When Should Startups Hire Their First Designer?

TL;DR

Startups should consider hiring their first designer at the Series A stage, ideally having a co-founder manage design needs beforehand. It's crucial to create a diverse team atmosphere, as designers often feel intimidated being the only one among multiple engineers. Sources like Dribbble, Behance, and design schools can help identify suitable designers, while platforms like 99designs and Fiverr provide low-cost options.

Transcript

now's the super practical section of how to find and choose designers we can get through this really quickly happy to answer questions afterwards about it but you know the basic questions we always get asked is you know well when when and how the reality of it is there are so many ways to answer this but this is just you know super boilerplate advi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔍 There are various stages in a startup where hiring designers becomes crucial, such as pre-seed, pre-Series A, and Series B, with different needs at each stage.
• 💼 It is important to hire a diverse team of designers to provide a good work environment and collaboration opportunities.
• 🌐 Designers can be found through websites like Dribbble, LinkedIn, Behance, and AIGA, as well as schools like CMU, NYU, MIT, RISD, Parsons, and Stanford.
• ♀️ For startups looking for low-cost design solutions, platforms like 99designs and Fiverr offer access to talented designers from around the world.
• 📈 Content marketing and social media can be effective strategies to attract designers to join startups.
• 📝 When interviewing designers, it is important to assess their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of user-centered design principles.
• 📚 Reading books and resources on design can provide valuable insights for founders looking to improve their design knowledge and evaluate designers effectively.
• 🌐 Having an "About Us" page on a startup's website can humanize the company and build trust with customers.

Questions & Answers

Q: When should startups start considering hiring a designer?

Startups should consider hiring a designer at Series A, but prior to that, a co-founder or consultant can handle design needs.

Q: How can startups attract designers to join their team?

Startups should aim to have a diverse team, communicate their understanding of design, and be open and transparent about their product and vision to attract designers to join them.

Q: What are some sources for finding designers?

Some sources for finding designers include online platforms like Dribbble and Behance, design schools such as CMU and RISD, and design firms that work specifically with startups.

Q: What are some alternatives to hiring full-time designers?

Startups can explore platforms like 99designs and Fiverr for low-cost design work or hire individual consultants who enjoy working on various projects. They can also consider befriending and hiring talented individuals from different parts of the world through job boards.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video emphasizes the importance of timing and suggests that startups should consider hiring a designer at Series A, with a co-founder ideally handling design needs prior to that.

• To attract designers at Series A, it is recommended to have a diverse team that includes designers, as working as the only designer among many engineers can be intimidating.

• Various sources for finding designers are mentioned, including online platforms like Dribbble and Behance, as well as design schools such as CMU and RISD.

• The video also discusses the option of hiring individual consultants or exploring platforms like 99designs and Fiverr for low-cost design work.

• It concludes by highlighting the importance of communication, empathy, and embracing controversy when hiring and working with designers.