates for their clientele.
Evaluate performance throughout
Once a suitable UI/UX designer has been hired, your new resource needs regular performance evaluations. While this may be an administrative formality in some cases, true competence can be observed through consistent dedication on your designer’s part, by trying to understand unique challenges, and how they can be fixed with the right design knowhow.
Actively contributing to the team this way, especially on a proactive basis, can indicate that your UI/UX designer isn’t just skilled at what they specialise in, but also a valuable team member who is always willing to solve problems through solutions that help advance business objectives.
In conclusion…
The right UI/UX designer for your software or web development project is essential in order to build and maintain a product that is always attuned to the needs of your stakeholders – be they employees or customers. UI/UX and Customer Experience (CX) are far more closely interconnected today, thanks to users’ increased reliance on online channels to purchase goods, share updates and conduct financial transactions on a self-serve basis.
As a result, the UI/UX expertise you source needs to be able to stay on top of shifting requirements, no matter how often they happen, or how tricky they may seem. At the same time, they need to ensure no detail is missed; focusing on the smaller aspects of your design may shed light on certain breakthroughs that can make all the difference in a design that is built to truly serve its constituency – and one that’s merely average.