matrixownsyou - What are you looking for? A roll call of people interested in UI design? People employed (or self-employed) as UI designers? People who dabble in the visual aspects of their site/app/software? Are there specific skills, methods, or types of output you're looking for?
I'm a User Experience Designer by training, so UI design is a pretty big part of my work. I'm also interested in learning about others like me here on HN. But if you can, do you mind adding areas of focus?
A couple to start with (feel free to add others): User Research, Visual Design, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, UI Development
I asked because 1st of all, i believe that usually (but i may be wrong) "SuperDeveloperX"'s
get the most fame and glory for a web project and, apart the technical side, designing a great and visually appealing UIX is hard,
you have to try it to really understand, i think. So i wanted to send some luv and hugs, for realz :)
2nd, i have a pet project atm and was looking for an UI and logo for it. I've tried partenering up with other people (both design and developers)
but i've almost given up (when someone asks you if you'd like to partner up on a project and you say "yes, i do and i love it" that person is asking for your help doing it, it's because she needs you to proactive and HELP, not waiting around to take orders. my 2c) so i was looking for a budget for a one page layout (what i can afford) and maybe a simple logo.
3rd, it's likely i'll need to do freelance work (there's a chance i'll get funded for my main project) and was looking for ppl who would like to team up. I'm a [mediocre :p] developer and atm i'm focusing on Python/Django/Google App Engine.
Partnering with designers (or ANYONE) is tricky. You sound like you have an existing product that you want "designed and cleaned up". The best UI designers (unless they LOVED the product idea) don't want to work on someone ELSE'S baby. Same is true for the best coders.
In terms of hiring designers-- I think it's like hiring salespeople-- most people who need them don't know how to tell the difference between good ones and bad ones.
As I hunt around for co-founders (I just stepped down from RescueTime a month or so back), I'm purposefully AVOIDING settling on an idea because I think it's best when founders co-author the idea together.
I don't think it's true us designers don't want to work on someone else's baby. I love the part of UI design where something is already made, and I get to go in an make the flow of interaction better and coming up with new ideas.
I do freelance interface/product design. I hand code everything in Vim (yes, a designer who uses Vim). I love Sass and use it on every project I can. Some of my work:
I am hiring a freelance designer located on the East Coast of the US for Blueleaf.com to start immediately. (Restriction due to timezone and a need to have someone familiar with the basics of the particulars of the American financial services market. Sorry!)
There are more designers here than I thought. I do some freelance design when I find a project that is both interesting and well funded. I spend the rest of my time on my startup. (http://www.guestlistapp.com)
Edit: I should add that the reason its easier to find coders is because designers are typically underpaid and treated poorly. It is rare for a designer to stay a designer for more than 5 years. Certainly after 10 years most of them have moved on.
There are plenty of UI designers out there. Some are good. Some are great. Some suck donkey balls. Choosing the right one is an art form in itself. Make sure you ask for code as well as just screenshots. Or better yet, ask for the mockups they created during their iterative design process. This will show you how they think about how the UI changes based on feedback from the client.
I do UI/UX/HCI (both full-time and freelance)... it's been my experience that they're hard to find because almost no one starts out in UI. You're either a graphic designer or a coder who moves towards designing interfaces.
I think that's mainly because very few university programs with a full HCI track in their comp sci (or ID or graphic design) programs.
In general, it seems like there is a shortage- I'm constantly asked if a I know of any good UI designers who are looking for a job.
I'm moving from regular design work for clients, to UI work at my day job. Love UI design. But I'm still doing regular design work, doing just UI would mess me up.
