Last Updated on July 18, 2012 by New-Startups Team
There used to be a time where developers were way more important than designers when creating a startup. While that still is somewhat true, design and user experience has grown to be a major need when developing a product that is to be successful. There are many sites out there that let you browse a designer’s portfolio and hire a freelancer to help put a friendly face to a technology. But how can you be sure you’re not spending needless hours scouring for the best and what value does a portfolio sharing site have for a designer?
That’s a fundamental question that DesignersCouch had and as a result has pivoted its focus from a portfolio showcasing site to a place that will connect designers to startups for amazing opportunities. As a result they have recently launched as Hunie. Founder Damian Madray tells us:
“Hunie is a community that connects designers to the hottest startups for amazing opportunities. We facilitate 3 ways designers can pair up with startups: creative investments, design co-founder, and full-time employment. All of our designers and startups in the community are curated through an invitation only process. We accept only the best designers and promising startups from around the world.”
Think of Hunie as AngelList meets Behance or Dribbble, where designers can creatively invest, available for design advisory and become design co-founders. Startups typically are looking for UI/UX designers, but that’s always not the case, thus there will be a happy home for every type of talented designer to share their skill sets on Hunie. There are times where custom illustrations, app store icons, specialized photography, or print design for collateral is needed. And although Hunie embarks on a new brand name, the company remains a community for all types of creative’s.
The curated community of designers that looks for only the best startups to work for is in closed beta only. However, if you’re a startup looking for a designer why not pitch your worth, follow the designers you love and hire pre-qualified designers that can accelerate your brand on Hunie.