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• [toc headings="h2" title="Table of Contents"] Design talent is crucial for any production business, ensuring your products are functional, easy to use, and will appeal to the customers you're trying to reach. Yet that talent can be a challenge to find and hire, particularly when it comes to in-demand UI/UX talent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Meanwhile, competition for top talent remains fierce, with recent industry data showing that companies are increasingly prioritizing senior hires and consolidating design responsibilities into fewer, higher-impact roles. Working with a recruiter can help employers to overcome these challenges. Recruiting agencies have extensive candidate networks beyond what most business leaders can access, along with expertise on the best practices and current trends for hiring in the design space. This can make them a powerful partner for companies that need to find the best design talent. If this sounds like something you need, the eight recruiters below are among the top in the field.

• The best product design recruiters

• 1. Redfish Technology

• With more than 25 years of experience recruiting top product designers, Redfish Technology has the established talent network and industry expertise you want from a recruiter. Founded in 1996, they work with companies across the United States, offering just-in-time recruitment that fills jobs with the right people when your business needs them. As a product design and management recruiter, they also have an in-depth understanding of trends in tech, putting the latest recruiting tools and technologies to work for their clients so they can make the right hire faster. Redfish Technology offers three distinct recruitment models to match different hiring needs. Their engaged recruiting model balances commitment with cost-effectiveness, dedicating a focused team to source, screen, and shortlist candidates while reducing overall hiring costs. For high-impact leadership positions, their retained executive search provides premium C-suite and strategic role placement with rigorous candidate assessment for skill and cultural alignment. They also offer contingent recruiting for companies seeking top talent without upfront financial commitment—payment is success-based, meaning there's no fee unless a candidate is hired. What sets Redfish apart is their relationship-driven approach and advanced sourcing methodology. They maintain a network of over 30,000 company followers and use AI-powered sourcing combined with a targeted four-touch candidate outreach campaign. Their engaged search process typically takes four weeks and includes a minimum of 20 dedicated hours weekly, with clients receiving their first resumes by the end of week one. Their rigorous vetting ensures quality outcomes, with an 86% retention rate across all industries and sectors. All engaged searches are backed by a 60-day refund or replacement guarantee, giving clients peace of mind in their hiring decisions. Read more about Redfish Technology's product design recruiting

• 2. Hirey

• Hirey is a specialized recruitment agency for design, engineering, and product roles, with a particular focus on helping companies build exceptional creative teams. As a small, agile search firm, they take on fewer projects to move faster than larger competitors—a strategy that keeps them closely connected to roles, candidates, and clients throughout the hiring process. Hirey began as a 100% design-focused agency before expanding their services, which means they deeply understand what makes a great design hire. Their expertise spans product designers, visual designers, brand designers, art directors, UX researchers, and design leads, from junior-level positions all the way to Chief Design Officer. They've placed candidates in over 15 countries, with particularly strong networks in the US, Canada, Europe, and LATAM. Their client roster includes notable companies like Google, as well as innovative startups and scale-ups seeking creative talent. What distinguishes Hirey is their speed and commitment to quality. They deliver hand-picked candidates within just five days, and one of their core values is "Every Interaction Matters"—ensuring that each touchpoint with clients and candidates is purposeful and impactful. Their impressive track record shows that 90% of clients come through recommendations and 80% return within a year to fill additional roles. They offer flexible solutions including traditional contingency recruiting at 18-20% of annual compensation, embedded recruitment with monthly subscription plans starting at $45 per hour, and retainer recruitment for critical roles requiring a partnership model with guaranteed results. Read more about Hirey's product design recruiting

• 3. Torch Group

• For executive talent in the design space, Torch Group has been a leading recruiter of executive product development and management candidates for more than 30 years. Established in 1990, this highly-specialized boutique retained executive search firm focuses on senior management, executive, and C-level talent for mission-critical roles in the functional areas of sales, marketing, product management, and communications. Torch Group serves mid-market, privately-held, family-owned, and private equity-owned companies across diverse industries including food and beverage, food service, consumer products, construction and building materials, software and technology, and commercial and industrial manufacturing. They place candidates in senior product designer roles, from Product Managers through directors, VPs, and C-level leadership. Their senior team members and partners remain personally involved in every search from the initial call through the placement's start date and beyond. What makes Torch Group particularly effective is their proprietary Signature Search Process, which utilizes competency-based behavioral interviews to fully vet candidates for the right soft skills and functional expertise. This approach focuses on finding candidates who are not just skilled but also a perfect cultural fit for each client's organization. By limiting each executive recruiter to just 3-4 search assignments at a time—compared to 15-18 at contingency firms—they achieve a remarkable 92% fill rate on their assignments. All placements are backed by a 12-month guarantee, and their methodology results in highly engaged, more invested candidates with retention rates that continuously exceed industry averages. Read more about Torch Group's product design recruiting

• 4. Wert&Co.

• Since 1995, Wert&Co. has helped employers from Fortune 500 companies to growing startups to hire the creative and design talent they need to achieve their business goals. Founded by Judy Wert, who began her career as a graphic designer, the firm brings an intimate understanding of what drives the creative mind combined with decades of executive search expertise. Their humanistic approach—fostering deep relationships through empathy, intuition, and curiosity—has made them the Design community's most trusted search firm. Wert&Co. has built their reputation working with some of the world's most influential companies and imaginative minds, building partnerships that have shaped and even reinvented lives, businesses, and industries. They are primarily focused on senior and leadership talent, conducting global mid-to-senior level searches across the design landscape with particular expertise in creative leadership and diverse board members. Their earned wisdom extends beyond identifying candidates to seeing who can push, pull, mold, lift, or carve out the "next" from the current "now." Beyond executive search, Wert&Co. offers advisory consulting to help companies improve their overall design culture and hiring process. They also provide staffing, sourcing, coaching, research, team building, and venture consulting services. In addition to product design talent, they recruit creatives for numerous positions including UX designers, AI software designers, product designers, brand designers, industrial designers, and creative marketing talent to help clients build their brands. In 2026, the firm welcomed Daniel Wert as CEO, who brings in-house operational experience from building high-functioning teams at multiple growth-stage startups, complementing the decades of experience from co-founders Judy and Jeff Wert. Read more about Wert & Co.'s product design recruiting

• 5. 80Twenty

• With offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and San Jose, 80Twenty has a talent network that truly stretches from coast to coast. Operating as a 100% US-based specialty recruitment agency since 2012, they pair this broad reach with the feel of a boutique recruiting agency, giving clients the one-on-one attention they'd expect from a smaller firm. This approach has made them the #1 rated recruitment agency on Yelp and Google in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. 80Twenty specializes in building high-performing product teams for businesses ranging from startups to established enterprises. They recruit for a comprehensive range of product roles including Product Managers, Product Designers, UX Designers, Interface Architects, UX Developers, UX Researchers, Director of Product, Head of Product, and Chief Product Officer. Their process begins with an in-depth kickoff call to understand company culture and position requirements, followed by targeted recruitment strategies that consistently yield quality candidates. Their reputation extends beyond regional recognition—80Twenty has been named to Forbes' America's Top 250 Recruiting Firms and was featured on the San Francisco Business Times' Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies list. They offer multiple hiring models including temporary talent for quick deliverables, temp-to-hire for test-drive arrangements, direct hire for strategic placements, executive search, and fractional leadership for scaling businesses. With a 96% retention rate, a 100-day guarantee on placements, and 275,000+ LinkedIn followers, they've built a track record that major organizations like Tesla and Clorox have come to rely on. Notably, clients who work closely with their recruiters experience a 55% higher success rate in getting their offers accepted. Read more about 80Twenty's product design recruiting

• 6. Palarino Partners

• For product manager opportunities, Palarino Partners is one of the leading experts in the field. Their sole focus on recruiting Product Managers for private software companies helps clients avoid what they call their most costly expense: a mis-hire. With most recruitment firms holding only an 18% success rate (meaning an 82% mis-hire or no-hire rate), Palarino Partners stands out with a remarkable 98% success rate, delivering results that helped them be named one of the 50 Most Valuable Brands of 2020 by The Silicon Review. Palarino Partners helps companies partner with skilled Product Managers across the globe, with particular strength in major markets like New York City, Boston, Austin, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco. They place candidates at all seniority levels, from Product Owner to Chief Product Officer, including roles such as Head of Product, SVP of Product Management, VP of Product Management, Directors, Principal Product Managers, Group Product Managers, Technical Product Managers, and Product Designers. Their approach emphasizes matching candidates based on more than just resumes and skills—they take time to deeply understand each candidate to ensure their values match the company's, they'll be a culture fit, and they're genuinely excited about the mission. Their goal is to help companies build better design teams by starting from the top, making sure organizations have the right person managing the product so all of their projects can have a successful launch. Palarino Partners vets candidates based on skill set and culture fit, scouts professionally qualified talent, and saves clients time, resources, and money through their expertise. They've been featured in Forbes, Monster.com, and Under30CEO, and their thought leadership in the product management space includes speaking engagements and regular blog content on hiring best practices. Read more about Palarino's product design recruiting

• 7. Better Than Found

• The recruiters at Better Than Found aren't just experts in finding talent, but have the same depth of knowledge about the industrial sector. As a full-service industrial consultant and talent resource, they possess an intimate understanding of the entire product life cycle—from conception in research and development through design into manufacturing and marketing the finished product. This expertise allows them to connect clients with employees who will make a real impact once they're hired. Better Than Found serves a remarkably diverse range of industries including textiles, HVAC/R, consumer products, OEM industrial equipment, aftermarket parts supply, capital equipment design, engineering and automation, plastics and packaging, automotive, aerospace, power generation, warehousing, distribution, logistics, chemicals, and food and beverage. Within R&D and product development specifically, they place professionals across multiple levels: VP of R&D, Director of Product Development, Product Line Managers, Project Managers, Program Managers, Product Managers, Associate Product Managers, Field Marketing Managers, Graphic Designers, Industrial Designers, Pricing Analysts, and Product Development Engineers in both electrical and mechanical disciplines. What distinguishes Better Than Found is their ability to attract the best and brightest ideators, engineers, and product experts needed to remain relevant in today's ever-changing marketplace. Whether your organization needs a product design engineer, an industrial designer, a graphic designer, or product development leadership, they know how to attract the right people for your role. Their industrial recruiters offer customized, repeatable processes and leadership solutions through access to today's top talent, building lasting relationships with every placement. Read more about Better Than Found's product design recruiting

• 8. Onward Search

• Onward Search is an award-winning provider of AI solutions and talent that offers flexible hiring solutions for their clients. With a database of over one million vetted experts, they connect companies with the professionals who make brand equity, creative excellence, and digital experiences possible. Their nationwide talent network includes both remote and on-site designers, who can be hired directly in a full-time placement, on a freelance or contract basis, or as a temp-to-hire arrangement. Onward Search has evolved beyond traditional staffing to offer comprehensive solutions for the modern workplace. Their services now span three core areas: staffing and talent placement, AI transformation solutions (including interactive training programs and enablement), and digital accessibility solutions through expert audits, remediation, and inclusive design. They place candidates across nine specialty areas: AI, Content and Writing, Creative and Production, Experience Design, Digital Accessibility, Gaming and XR, Marketing, Sales, and Technology. Their trusted partnerships with major brands like Apple, Disney, eBay, CVS Health, HelloFresh, Mayo Clinic, Skechers, and BBDO demonstrate their ability to deliver at the enterprise level. They're also an excellent choice for companies concerned with DEI, with a stated commitment to inclusion and diversity both within their team and throughout their talent network. Onward Search has earned consistent recognition including Best of Staffing awards for both clients and talent, and they publish an annual Salary Guide with hiring insights and pay ranges across creative, marketing, and tech roles. Read more about Onward Search's product design recruiting

• Methodology & data sources

• To ensure our "Top Product Design Recruiters" ranking is transparent and robust, we scored each firm against the following four quantitative criteria:

  Criterion	Weight	Data Source / Approach
  Client Satisfaction	40%	Anonymous surveys of 50 hiring managers (NPS scores), conducted –
  Placement Volume	30%	Publicly disclosed placement counts from firm press releases and annual reports (2026 )
  Industry Recognition	20%	Inclusion in third‑party lists
  Sector Specialization	10%	Depth of practice areas; verified via firm websites and LinkedIn

• Benefits of working with a product design recruiter

• The main benefit of a recruiter is that they help companies hire better talent more quickly. Recruiting firms don't wait until they're brought on to a search to connect with candidates. They are always working to connect with new job seekers, and have established relationships with professionals they've worked with in the past. This means they don't have to spend as much time searching for candidates. Instead, they just need to activate the network they've already built, cutting down on the time-to-hire compared to in-house recruiting efforts. Along with this, recruiters can often connect with professionals that in-house hiring teams can't reach. These could be passive candidates who are interested in a new job but not actively searching, or established professionals with in-demand skills who may ignore messages from unknown recruiters, but will respond to one they already trust. Another advantage of using a recruiter is that hiring is all they do. This gives them expertise in the current job market and overall hiring best practices that in-house hiring teams simply don't have. Their tight focus is another part of why they can fill positions more quickly on average. The HR team in a business has a lot of other tasks on its plate, aside from hiring. Outsourcing your recruiting lets your HR staff focus their time on this critical work, while the recruiter focuses full-time on your search. In 2026, working with a specialized recruiter has become even more valuable as the design talent landscape continues to evolve. According to Nielsen Norman Group, companies are increasingly seeking designers who can bridge multiple disciplines—combining UX expertise with business strategy and data analysis. Meanwhile, research from Figma shows that 56% of designers say AI makes them more optimistic about the future of design and development. These shifts require recruiters who stay current with emerging skill requirements and can identify candidates with the right mix of technical and strategic capabilities.

• Tips for choosing the right product design recruiter

• Just because a recruitment firm has a strong track record doesn't necessarily mean they're the right agency for your business. Choosing the right recruiter is the first step to making a successful hire. Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect recruitment services as an employer.

• Understand the roles you're filling (beyond just job descriptions)

• The more information you can give a recruiter about what you want from a perfect hire, the better they'll be able to find the right candidates. This starts with understanding the full responsibilities and required skills of the role, but there are other details you should consider, too. Think about your organization's values and work environment, as well as the size and structure of your team and how those might be changing in the future. Having a complete understanding of what you're looking for before you hire a recruiter lets you choose a firm perfectly matched to those needs.

• Check out their track record and testimonials

• If a recruiter is proud of the work they've done in the past, they'll likely share some testimonials and stats like their success rate or number of placements on their website. You can also search for the company on sites like Yelp!, Google, or Recruiterly to see how past clients have felt about their experience. If you can't find this information online, ask if they can share their success rate and other statistics. Seeing how they've performed in past searches is one of the best indications for their overall capabilities as a recruiting firm.

• Research their talent pools and candidate network

• A recruiter may be excellent at their job, but if they can't access the type of talent you need, their skills won't benefit you much. You also want to hire someone who isn't just going to go on LinkedIn or another job board, but will draw on resources you don't know about or can't access. A recruitment firm may not be willing to share the specifics of where they find talent, but they should be able to give you some insights into their sourcing process. If they're completely opaque about where and how they find candidates, that could be a red flag of a lack of transparency elsewhere in their process, as well.

• Evaluate their AI and technology capabilities

• In 2026's competitive market, the best recruiters leverage advanced tools to find and evaluate candidates more effectively. Ask potential recruiters about how they use AI-powered sourcing tools, data analytics to track outcomes, and technology to improve candidate experience. According to industry research, 78% of businesses have now implemented AI in their operations, and forward-thinking recruiters are using these tools to streamline processes and identify better matches faster. A recruiter who embraces technology is likely to be more efficient and better connected to the evolving design talent landscape.

• Schedule an interview (and ask the right questions)

• When you hire a recruiter, you're trusting them with a very crucial aspect of your business. That trust is crucial to a successful partnership, and something you want to make sure you can build from the start. Before you hire an agency, set up a time to chat with one of their recruiters about your role, company, and hiring needs. This is an excellent opportunity to not just gather some more information, but also to get a sense for how well you'll work together. Some great questions to ask during this conversation:

  • What types of positions do you recruit for most often, and what are their typical salary ranges?
  • What are the major steps in your recruiting process?
  • Once you've made a placement, what kind of follow up do you do with the candidate and company?
  • What metrics do you track on your agency's recruiting efforts, and what insights do those give you?
  • How do you approach difficult and challenging searches? What do you do when you're having difficulty filling a position?
  • How long on average does it take you to fill a role?
  • What happens if a company or client is not happy with the placement? How often has that happened, and how do you resolve those issues?
  • How do you incorporate AI tools into your sourcing and screening process?
  • What is your experience recruiting for hybrid and remote design roles?

• The bottom line on product design recruiters

• The right product design recruiter can be an invaluable resource for growing businesses, helping you to build a better team in less time (and often for less money). As the design job market continues to stabilize after recent industry shifts, with tech layoffs slowing and companies increasingly seeking versatile designers who can think like product owners, partnering with a specialized recruiter can give you a significant advantage in finding top talent. If you have a challenging product design role to fill, reach out to one of the recruiters on the list above to find out how they can help.