Doing a side project with an aspiring UX designer — how should we divide the work, and how should I evaluate them?

Running a side project with eager beginners is super tough. Usually they work with huge excitement for the first 2 weeks, then the second they get a full-time job offer or things get hard, they ghost without a word. Don't make yourself dependent on them before you get the critical screens.

Have them set up a design system library right away. Buttons input fields, color palettes and font sizes should all be standardized. If they're using a different shade of blue or a random button size on every screen on a whim, you'll be tearing your hair out coding the frontend.

I promised a 10% equity stake to a designer on a similar project. They drew 3 screens and vanished, then 1 year later when the product started pulling in 25,000 TL a month in revenue, they showed up demanding their cut. It was a legal nightmare. Definitely do a contract based on a clear royalty cap, not equity.

schedule a weekly one-hour feedback session but when critiquing their screens, instead of saying 'I dont like it,' frame it around real-world scenarios like 'can a hairdresser easily tap this button with one hand while washing someones hair?' It keeps them motivated and helps them level up fast.

Do not neglect signing an IP assignment agreement. It must be documented from the start that all commercial rights to vector graphics, UI components, and user research reports created by the designer belong to the project.

check if their layer names are properly organized during handoff from the design tool if everything is named group 1 group 2 they don't know how to work professionally yet

Has your partner ever run a usability test with an actual user, or are they just cobbling together visuals from ready-made templates? A UX designer's value isn't in pretty visuals, it's in a user being able to book that appointment stress-free in under 10 seconds.

This is exactly what we experienced. If you get three different answers on a topic, the question was asked wrong.

When listing, put proof that the product actually works at the very top. If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

this thread is archived.

I didn't know that.

Sorry, but this doesn't apply in every case. Are you looking for a partner or a co-founder? They are two different things.

I disagree with you on this point. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later as both sides remember it differently. Proven by experience.

I've been dealing with this for a long time. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

I disagree with you on this point. If you're offering equity instead of salary also state what you're offering in return.

Proven by experience.

Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval.

If IP assignment to the company isn't written from the start, it can't be collected later. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

I'm curious too.

I'd appreciate it if you shared the outcome.