A UI/UX design agency is an agency that specializes in designing user interfaces and user experiences for digital products like websites, mobile apps, and software applications. It ensures digital products are visually appealing, user-friendly, intuitive, and aligned with the end user's needs and expectations. 

The need for skilled UI/UX design experts has been growing consistently, driven by the increasing importance of a good user journey in digital products and services. 

Besides the tech industry, other sectors also recognize the value of UI/UX design as a competitive advantage. This is especially true considering the correlation between UX and customer loyalty, with 59% of users being more inclined to purchase from a brand that provides an outstanding UX. 

UI/UX design companies provide designs and optimize the interface and experience of digital platforms. They do research and analysis, develop strategies for their future designs, and ensure ongoing maintenance of their designed products. 

Here’s a breakdown of UI/UX design companies’ main services:  

• Research and analysis 
  Research through interviews, surveys, and usability testing to understand the target market’s design needs 
• Design strategies 
  Strategizing a plan and design layout based on key targets and user research  
• Wireframing 
  Designing screen layouts or pages to represent the content structure and the user journey flow 
• Prototyping 
  Creating interactive mock-ups of the digital product to showcase the actual design implementation 
• Visual design 
  Designing the color schemes, typography, buttons, and icons of the visual interface of the website 
• User flow & navigation design 
  Designing the user pathway design, ensuring the product’s ease of use  
• Usability testing  
  Testing the product’s design to identify areas of improvement then iterating based on feedback  
• Interaction design 
  Designing how elements respond to user input, ensuring smooth transitions and navigation 
• Feedback implementation 
  Revising the design to improve the user experience after testing and gathering feedback  
• Ongoing updates and maintenance 
  Updating the UI/UX design to maintain its effectiveness as user needs and technologies evolve 

The difference between UI and UX design is their focus and purpose. UI design focuses on the visual and interactive elements of a website or application, including, colors, font, graphics, buttons, and overall layout. 

On the other hand, UX focuses on the usability and easy navigation of users through intuitive website design and architecture. It involves organizing content and functionality so that users can quickly find information and complete actions. 

Here’s a better representation of the difference between UI and UX design: 

UI/UX design projects generally take 3-5 months to complete, considering feature complexity, edge case scenarios, prototyping time, and team size. Within this timeframe, the UI/UX design agency has the flexibility to accommodate the end-to-end design process from conceptualization to user testing without compromising quality. 

UI/UX design companies with properly defined scope typically charge between $3,000 and $30,000. The cost of a UI/UX design project varies depending on the project’s complexity, number of features, location of the designer, and timeline.  

Price also differs based on the type of UI/UX design services, namely:

The top UI/UX design agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $92/hour. 9.1% of the UI/UX companies accept projects with a budget under $1,000, offering core design services. On the other hand, 4.9% of listed agencies require a $50,000+ minimum budget for their projects, providing extensive UI/UX design capabilities.  

You should hire a UI/UX design agency because it is an expert in creating appealing and data-driven user experiences through extensive research. In fact, according to Adobe, 87% of companies say that hiring UX designers is a top priority.   

Also, an excellent UI/UX helps with collecting customer data that can refine your business strategies and convert more prospects. According to PwC, 32% of consumers claim that they would share more information with a business that offers a great experience.  

• Moreover, you should hire a UI/UX design company because it: 
• Has access to experienced teams with skills in creating designs based on latest industry trends  
• Deploys data-driven and intuitive features ensuring user satisfaction  
• Provides comprehensive user journeys 
• Promotes customer loyalty and conversions with engaging interfaces  
• Boosts credibility and user recommendations  
• Offers a competitive edge through next-gen tech integrations 
• Provides a consistent brand experience that aligns with your values and image  

Success story 

Our experts have identified the following case study to showcase the advantages of hiring a professional UI/UX design agency: 

• Challenge: CRYSTALS, a UK-based startup, needed to build the MVP (minimum viable product) and create a website as soon as possible. The client hoped to solve all the pressing problems with it, including fraud risk, non-payment, unjustified commissions, significant entry barriers, unhealthy competition, and territorial fragmentation. 
• Solution: To tackle the challenge, Wild Web Art had its dedicated team gather all the information needed to build the product from the ground. The UI/UX design agency started with the logo and brand style, and, thanks to the well-coordinated work of the product and engineering teams, it managed to build and deliver the MVP in 1.5 months. 
• Results: The collaboration with Wild Web Art was beyond successful, helping CRYSTALS acquire more than 500 users in only 1.5 months. 

To choose the UI/UX design agency for your project, follow these steps:  

1. Define your goals 
   Identify your goals and desired features to easily connect with a compatible user experience design agency. 
2. Set a realistic budget 
   Determine how much you’re willing to invest in the project considering your project’s complexity. 
3. Research potential partner agencies 
   Use search engines and online directories like DesignRush to find UI/UX design agencies that match your project’s needs. 
4. Evaluate expertise and portfolio 
   Assess if the UI/UX agency has relevant experience related to your niche or industry through its website and portfolio. 
5. Check industry reputation 
   Check the awards earned by the UI/UX design companies and their previous clients’ feedback on their work ethic and adherence to project timelines and specifications. 
6. Shortlist UI/UX agencies 
   Narrow your options to five agencies that can cater to your project. Send a request for proposal (RFP) to outline the needs of the partnership. 
7. Assess the UI/UX design team 
   Interview each design team and ask about their design expertise and work culture to ensure their compatibility with your project and in-house team. 
8. Ask about tools and creative methodologies 
   Find out the tools and software the agency uses to create an intuitive UI/UX design. Check its creative processes and testing methods to understand if they’re the right fit for your project.  
9. Discuss ownership rights 
   Clarify ownership rights for the intellectual property of the design assets like logos, illustrations, and color palettes, as well as code, wireframes, and prototypes. Ensure your contract grants you the necessary licenses for the assets. 
10. Inquire about post-project maintenance 
    Ask if the UI/UX design agencies can provide post-launch support, in case the website or application needs a necessary update in design. 
11. Choose the most compatible agency 
    Select the UI/UX design agency that aligns seamlessly with your internal workflows and has an extensive understanding of your needs. 

If you need help finding the UI/UX design agency that best fits your brand, visit our Marketplace and share your project details with us. We’ll run through our global Agency Directory and recommend five ideal agencies that match your business requirements — for free.   

Use DesignRush’s advanced filters to find the best UI/UX design company based on your budget, ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, and other relevant criteria.

Browse our agency directory to explore more profiles by location, industry niche, expertise, team size, pricing, and hourly rates so you can compare the best UI/UX design agencies and find the perfect fit for your project. 

Key success metrics used by UI/UX design companies are the following: 

• User satisfaction 
  The overall user experience satisfaction while navigating the website or application 
• Task completion rate 
  The rate at which a user completes tasks on the interface, such as purchasing or finding information 
• Conversion rate 
  The percentage of users who complete a desired action, like signing up, making a purchase, or downloading a resource 
• Error rate 
  The number of errors users encounter while using the interface to identify potential usability issues 
• Click-through rate (CTR) 
  The effectiveness of call-to-action (CTA) buttons and other clickable elements by tracking the number of clicks they receive 
• Bounce rate 
  The percentage of users who leave a website or app after viewing only one page. 
• User retention 
  The number of users who return to the product over time. 
• Net Promoter Score (NPS) 
  The standard scoring in measuring user loyalty and satisfaction by asking them to rate their likelihood of recommending the product on a scale of 0 to 10. 

You should watch out for these red flags when hiring UI/UX design agencies to ensure a seamless partnership: 

• Uncollaborative team 
  Avoid agencies that are dismissive of your input and don’t actively seek your feedback throughout the design process. 
• Lack of project goal understanding 
  Beware of companies that are disinterested in understanding your project’s goals, as it may lead to aesthetically pleasing designs that don’t drive revenue or are misaligned with your desired outcomes. 
• Overpromising timelines 
  Stay away from UI/UX design companies that promise unrealistic delivery dates and fail to meet them because it can prolong your project’s time-to-market. 
• Poor understanding of user-centered design 
  Stray from agencies that don’t perform user research because they could fail to balance visual aesthetics and user experience, which affects the overall performance of the digital product. 
• Lack of accessibility and inclusivity considerations 
  Avoid user experience design agencies that don’t have experience incorporating the WCAG guidelines into their UI/UX design services. 
• Overreliance on design fads 
  Overreliance on fads can lead to designs that quickly become outdated, so beware of design agencies without original design foundations and principles. 

Ask these questions before hiring a UI/UX design company:   

Its Relevant Background 

1. How many years of experience does your agency have in UI/UX design? 
2. Can you share some examples of successful UI/UX projects you’ve completed? 
3. What industries have you primarily worked in? 
4. What specific areas of UI/UX solutions would you consider your expertise? 
5. What is the experience level of your designers? 
6. What are the certifications of your UI/UX design team? 
7. Have you received any industry award or recognition for UI/UX design? 

Its Services and Processes 

1. What design process do you deploy? 
2. What is your approach to user-centric design? 
3. What tools do you use for wireframing, prototyping, and design? 
4. How do you gather user insights? 
5. How do you conduct usability testing, and how do you incorporate the results into your designs? 
6. How do you collaborate with clients during the design process? 
7. What are your revision policies?  
8. What’s your approach to iterating designs based on client or user input? 
9. How do you ensure a smooth handoff to developers? 
10. What is your approach to designing for multiple platforms and devices and how do you ensure a seamless user experience across different screen sizes? 

Related to Your Project 

1. How will you conduct user research to identify the specific needs and preferences of our target audience? 
2. How will you incorporate our existing brand guidelines and style guide into the design process? 
3. Who is the primary point of contact for urgent issues or questions outside of regular business hours? 
4. What project management tools will you use to track progress, manage tasks, and share updates? 
5. Can you provide a detailed project timeline, outlining key milestones and deliverables? 
6. How often will you involve us in the design process, and what channels of communication will you use? 
7. How will intellectual property rights be handled, particularly regarding ownership of the final designs and source files? 

The best UI/UX agencies in the US are:  

1. Huemor 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (15 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (40 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Exiger, Gleamin, Glow Recipe, RapidSOS 
2. Digital Silk 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (38 reviews) 
   • 4.7 stars on Google (12 reviews) 
   • Top clients: IBM, NFL, NASA, Xerox 
3. Unico Connect 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (25 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (71 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Koye, Deep Meditate, StayVista, Wicme 
4. SmartSites 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (51 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (683 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Chicago Watermarks, Ancestral Supplements, Mind and Body Health Center, Print Crazee 
5. Vention 
   • 4.7 stars on DesignRush (12 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (35 reviews) 
   • Top clients: ClassPass, Freshly, Dialogue, Keeps