Should UI/UX agencies also code?

Not mandatory, but they must hand off cleanly. Studios that also engineer reduce translation loss on complex products.

How long is a typical UI/UX engagement?

Focused flow work often runs 3–6 weeks; broader product or design-system work 6–10 weeks depending on research depth.

How to Choose a UI/UX Design Agency (Checklist)

A founder checklist for hiring a UI/UX design agency | portfolio reads, process, research depth, design systems, handoff and red flags before you sign.

Score outcomes, not moodboards

Ask how the agency improved task completion, activation or support load. Screenshots without problem framing are decoration. Request two case studies that name constraints and results.

Interrogate the process

Discovery, flows, wireframes, hi-fi, prototype, accessibility and developer handoff should be named. 'We design until it feels right' is not a process. Cap feedback rounds in writing.

Design system maturity

Look for tokens, components and states | not only pretty happy paths. Empty, error and loading states reveal whether the studio ships production UI.

Engineering adjacency

UI/UX dies in weak handoff. Prefer studios that speak React, design tokens and QA, even if they are design-only on your engagement. ZiyadX can stay design-led or continue into build.

Red flags

No live product URLs. No discussion of accessibility. One generalist claiming research, brand, UI and code with no collaborators. Pressure to skip wireframes. Template libraries sold as custom product design.

Related services

UI/UX Design

Frequently asked questions

Should UI/UX agencies also code?: Not mandatory, but they must hand off cleanly. Studios that also engineer reduce translation loss on complex products.
How long is a typical UI/UX engagement?: Focused flow work often runs 3–6 weeks; broader product or design-system work 6–10 weeks depending on research depth.