Hire the Top 3% of Freelance User Researchers

Toptal is a marketplace for top User Researchers. Top companies and start-ups choose Toptal User Research freelancers for their mission-critical design projects.

No-Risk Trial, Pay Only If Satisfied.

Clients Rate Toptal User Researchers4.3 / 5.0on average across 103 reviews as of May 23, 2023

Hire Freelance User Researchers

Igor Marques Magrini

User Research DesignerSketchFigmaInVisionAdobe PhotoshopAndroidiOS UI DesignWeb UXUX ResearchUX FlowsProduct DesignUI DesignUX Design

BrazilToptal Member Since March 15, 2021

Igor is a designer with over 15 years of experience leading local/remote design teams, crafting digital products, conducting user research, prototyping, and designing user interfaces for web portals, mobile applications, SaaS, and infotainments for brands like Volkswagen, Spotify, TIVIT, Claro, Burger King, and other global brands with millions of users. Over the last five years, Igor has also held several workshops on design thinking—teaching thousands of new designers in Brazil.

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Tony Phillips

User Research DesignerAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorSketchAxure RP ProAcrobat Pro CCUX FlowsUX AnalysisUser FlowsUsability TestingResponsive Web Design (RWD)User Experience (UX)Agile UX

United StatesToptal Member Since October 6, 2017

Tony has more than 15 years of experience within several ad agency environments designing interactive experiences for big brands such as Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Chiquita, 3M, Verizon, and more. Most recently, he lead a team of Product Designers as the UX Director, building apps and enterprise solutions. He’s comfortable in Agile environment. Tony loves mentoring and also enjoys illustrating, presenting, and inspiring. WillWork2Create.com

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Dobs Totev

User Research DesignerInformation Architecture (IA)User InterviewseCommerce UXeCommerceMVP DesignApp UIApp UXUsability TestingiOS App DesigniOSMobile App DesignWeb Design

United KingdomToptal Member Since February 5, 2018

Dobs is an entrepreneur and lead UI/UX designer specializing in iOS apps and responsive web products with expertise in the eCommerce, luxury and lifestyle, hospitality, social networks, and travel industries. He has helped multi-million dollar clients increase reach, engagement, and profits. Dobs has in-depth knowledge of product lifecycles—from research, concept, and planning through design and validation to live releases and team collaboration.

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Rod Acevedo

User Research DesignereCommerceeCommerce UXFigmaSketchPhotoshop CCIllustrator CCiOSAndroidUX DesignUX ResearchUI DesignResearch

New ZealandToptal Member Since April 27, 2020

Rod is a passionate and award-winning strategist, product designer, and creative thinker. He has dedicated most of his career to decolonizing design practices which foster inclusion and prioritize empathetic, human-centered thinking. Over the last few years, Rod has worked on a wide range of problems across many industries, including healthcare, finance, and day-to-day services, with a particular emphasis on unpacking complex design challenges.

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Victor Luck

User Research DesignerUser Interface (UI)User FlowsUser Experience (UX)Product DesignPSD DesignIcon DesignUser PersonasAugmented Reality (AR)Virtual Reality (VR)App UIApp UXInformation Architecture (IA)

GermanyToptal Member Since August 28, 2019

Viktor has 14 years of design experience on a number of global companies like Huawei, Epson, Phillips, Motorola, Digiboard (inside Google, Cisco, and General Motors), Caixa Bank (major public bank in Brazil), Wiz Solutions (the biggest bank-insurance in Brazil), and many others. He has served as a lead designer, product owner, or senior product designer on each project.

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Roxanne Ravago

User Research DesignerSketchiOSProduct DesignWeb DesignResponsive Web Design (RWD)UX DesignUI DesignVisual DesignWireframing

United StatesToptal Member Since March 4, 2019

Roxanne has contributed to teams in a variety of roles throughout her professional history and now focuses on strategic design thinking, product design, UX/UI/IxD, and visual identity. In taking an unconventional path and learning to learn, she has gained valuable skills and confidence navigating and leading through uncertainty.

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Angela Edwards

User Research DesignerUser FlowsMobile DesignPrototypingFigmaWordPressiOSProduct DesignSaaSUX ResearchWeb UXUX StrategyInformation Architecture (IA)

New ZealandToptal Member Since July 10, 2017

Angela is a product design lead with over 12 years of experience building bold digital solutions. She's designed mobile and responsive solutions and led in-house and offshore design teams for the UK and global companies such as Lloyds Banking Group, British Airways, Ocado, Thompson Reuters, and emerging startups. With an MSc in UXD, Angela has a wealth of knowledge, enabling her to turn complex design challenges into elegant solutions.

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Philip Wallage

User Research DesignerWeb App DesignWeb UIWeb UXProduct DesignUI DesignWordPressFigmaSketchInVisionAxure RP ProBalsamiqDesign Systems

NetherlandsToptal Member Since August 11, 2017

Not many designers can prove that they've saved a company €2.8 million annually, but Philip can. Philip specializes in web applications in finance, real estate, and asset management, and he's been working as a digital designer in one form or another for over 15 years. In his career, Philip has worked for Adidas, Air France KLM, Financial Times, LEGO, Nationale Nederlanden, Philips, and PWC.

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Andy Scott

User Research DesignerUsability TestingUser PersonasExperience MapsUse CasesStory MappingIdeation WorkshopsWeb UsabilityUX AuditsUI AuditsUX DesignUI DesignUser Flows

United KingdomToptal Member Since April 17, 2018

Andy has over a decade of experience in and around user research, customer and user experience, and managing teams of designers—working with clients such as BUPA, Audi, Barclays Bank, CO-OP Bank, amongst others. A genuine interest in how users interact with everyday digital products, fuels his desire to make the complex, intuitive. Andy does this by fusing the latest technologies with the latest in UX learnings and industry standards.

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Andrew Chandler

User Research DesignerUX DesignInformation Architecture (IA)SitemapsUser Journey MapsJourney MappingUX FlowsUser FlowsWireframingUsability Testing

United StatesToptal Member Since February 9, 2018

Andrew designs experiences, as a designer or team leader, that make a difference in people’s lives. His record includes successful redesigns, integrations, and enhancements for digital products, services, and apps for major companies that served millions of users. Let's collaborate!

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Christine Walker

User Research DesignerAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopSketchProduct DesignUX AuditsUI AuditsWeb App UXWeb App UIVisual Design LanguageBrand StandardsBrand DevelopmentJourney Mapping

United StatesToptal Member Since January 15, 2018

For over the past two decades, Christine has helped startups and Fortune 100 companies with award-winning designs. Her broad range of skills allows her to collaborate within cross-functional teams throughout all stages of a project to execute on a client's vision. Christine's biggest strength is in the integration between design research, brand experience, and design strategy for SaaS and web-based products and services.

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Trustpilot
Toptal in the press

... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.

Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.

Our clients
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Thierry Jakicevic
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Testimonials

Michael is an incredible designer, and has been a great fit for our project. He just gets it in a way that can’t be taught. My goal was to pay Toptal to find me a high quality designer for my project, and that is exactly what happened. It was easy. Being able to see the portfolio work on Toptal’s platform is what gave me the infomation I needed to choose Michael. I have nothing but good things to say about Toptal and am looking forward to using Toptal for other projects in the future.

Edward Daniel, Co-Founder

improvemygun.com

I've worked very closely with Martina for over a year and have to say she is one of the best people I have ever worked with. Instead of simply following instructions blindly, she thinks through the task at hand, becoming a thought partner to help with whatever the project may be. Besides being super talented at design, she possesses specific qualities that make her exceptional to work with given the fast paced nature of being a startup. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, professional designer who doesn't need much direction to hit the ground running.

Sahil Khanna, Sr. Manager, Marketing

LeanTaaS, Inc.

Darko did a great job figuring out the user architecture for our concept, which led him to produce terrific wireframes. His knowledge of usability and design was a perfect match for the outside voice we needed to help jumpstart our project. We would certainly recommend him and work with him again in the future.

Rich Danker, Founder

Prose Market

Carlos has the unique talent of blending both quantitative and qualitative research to keenly identify UX challenges and opportunities. He thinks methodically, emphatically, and holistically to produce data-driven strategies and well-executed designs. Over the past 8 years of working with fully or partially distributed teams, Carlos manages working remotely far better than anyone I've encountered because of his strong communication and presentation skills. He is the first on my list the next time I need a UX designer.

Michelle Krogmeier, Project Manager

Union Station

Rafael is an amazing designer. His aesthetic sense is spot on, and he seems to be able to anticipate our needs before we even know what they are. He's taken the time to understand both our company and our clientele, and his solutions are consistently in-line with our values, interests, and our customers' needs. He delivers on time (if not earlier), works quickly, is well organized, and very effective. He's a pleasure to work with, and we're very happy to have found him through Toptal.

Ethan Brooks, CTO

Langlotz Patent & Trademark Works, Inc.

Toptal gave us access to the best designers out there. They’re not easy to find. Those designers integrated very quickly with our existing teams. They very quickly understood our business case and the value of our solution. Toptal really allowed us to focus on building the best possible product and save a lot of time on the typical administrative pains that goes with it -- specifically, finding the best talent. Toptal designers were very responsive, always online -- and that made life very easy for us. We have ambitious goals on how to grow the application and already Toptal has been a key contributor to that success.

Thierry Jakircevic, General Manager, Digital Solutions, Bridgestone Head Office, Tokyo

Bridgestone Corporation

We had an amazing experience working with our Toptal designer. In only two weeks, we accomplished what would've taken most companies 3 months to complete. We also enjoyed working with the Toptal team to make sure we were paired up with the right designer that would fit both our company culture and working style.

Ted Blosser, Head of Sales and Customer Success

WorkRamp

Dean blew us away. He ranks right up there as one of the top five designers of the hundreds I have worked with in the past. He listened, was totally professional, and came up with a 3D rotating cube design completely on his own. We didn't even ask for it, and yet it has become the centerpiece of our app and how users engage with it right off the bat. What he produced inspired all of us at Votify, and put us on track for launch and investor funding.

Michael Lawrence, Founder & CEO

Votify LLC

How to Hire User Researchers through Toptal

1

Talk to One of Our Industry Experts

A Toptal director of design will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2

Work With Hand-Selected Talent

Within days, we'll introduce you to the right User Researcher for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3

The Right Fit, Guaranteed

Work with your new User Researcher for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.

FAQs

  • How are Toptal User Researchers different?

    At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our User Researchers to ensure we only match you with talent of the highest caliber. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut. You'll work with design experts (never generalized recruiters or HR reps) to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics. The end result: expert vetted talent from our network, custom matched to fit your business needs.

  • Can I hire User Researchers in less than 48 hours through Toptal?

    Depending on availability and how fast you can progress, you could start working with a User Researcher within 48 hours of signing up.

  • What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal User Researchers?

    We make sure that each engagement between you and your User Researcher begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you're completely satisfied with the results, we'll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you'd like. If you're not completely satisfied, you won't be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.

Tap Into World-Class Talent

  • Trusted Experts Only

    All of our talent are seasoned experts who ramp up quickly, readily contribute as core team members, and work with you to minimize onboarding time.

  • The Right Fit

    We have a knack for matching you with the right fit. Start working with your new hire on a no-risk trial period, paying only if satisfied.

  • Scale as Needed

    Hire in under 2 weeks and scale your team up or down as needed, no strings attached.

  • Seamless Hiring

    We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDA’s. Let us take care of the overhead while you focus on building great products.

  • Flexible Engagements

    Choose the engagement type that suits your needs — hourly, part-time, or full-time — with the ability to change anytime.

  • Expert Talent Matching

    Focus on your project and enjoy support from your dedicated account executive and expert talent matcher.

Top User Researchers are in High Demand.

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