Auckland
Samantha Thornton-Jones
Website Designer & Developer
Hire a UX Designer in New Zealand
Improve conversions and usability with a local UX designer who runs research, wireframes and prototypes for sites and apps.
Waikato
Tom Dawson
Brand Designer & Website Designer
Auckland
Libby Cunniffe
Graphic Designer
Auckland
Kylie May
Graphic & Web Designer
Christchurch
Magdalene Manson-Blair
Senior Graphic & UX Designer
Queenstown/Wanaka
Billy Waller
Graphic & Web Designer
What this service is for
What can a UX designer help you build?
A UX designer shapes how customers use your website, app or digital service through research, journey mapping, prototyping and testing—reducing friction and improving engagement and conversions.
Improve website conversions
Identify usability blockers, redesign key pages and test variants to lift sign-ups, sales or leads.
Simplify complex journeys
Map and restructure multi-step processes (bookings, onboarding, checkout) so customers complete tasks with fewer errors.
Validate new product ideas
Run rapid research and prototype tests to check demand and refine features before full build.
How Unicorn Factory works
A simple way to find the right freelancer.
Create one project brief, compare applications from relevant freelancers, and choose who you would like to meet.
Step 01
Tell us what you need.
Use the guided brief to explain the outcome, timing, budget, and context. You do not need to prepare a technical specification.
Freelancers in our network
See designers from our network
These profiles are example freelancers from the Unicorn Factory network. To hire: a business creates a project brief, relevant freelancers apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions. Create a short brief to start getting applications.
Tell us about your project
Ideas for your brief
Project ideas you can commission
Three common, doable scopes that make it clear what to ask for in your brief.
UX review and quick wins
A focused audit of key pages to surface usability issues and a short list of prioritised fixes.
- Heuristic UX audit of agreed pages with annotated screenshots
- List of prioritised usability fixes and recommended copy/CTA changes
- Low-fidelity wireframes for the highest-impact pages
- Short handover notes for your developer or CMS owner
Prototype & user test for a new feature
Validate an idea with clickable prototypes and real-user sessions to decide go / iterate / stop.
- Research plan and recruitment criteria for users
- Clickable prototype (Figma or Webflow prototype) representing the main flow
- Remote moderated tests or unmoderated sessions using tools like Maze/Hotjar
- Test report with recommendations and a prioritised roadmap
Website or shop UX redesign
End-to-end redesign focused on improving navigation and conversion points for sites or ecommerce stores.
- Stakeholder workshop and content audit to define business goals
- Information architecture and sitemaps for agreed sections
- High-fidelity UI designs (Figma) and developer-ready assets
- Acceptance criteria checklist and optional support to hand over to your developer or Webflow/Shopify builder
Proof lives in the work
Related projects from our network
Below are real case study summaries from freelancers in the Unicorn Factory network. They illustrate the types of UX and product work available.
See UX Design Projects
Digital Product & UX
Brand Direction and Product Design for an AI Running Coach App Built for Investment Conversations
- UX Design
- User Research
- Brand Identity & Visual Identity
John-Luke Ward
Websites & Web Development
E-commerce Website for Two Tales Gin Boutique Beverages
- UX Design
- Video Editing
- Website Development
Barbi Larkins
Websites & Web Development
Minimalist Landing Page Design with Contact Form
- UX Design
- Landing Page Development
- Frontend Development
Nikolai Bain
Websites & Web Development
Landing Page for Markdown Text Editor
- UX Design
- Landing Page Development
- Web Design
Nikolai Bain
Websites & Web Development
Bringing an old website into a new era
- UX Design
- SEO
- Web Design
Stu Clark
Websites & Web Development
Launching an online parenting magazine and directory
- UX Design
- Brand Identity & Visual Identity
- Web Design
Kylie RichardsonPricing guidance
How much does UX design cost?
Indicative NZD price bands to help you set a budget. Final scope and freelancer rates vary and are agreed directly with the freelancer.
Small (audit & quick fixes)
A focused UX audit, wireframes and a short fixes list for a small site or a handful of pages.
NZ$2,500–6,000
Medium (prototype & testing)
Research, clickable prototypes and user testing for a feature or a medium-sized website area.
NZ$8,000–25,000
Large (redesign or product design)
Full product UX and UI design with research, multiple prototypes and developer-ready UI for a larger site or app.
NZ$30,000–80,000+
What affects the price
- Depth of user research required (number of users, recruitment and reporting)
- Scope: a single page or a full site/app rebuild
- Deliverable fidelity (low-fidelity wireframes vs high-fidelity UI and design system)
- Freelancer seniority and specialist skills (service design, accessibility, ecommerce)
Estimates are indicative, may exclude GST and ongoing software or platform fees, and final scope and rates are agreed directly with the freelancer.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions before you hire.
Answers to the questions clients commonly ask before starting a brief.
Still deciding what you need?
Start with the outcome and the context you already have. A polished specification is not required.
How long will a UX project take?
Small audits can take 1–2 weeks; prototype and testing engagements typically 3–6 weeks; full redesigns often run 2–4 months depending on scope.
How do I pick the right freelancer?
Look for relevant case studies, ask about research methods they use (interviews, usability tests) and request examples of similar commercial outcomes.
Can a UX designer work with our developers?
Yes — freelancers commonly hand over designs with developer-ready assets and acceptance criteria or collaborate directly with your team during build.
Do I need user testing?
Testing reduces guesswork. For new features or major changes, even a small set of moderated tests can uncover high-value improvements.
What happens after I post a brief?
Relevant freelancers apply, you review applications and portfolios, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions so you can interview and agree scope and rates.
Ready to get moving?
Ready to brief a UX designer?
Create a short project brief and get relevant UX designers to apply — review applicants and Unicorn Factory will make warm introductions.