Delivering Thoughtfully Curated UX/UI Talent Through a Multi-Year Partnership
The Situation
A top five U.S. online retailer was investing in a broad digital modernization effort. With seasonal traffic surges on the horizon and evolving customer expectations, the organization needed to enhance its web and mobile experiences.
This wasn’t a simple hiring push.
The executive team was working toward a more modern, intuitive digital presence, one that reflected shifting consumer behavior and elevated design standards. They needed UX/UI professionals who could:
- Design customer-facing retail experiences
- Improve usability across web and mobile platforms
- Translate complex buying journeys into clear, intuitive flows
- Partner effectively with UX research teams focused on behavioral insights
- Align to an evolving brand direction
Several staffing vendors were already engaged. While resumes were being submitted, alignment to the client’s vision was inconsistent. Red Oak was chosen to help bring clarity and cohesion to the hiring process.
Our Approach
Deep Calibration Before Candidate Submission
UX/UI hiring requires understanding aesthetic direction, user psychology, and brand nuance. Red Oak began with detailed intake sessions with UX leadership. Together, we:
- Reviewed examples of successful past portfolios
- Discussed modernization goals and visual direction
- Clarified the distinction between internal enterprise tools and true customer-facing retail design
- Identified the specific design ownership required (wireframing, storyboarding, interaction flow)
Rather than relying solely on resumes, we prioritized portfolios as the primary evaluation tool. Over the course of the engagement, we screened more than 1,000 candidates and thoughtfully submitted a curated group of portfolios across multiple hiring waves.
Candidates were evaluated for:
- Direct experience designing external, consumer-facing applications
- Proficiency with modern UX/UI tools and front-end technologies
- Experience translating desktop experiences into iOS and Android environments
- Collaboration with UX research and A/B testing teams
- Retail or high-volume digital product environments
This careful filtering reduced noise and improved hiring confidence.
Aligning Hiring Strategy to Business Needs
All roles were structured as contract-to-hire, allowing the retailer to:
- Scale in advance of high-traffic retail periods
- Evaluate performance in real time
- Maintain flexibility during business fluctuations
- Convert high-performing consultants to full-time employees
We set clear expectations with consultants around the contract-to-hire model, supporting transparency on both sides.
Domain-Specific Alignment Within UX
This initiative spanned multiple business domains. The client had dedicated product leadership across returns, promotional and annual sales events, and purchasing and checkout flows. Each area required UX/UI professionals who understood the nuances of that specific user journey.
Red Oak screened not only for retail experience, but for domain relevance. A designer who had optimized checkout conversion required a different background than one who specialized in returns workflows or promotional campaigns. Matching talent to these distinct product areas ensured immediate contribution and reduced onboarding friction.
Coordinated Support Across Disciplines
As the partnership evolved, support extended beyond UX/UI design. We also assisted with:
- UX Researchers with advanced behavioral and psychology backgrounds
- Mobile development professionals
- Product managers across purchasing, returns, and promotional domains
- Content and technical writers supporting digital product descriptions and flows
A single account manager maintained alignment across all workstreams, while specialized recruiters focused within their areas of expertise. This structure ensured consistency and accountability throughout the engagement.
Cohesive Delivery Across Multiple Roles
While supporting UX/UI designers, researchers, product managers, and content professionals simultaneously, Red Oak structured delivery intentionally:
- One dedicated account manager maintained strategic oversight across all roles
- Specialized technical recruiters were assigned based on subject matter expertise
- Two recruiters focused specifically on UX/UI talent
This model ensured consistency in communication, candidate quality, and brand alignment while still leveraging deep recruiting expertise within each discipline.
The result was a coordinated hiring experience rather than fragmented vendor activity.
Proactive Pipelining for Long-Term Success
What began as a project-based engagement evolved into a three-year partnership.
Rather than recruiting only when openings were active, Red Oak continuously identified and nurtured UX/UI talent aligned to the client’s digital direction. This proactive pipelining approach allowed the retailer to move quickly when seasonal demand increased or new initiatives launched.
It also reinforced Red Oak’s role as a long-term partner, not just a transactional staffing provider.
The Outcome
Over time, Red Oak became a trusted partner within the client’s digital organization. We:
- Filled a meaningful portion of open UX/UI roles across multiple phases
- Earned expanded responsibility within a competitive, multi-vendor environment
- Built ongoing talent pipelines aligned to recurring seasonal demand
- Established a multi-year relationship grounded in delivery consistency
The real value was in thoughtful screening, brand alignment, and sustained partnership.
Why It Worked
This engagement reflects how Red Oak approaches experience-driven hiring:
- We listen carefully before recruiting begins
- We screen for alignment, not just qualifications
- We understand the difference between internal tools and customer-facing impact
- We adapt workforce strategy to business seasonality
- We prioritize long-term partnership over short-term placement volume
In digital retail, user experience shapes brand perception.
By combining careful calibration, relationship-driven recruiting, and flexible workforce solutions, Red Oak supported this retailer’s modernization journey, helping connect design talent to meaningful business progress.
Modernize with the Right Experience Talent
Partner with Red Oak to deliver thoughtful, customer-centered design at scale. From design to research to product, we’ll help you build a cohesive digital team.
