Question 1

What's the difference between full-time, fractional and contract?

Accepted Answer

A full-time hire is a permanent employee on your payroll, sourced and assessed by us. A fractional designer works part-time and ongoing, typically one to three days a week, with no set end date. A contractor works for a fixed term with a defined end date. It's the same vetted network either way; the right choice depends on whether you're building the team, need ongoing senior judgment, or have a defined piece of work.

Question 2

How quickly can we meet someone?

Accepted Answer

Most clients have a shortlist within a few business days of telling us the role, and intro calls booked inside a week.

Question 3

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Scoping, shortlisting and intro calls are free, whichever way you hire. A permanent full-time hire is billed at 20% of the person's first-year salary. Fractional and contract engagements are a day rate times the days a week you need, billed as a simple retainer. No hidden fees.

Question 4

What's the minimum commitment?

Accepted Answer

For fractional work, one day a week with a minimum engagement of one month. A permanent hire has no minimum, it's your employee from day one.

Question 5

Can we end an engagement early?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with two weeks' written notice on either side. There's no exclusivity and no long lock-in.

Question 6

What if the match isn't right?

Accepted Answer

For fractional work, tell us in the first three weeks and we'll re-match at no additional fee. Full-time hires come with a three-month guarantee: if it isn't working in that time, we run the search again at no additional fee. We check in through the first month of every engagement.

Question 7

Can we hire the person permanently?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There's a conversion fee, agreed up front. We'd rather you get the right person than protect a margin.

Question 8

Do you work outside our time zone?

Accepted Answer

The network spans Canada and the US. Tell us your time zone and we'll only shortlist people who can work the hours you need.

Question 9

Who signs the contract?

Accepted Answer

For fractional and contract work, you contract with us and we contract with the designer. One invoice, one point of accountability. For a permanent hire, the designer signs directly with you and we invoice the placement fee.

Question 10

Does it cost anything?

Accepted Answer

There's no application fee and no membership fee.

Question 11

How does vetting work?

Accepted Answer

Share your portfolio and résumé and a person reads it, usually within a week. When a role comes up that fits, we talk it through with you before making any introduction.

Question 12

Do I have to work exclusively with you?

Accepted Answer

Never. Keep your own clients and take only the roles that fit.

Question 13

Who sets my rate?

Accepted Answer

You do. We'll tell you if it's out of step with what similar designers are getting, but the number is yours.

Question 14

What if I need to pause?

Accepted Answer

Set your availability to unavailable and we'll stop sending roles. Turn it back on whenever you're ready.

Question 15

Who handles contracts and invoicing for contract and fractional roles?

Accepted Answer

We do. Statements of work, MSAs, invoicing and chasing late payment.

Questions, answered plainly.

For companies

For designers

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