Finding the right designer for the job, however, is a bit more complicated than it may seem. It is a hiring process, and naturally, you have a lot to do.<\/p>\n
1. Decide the Specialties You Want<\/strong><\/p>\n The word product can refer to a lot of different things. It can be an everyday item, like clothing, gadgets, a fashion accessory, household appliance, computer peripheral, pet supplies, cookware, decorations, stationery, toys, fishing gear, or power tools. Your product can be something more complicated such as a car, robot, solar panel, software, artificial body part, a website, and so on. With that in mind, looking for your run-of-the-mill designer is not enough. You need to be very specific to narrow down the search and make the process a bit easier. There are many questions to answer before you can even begin:<\/p>\n Being as specific and explicit as possible improves your chances of hiring the right designer from the get-go. If you want to build a rather sophisticated product such as a cordless power tool, you may need a designer with a strong background in engineering and electricity. Assuming you have the inner workings of the product handled, you will want a designer that specializes in the aesthetics. And then there is the packaging element of the product, which may require another designer.<\/p>\n RELATED: Interview Questions to Ask Freelance Industrial Designers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In general, any product can be broken down into sections: mechanism, interior, exterior, and packaging. Each section requires a professional designer with specific knowledge of the field, yet all must work in collaboration to deliver the product in accordance with your specifications. Your product, depending on the complexity, may not possess all the sections mentioned above.<\/p>\n 2. Freelance vs. Full-time Designers<\/strong><\/p>\n As the title suggests, this article is for those who are currently in the market for a freelance product designer. In spite of that, there is nothing wrong with a simple explanation of why you must choose one over the other. It all comes down to three variables, as follows:<\/p>\n Hiring a freelance product designer, despite the short-term nature of employment, can deliver significant benefits to your company. It is affordable, practical, and, in fact, a business savior for a lot of start-ups out there who want to get the products released as soon as possible despite a tight budget and schedule.<\/p>\n 3. Create a Project Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n Now that you know what you\u2019re looking for, it\u2019s time to make a brief outline of the project parameter. Later on, you will use this outline to facilitate conversation with potential candidates. The sketchy summary is what you expect to get with the resources you have from the product designer. Points to include:<\/p>\n Having a clear overview of the project will save you a lot of time and effort in communication. Save the outline in a common text or image format to send to every shortlisted designer. It tells the designers what you want, how you want it, and how much you\u2019re willing to spend for it.<\/p>\n 4. Scour Online Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re an individual with a product idea or a company looking for an additional team member, you\u2019ve most likely visited several online freelance communities. After all, there\u2019s no better place to search for freelance product designers than the Internet. On many of these websites, you can also use sorting options based on location, educational degrees, experience, fees, and more. Another helpful thing is that online freelance websites also serve as a direct communication platform through which you can contact potential candidates individually.<\/p>\n As promising as online-based portfolio websites can be, do not hesitate to look for freelancers in local design groups too. For some companies, this may not be an obvious option. Product design seminars are the most viable place to find suitable candidates. Don\u2019t forget about local colleges \u2013 students may lack experience, but there is always the possibility that their lecturer will be kind enough to give you recommendations for the job. Bear in mind that students and fresh graduates are less than ideal, although they often charge the least. As mentioned earlier, the best kind of freelance product designer is one with enough experience and an impressive track record.<\/p>\n Regardless of where you intend to look for professionals qualified for the task, the key is to proactively reach out. Do not wait for a freelancer to apply. Go search and do the picking yourself whenever possible. Every great freelance product designer is likely loaded with job offers, so improve your chances of hiring the right person by taking a more direct approach.<\/p>\n 5. Gather Some Referrals<\/strong><\/p>\n The more experienced freelancers have worked with multiple companies and individuals. The freelancers often attach portfolios to their profiles. On some websites, you can actually see a list of previous clients on freelancers\u2019 profiles as well. These clients are your best sources for referral candidates. It does not take more than five minutes to write an email to ask questions about any particular candidate, so there is no excuse for not doing it. If you haven\u2019t hired a freelance product designer before, you\u2019ll be surprised that most clients will be happy to share their experiences, both good and bad.<\/p>\n 6. Examine Past Work<\/strong><\/p>\n At this point, you should have already shortlisted several freelancers. Referrals and testimonials are good, but you should not rely merely on what someone else tells you prior to hiring. Look (or ask) for portfolios and examine the freelancers\u2019 past work. Based on what you see in the portfolios, you\u2019ll have a general idea of how skilled the freelancers are at designing various products.<\/p>\n However, you must understand that each product designer has a different approach to style, communication, and workflow. Some use different methods to send deliverables too. Let us not forget that every freelancer responds to feedback or criticism in their own way as well. All those things can be quite difficult to discern by just looking at portfolios, so conducting an interview (even an informal one) can be helpful.<\/p>\n Another important point is to put personal preference aside. Freelancers, by definition, have the freedom to work with a lot of different companies without a long-term contract. They are not designing just for you, so it\u2019s good to step away from any personal preferences you may have. The great thing is that some works they did in the past can be similar to or in the same product category as your idea, making it easier to do the vetting process. Assemble your existing employees into a room (including the full-time designer if possible) to give their opinions of the freelancers\u2019 past projects. Since the employees will work closely with the freelancers, their feedback is valuable.<\/p>\n 7. Trial Project<\/strong><\/p>\n It may not be necessary if the freelancer will only work with you for a limited time. If you intend to work with a product designer for the entire process, more scrutiny is indispensable. The entire product development process can take a year or more, and it may involve design refinements, so it\u2019s best to hire the most qualified freelancer to avoid problems in the middle of the project. Consider a trial project where one or more freelancers will work on the same theoretical product design that can be done in less than a few weeks.<\/p>\n Think of it as a test to see which freelancer delivers the best results in such a strict timeframe. Of course, this must appear \u2013 on the surface \u2013 like the real project rather than a trial run. Since you have to pay all shortlisted freelancers for the work they do, make sure the trial is simple enough that you don\u2019t waste a lot of money. Also, avoid conducting trial projects for too many candidates.<\/p>\n\n
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