As a start-up founder, it’s crucial to make smart hiring decisions that match your business goals and support your growth.

Wondering whether a start-up needs a designer? Read on to find out why the answer is an absolute ‘yes.’

Jump to:
Prioritise user experience
Simplify user interface
Increase conversion
Build brand identity
Speed up development
Drive accessibility
Reduce development costs

1. Prioritise user experience (UX)

A SaaS product designer ensures your product is not only usable but also a joy to use. They deeply understand user behaviours, motivations, and goals to create intuitive and seamless experiences. User research, persona creation, and user journey development are key tools in a product designer’s toolkit.

By focusing on user interactions and feedback, an experienced SaaS designer can refine the product to meet and exceed user expectations, driving satisfaction and loyalty.

Real life example: Dropbox

Dropbox’s user-friendly design made file storage and sharing a breeze, with a simple interface that anyone could navigate. This accessibility helped them attract millions of users worldwide, becoming a go-to solution for file sharing.

2. Simplify user interface

Let’s talk about user interface (UI). Clean, intuitive interface (the screens, sounds, style and responsiveness of your product) keeps your users engaged and makes your product easy to navigate. When users can find what they need quickly and easily, they’re more likely to have a positive experience and recommend your product to others. 

Real life example: Trello

Trello’s intuitive, post-it-note-inspired interface enables users to create and organise tasks effortlessly. With its user-friendly design, there’s virtually no learning curve, allowing users to dive right in. This simplicity results in high user satisfaction and loyalty.

3. Increase conversion

Good design isn’t just about looks; it’s about guiding users from curiosity to commitment. By creating a clear and visually appealing path, a good Saas UX designer helps convert window shoppers into customers. A product designer will deliver intuitive navigations, compelling visuals, and strategically placed calls to action that deliver for your start-up.

Real life example: HubSpot

CRM giant HubSpot revamped their website and products by simplifying their design. They focused on clear calls to action, a streamlined navigation, and a reduction in visual clutter, resulting in a 50% increase in conversion rates. This design overhaul made it easier for users to access the information and tools they needed which boosted engagement.

4. Build brand identity

A strong brand is more than just a logo your friend whipped up in Canva. It’s the entire vibe of your product, covering everything from the colour palette to the way you communicate.

Your product designer is key to creating that consistent and cohesive brand identity for your start-up that users will come to recognise and trust. It’s all about paying attention to the details and making sure every element aligns with your brand – and clicks with your audience. 

Real life example: Monzo

Monzo graduates with first-class honours in tone of voice and branding. They’ve nailed it by using thoughtful design to create a brand that’s super memorable and distinct, really standing out in the crowded banking market. Their success shows just how powerful a well-executed brand identity can be in building customer loyalty and carving out a strong market presence. You can bet they hired a product designer in the early days of their start-up.

5. Speed up development process

In the fast-paced start-up world, you know speed is everything. Product designers team up with developers, quickly creating and tweaking prototypes based on feedback. This leads to shorter development cycles and getting your product to market faster.

Real life example: Slack

Just look at Slack, whose iterative design approach allowed them to continually refine their product and grow their user base rapidly. By working closely with developers, Slack’s design team could quickly incorporate user feedback and make changes to improve the product. Their agility helped them become one of the most widely used workplace communication tools in the world.

6. Drive accessibility through design

Inclusive design is essential. A SaaS product designer can make sure your product can be used by everyone. In turn, this expands your user base, keeps you compliant with legal standards and shows that you’re a company that cares about its users.

Real life example: Microsoft

Microsoft’s commitment to accessible design has broadened their reach and enhanced their reputation as a socially responsible company. By focusing on inclusivity, they’ve attracted more users and set a high bar in the industry for making accessibility a core part of product development.

7. Reduce development costs

A good design process can really help reduce development costs by spotting potential issues and avoiding inefficiencies early on. When product designers make detailed prototypes and wireframes, developers have a clear blueprint to follow. This means fewer (expensive) revisions and smoother development overall.

Real life example: Airbnb

Airbnb’s iterative design process shows how creating high-fidelity prototypes lets them test ideas quickly without needing a ton of development resources. This way, they avoid wasted effort and focus on building features that really improve the user experience.

Where can I find a SaaS product designer?

Lucky for you, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re in need of full-fledged design support or just want to borrow a branding whiz for a short spell, we’ve got a monthly design subscription for just that!

Let’s chat over a coffee – don’t be shy, we’d love to hear from you.