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Design & UX/UI Recruiters

We hire great designers from first product designer to Head of Design.

What we cover

  • Product Design
  • UX & UI Design
  • UX Research
  • Visual Design
  • Head of Design

Whether you need a full-stack product designer who blends UX and UI or a visual designer with a specific aesthetic, we have you covered. We spend time with you upfront to understand your exact design challenge, then our experienced design recruiters dig into resumes and portfolios to judge the hard skills, soft skills, and aesthetic that fit your team.

Our diversified approach combines our existing network of design talent with active sourcing across the web for the portfolios you will actually care about. We know how to find product designers with real experience in native mobile, responsive web, SaaS platforms, conversion design, and more.

We work across all major markets, including technology, e-commerce, enterprise software, and digital media, and place talent ranging from Product Designers to Head of Design. We can help you find the right full-time hire to join your team or a stellar contractor to support you through a project.

25+ YrsRecruiting digital talent
6XForbes Best Executive Recruitment Firms
400k+Active talent network
50k+Key decision-makers
$300M+In compensation negotiated
EQProprietary assessment platform
25+ YrsRecruiting digital talent
6XForbes Best Executive Recruitment Firms
400k+Active talent network
50k+Key decision-makers
$300M+In compensation negotiated
EQProprietary assessment platform

Why AC Lion

A consultative search built around your design challenge

We pair deep portfolio judgment with a network 25 years in the making so you only see designers worth your time.

01

We start with your challenge

We dedicate time with you upfront to understand your specific design challenge before we ever present a candidate, so the shortlist maps to the work you actually need done.

02

Portfolio and skills depth

Our design recruiters dive deep into resumes and portfolios to determine whether someone has the hard skills, soft skills, and aesthetic to meet your needs, not just a polished deck.

03

Network plus active sourcing

We combine our existing network of design talent with active sourcing across the web, surfacing the portfolios you will genuinely care about rather than whoever is easiest to reach.

04

Full-time or contract

We place the right full-time hire to join your team or a stellar contractor to help during projects, matched to how and when you need the work delivered.

Representative placements

Designers we have placed, from product leads to design directors

A snapshot of recent design and UX/UI searches across product, leadership, and specialist roles.

Design leadership

  • Head of Product Design, Productivity Platform
  • VP of Product Design, EdTech Company
  • Director of UX & Design, Travel eCommerce
  • Director of Design, HealthTech Player
  • Design Director, Information-centered Media Brand

Product design

  • Product Design Lead, Entertainment Service Provider
  • Product Design Lead, iOS, Major Media Brand
  • UX Lead, UX-Driven Agency

Specialist and contract

  • UX Researcher, Direct to Consumer eCommerce Company
  • Freelance UX/UI Designer, Financial Firm

Industry & functional expertise

Markets and design disciplines we cover

We recruit across the markets and design specialties where great product experiences get built.

Markets we serve

TechnologyE-commerceEnterprise softwareDigital media

Design disciplines

Product designUX designUI designVisual designUX research

Platforms and focus areas

Native mobileResponsive webSaaS platformsConversion design

Our design recruitment services

How we put our network to work for you

We decrease your time to hire and give you only the best talent, whether you need a permanent leader or project help.

01

Full-time design search

From Product Designers to Head of Design, we run a consultative search across technology, e-commerce, enterprise software, and digital media, vetting hard skills, soft skills, and aesthetic so the right full-timer joins your team.

02

Contract and freelance design talent

When you need to move on a project, we tap our network and active sourcing to place a stellar contractor or freelance UX/UI designer who can deliver from day one.

In their words

The companies who trust us to hire.

DDailymotion
AC Lion saved me so much time. They consistently presented high-quality candidates that were good matches for our needs. I ended up with a great hire in no time. Would recommend and partner with again!
Aubrey Bowser, Global Director of Product Management and Design
TTripleLift
AC Lion has been a fantastic partner for us. Through the years, they've consistently delivered some of our highest performing talent.
Eric Berry, Co-Founder and CEO
GGrapeshot
Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to build out a team and nearly everyone I have hired has come through AC Lion. AC Lion makes the process easy and seamless. I recommend them to both businesses and individuals looking to make a change.
Nicole Brodeur, Director of Account Management

How the search runs

Our design search process

A consultative process built to decrease your time to hire while giving you only the best design talent.

Step 01

Define the design challenge

We dedicate time with you upfront to understand your specific design challenge, the role, the skills, and the aesthetic you need, before any sourcing begins.

Step 02

Calibrate the search

We map the target market across technology, e-commerce, enterprise software, and digital media, agree on must-have skills and portfolio signals, and align on level from Product Designer to Head of Design.

Step 03

Source from network and the web

We tap our existing network of design talent and actively scour the web for the portfolios you will care about, including specialists in native mobile, responsive web, SaaS, and conversion design.

Step 04

Review portfolios and screen deeply

Our design recruiters dive deep into resumes and portfolios to determine whether each candidate has the hard skills, soft skills, and aesthetic to meet your needs.

Step 05

Present a focused shortlist

You see only vetted designers who match the brief, with the context you need to interview efficiently and make confident decisions quickly.

Step 06

Manage the offer and stand behind the hire

We manage the offer and close to get your designer signed, then back the placement with a guarantee and structured 3-month and 6-month follow-ups to confirm a lasting fit.

Find your next designer

Let us put our network to work for you

Decrease your time to hire and meet only the best design talent. Tell us about your design challenge and we will get to work.

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