How to choose/hunt a good designer?

Question

Design

The thought occurred to me that I do not know the unambiguous criteria for selecting a designer
. Reasons:

1. Don't rely on portfolio alone
   
2. The budget is not rubber
   
3. A risk-free deal does not guarantee a good result
   
4. The ability to think, to delve into the problem
   
5. Not sure how to qualify
   
6. Nobody wants to draw for free
   
7. Prepayment does not guarantee results
   
8. Freelancer remoteness
   

How do you hunt a designer?
Perhaps there are some tests / questionnaires?
Going through thousands of resumes?
Is it automated?
How much do hr services cost and are they worth it?

Answer 1

The question is interesting, and most interesting is what is meant by the word "designer". Some areas don't even require drawing skills. I would guess from the PrinsAlbert
profile that it must be a web designer. As an art director, the first thing I have to do is talk to the candidate. I pay attention to knowledge in the areas of UI / UX, typography, HTML / CSS / JS technologies (alas, there is no way without this), and he will immediately say that he either works with this or has superficial knowledge. From this we can draw conclusions. Portfolio analysis, show the best project in his opinion, tell about it in detail, what methods were used, the results of the analysis. This will give an idea of ​​how much he was immersed in the work.
In any case, each of us has weaknesses / strengths, due to the fact that different experience in performing tasks.
A good specialist will not pass briefs, stupid surveys or test tasks, a waste of time, he is as selective as the client.

Answer 2

1 - why?
Portfolio is a fairly objective criterion.
The "reasons" you listed apply to hiring anyone from cleaners to directors.
No one will ever give you a guarantee.
Portfolio / experience / reviews + communication with the candidate.

Answer 3

You can check the knowledge of the basics through the answer under the vacancy. Let them write freely. Or a UX test (tell us what you would change in this interface). Questions can be very different - about trends, combinations of shapes and colors, user interaction, etc. (and good design and UX special too)

Answer 4

I usually ask portfolio and ask questions.
1) How cross-browser layout? What browsers do you support?
2) Have you worked with VK applications?
3) Can you make it without pseudo-classes, after, before.
4) Where are you located geographically?
5) Is there a microphone?
6) What form of payment is preferred?
7) What are the requirements for the layout and TK?
8) What about sprites and other optimization stuff?
Then an approximate cost. And fill in the EXEL spreadsheet.
This is a layout, similar to the design.

Answer 5

I am a designer myself, there is no such problem)
Just look at the saved project and everything will become clear. "psd etc."
There are exceptions when there is talent, but they don’t know how to use programs, but this is rare.
You can do a simple interview.
-And don't sketch something quickly..
Look at creativity
It's impossible to say right away.
Someone stupidly copies works, someone takes an order and goes to freelance and is looking for a designer there..