Screening UI experts to tackle AI talent noise

The mission: Redefine UI exploration with design-to-code AI

A client aimed to accelerate their product development lifecycle using a next-generation design-to-code system. To make this possible, they needed a team of 10 UI Designers who could rework and optimize existing interfaces across web and mobile platforms. These designers weren't just improving visuals—they were contributing structured, high-fidelity design examples to train AI systems to understand and replicate interface logic and patterns. To meet this ambitious goal, the client partnered with us to scout and secure the right talent with precision and speed.

The challenge: Finding designers who think beyond the canvas

The real challenge wasn’t just technical skills, it was finding professionals driven to push creative boundaries, blending design artistry with precision to produce production-ready data that powers smarter AI systems. They had to be motivated to shape how digital experiences are prototyped, tested, and scaled.

Key obstacles:

• Traditional CVs fall short in revealing essential traits like mindset, adaptability, and design intuition
• Hard-to-find talent with the full mix of creativity, precision, technical versatility, and future-forward thinking
• Steep learning curve of the advanced design-to-code system
• Expert-level execution required to perform optimization across mediums and to accelerate iteration cycles
• Intensified competition for top-tier talents in a high-demand field of niche UI expertise

The goal:

Identify expert-level UI designers who can integrate seamlessly into an ambitious, fast-paced AI initiative.

The solution: Purpose-built evaluation for fit and vision

We designed a custom assessment framework to identify candidates not just for skill, but for mindset and adaptability. Each designer was evaluated on their ability to deliver thoughtful, scalable, and technically sound UI iterations within complex constraints.

Our approach:

1. Defined success criteria and aligned project values with client, including expectations around autonomy, iteration cycles, and forward-thinking design
2. Mapped core competencies into two pillars:
   1. Technical competencies such as UI layout optimization, design system fluency, multi-platform responsiveness and production-readiness of outputs
   2. Motivational fit such as curiosity about AI in design, openness to iteration, initiative in problem-solving and willingness to contribute to innovation
3. Strategically designed an assessment with role-relevant tasks to evaluate their competencies and values, from design tasks and creativity thinking to communicating reasoning and scenario challenges
4. Finalised hiring with a comprehensive scorecard crafted across categories to ensure a cohesive and measurable decision-making process

The results: Talent activated, innovation enabled

• Exceeded headcount target by 20% with 12 over 10 designers hired to deliver daily-ready ground truths
• Ensured pipeline agility and faster ramp-ups for upcoming projects with 300+ candidates waitlisted
• Achieved an average time-to-hire of just 10 days

By securing the right UI experts, the client was able to fast-track training data production—delivering forward-thinking designs that accelerated their code-to-design ambitions.