Tips on finding the right Senior Designer / Design Director

[Eric_R]

Hello Everyone,

I manage a fairly large educational website that we are looking to completely redesign to improve the overall site user experience and usability.  In the past I, a non-designer, business person, would just roughly draw how I thought the site should look and our developer (who is good, but not a web designer) would just try his best to make everything look profession.  Over the years, it has become painfully obvious that we need to invest in more design expertise and move towards a modern, smartly designed website.

So my question: Where are the best places to find good freelance designers?

I have of course conducted web searches, browsed elance, and asked my network for referrals.  However, I am finding that most of the really good ones, ones who have to ability to take charge and lead us through this entire process, and who have at least a basic understanding of SEO principles, work for larger integrated development shops who also expect their people to develop the new site as well.  We already have a developer and are primarily looking for the design expertise.  Does anyone in the Moz community have any suggestions or even referrals?

Thanks!

Eric

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