Where to find high quality (affordable) web designers?

[alexhoug]

This is so true and what makes this designer recruitment process even harder. Finding that balance and even someone that is near my area that is good.

[alexhoug]

I have had some experience doing this, like when shooting a video, I find an intern at a local TV station who has access to nice equipment and have them shoot some video for me, it worked out great!

I like the reminder!

[alexhoug]

Email sent

[alexhoug]

Very good points, I will take everything you said into consideration when going into this web development project.

[alexhoug]

Any insight on the design contests? They seem interesting.

[firstconversion]

Probably best to say where you are based, then get personal recommendations from that area and meet the designer in person.

I can give you great designers in London and I know Luke Jones is a great UK based designer and also contributes to SEOmoz a lot, so maybe get hold of him via DM www.seomoz.org/users/profile/139920

You could try here as well http://www.seomoz.org/marketplace/resumes/service/2 <- people who have tagged themselves with design (altho its a bit spammy)

[kchandler]

I've always had a great experience with 99designs but you want to make sure you give a lot of requirements and inspiration if you want to get exactly what your looking for. I've only used them for logo work though so i can't give much feedback for other types of projects. What are your price points?

[alexhoug]

Around $500 for now. The project I am working on is a family one so I didn't charge them nearly as much as I normally would.

[mosaicpro]

I think it's about what you want to get and for how much.

It all starts from there.

For example:

budged : 1k  - for a 8-10 page website with no complex features you should be able to find good designers.

budged : 300  - for a 8-10 page website with no complex features you should be able to find poor designers that could still do the job.

It's also about luck to find a quality and reliable designer. (depends on background, location, etc)

Hope it helps.

[BeTheBoss]

Spec work is terrible and undervalues the industry. I say you get what you pay for. http://www.no-spec.com/