Comparing Chicago’s Top UI/UX Agencies: Pricing, Services, and Expertise

Finding the right user interface design agency in Chicago can transform your digital product from ordinary to extraordinary. Chicago's thriving tech ecosystem has cultivated some of the most innovative UI UX design agencies in the United States, specializing in creating intuitive, conversion-focused digital experiences

Whether you're a startup seeking to launch your first product or an established enterprise looking to modernize your digital presence, this guide will help you navigate the UI design services Chicago landscape and select the perfect interface design agency for your project.

Before diving into the list of the best and affordable User Interface design agencies in Chicago, understanding key selection criteria will help you make an informed decision.

What to Look for in a User Interface Design Company

Essential Evaluation Factors

Portfolio and Industry Experience: Review past projects relevant to your sector. Look for case studies in Chicago UI design agencies demonstrating measurable outcomes like increased conversion rates, improved user engagement, or reduced support costs.

Design Process and Methodology: The best UX Chicago design agencies follow structured approaches incorporating user research, competitive analysis, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

Technical Capabilities: Beyond visual design, ensure the Chicago UI agency is an expert in front-end development, responsive design principles, accessibility standards (WCAG), and design systems.

Communication and Collaboration: Transparent project management, regular check-ins, and collaborative tools ensure alignment throughout the engagement.

Pricing Structure: Understand whether agencies charge hourly rates, fixed project fees, or offer retainer models. Chicago UI UX design services typically range from $30-150 per hour depending on expertise and project complexity.

Client Testimonials: Verified reviews on platforms like Clutch, DesignRush, and Google provide unbiased insights into client satisfaction and project outcomes.

The top 5 UI design agencies in Chicago

Agency	Team Size	Key Strengths	Services Offered	Hourly Rate	Minimum Project Size	Ideal For
TheFinch Design	10–49	Affordable, AI-enhanced design, measurable results, award-winning	UI/UX Design, Prototyping, Design Systems, Accessibility, Development, Branding	$25–49/hr	$5,000+	Startups to Fortune 500 looking for high value & results
UIDesignz	11–50	Cross-industry expertise, competitive pricing	Website & Mobile App Design, Dashboard & Landing Page Design, Prototyping, Design Systems	$25–70/hr	$1,000+	Businesses needing proven expertise across industries & budget-conscious
Phenomenon Studio	50–99	Global delivery, regulated industries	UI/UX, Web & Mobile Dev, MVP Creation, Product Redesign, Branding, Motion & Illustrations, Design Systems	$50–99/hr	$10,000+	Healthcare, FinTech,   SaaS companies requiring compliance & quality
Meticular	Small boutique team	Enterprise UX, workflow optimization, internal tools	Enterprise UX, Dashboards, Admin Panels, Workflow Optimization, Design Systems	Enterprise UX, Dashboards, Admin Panels, Workflow Optimization, Design Systems	Custom	Enterprises with complex internal tools needing high productivity
Theydo	2–9	Strategic design, research-first, boutique experience	Web & Mobile App Design, User Research, Prototyping & Testing, E-commerce & Wellness UX	Web & Mobile App Design, User Research, Prototyping & Testing, E-commerce & Wellness UX	$100–149/hr	Startups to Fortune 500 seeking strategic outcomes & high-end design

Top 5 User Interface Design Agencies in Chicago

1. TheFinch Design - Award-Winning UI/UX Design Agency in Chicago

Website: https://thefinch.design/

Global operations serving Chicago clients

Team Size: 10-49 employees

Overview

TheFinch Design stands out as an award-winning UI UX design agency serving remotely in Chicago that combines creativity with artificial intelligence to craft intuitive digital experiences. Founded by tech visionary Ravi Talajiya, the agency has rapidly built a reputation for delivering exceptional user-centric designs that drive business results at an affordable cost.

With 9+ years of industry experience behind its leadership, TheFinch Design specializes in helping startups and enterprises transform their digital products through research-driven design strategies. The agency's portfolio spans diverse industries including SaaS, healthcare, fintech, real estate, and e-commerce.

Services Offered

• UI/UX Design: Complete interface design for web and mobile applications
• User Research & Testing: AI-powered usability testing and heuristic analysis
• Design Systems: Scalable component libraries and style guides
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Interactive prototypes for validation before development
• Product Redesign: Modernizing legacy applications with contemporary UX patterns
• Accessibility Design: WCAG-compliant interfaces ensuring inclusive experiences
• Branding & Digital Strategy: Cohesive brand identities aligned with user goals
• Front-End Development: React, HTML/CSS implementation services

Why Choose TheFinch Design

Proven Track Record: TheFinch has delivered 200+ projects with a 98% client satisfaction rate. Their work has helped startups raise $137M in funding and contributed to over $2M in exits.

Measurable Results: Client testimonials demonstrate concrete outcomes:

• 20% conversion rate increase for TASC Outsourcing's website redesign
• 63% rise in daily active users for a pole fitness mobile app
• 15% increase in user task success and 20% decrease in errors for a PCOS health app

AI-Enhanced Design Process: The agency leverages artificial intelligence for user research, usability testing, and data-driven decision-making, ensuring designs are grounded in behavioral insights rather than assumptions

Flexible Engagement Models: TheFinch Design offers project-based work, monthly retainers, and dedicated designer placements, accommodating different business needs and budgets.

Pricing & Affordability

• Hourly Rate: $25-$49 per hour
• Minimum Project Size: $5,000+
• Value Proposition: Highly competitive pricing with enterprise-quality deliverables

Multiple clients praise TheFinch for delivering exceptional value, with one review noting: "Great value for the price and far in excess of the service we have found elsewhere at comparable price points."

Client Testimonials

"TheFinch Design transformed our TASC AIQU website with stunning UX and visuals. Their work boosted conversions by 20%, delivered extra design templates, and ensured a smooth developer handoff. A skilled team with great attention to detail." - Damian Brennan, Group Head of Marketing, TASC Outsourcing

"We partnered with TheFinch Design to refresh our CRM UI/UX. Their innovative designs stood out for being user-friendly and modern. Always punctual, highly responsive, and consistently delivering exceptional designs across multiple projects." - Project Manager, VGD Technologies

"TheFinch Design revamped our pole fitness app, improving onboarding, navigation, and overall UX. We saw a 63% rise in daily active users, stronger retention, and better profits. Their clean, user-friendly design truly exceeded expectations." — CEO, Pole Fitness Company

Contact Information

• Email: sales@thefinch.design
• Clutch Profile: View verified reviews

2. UIDesignz - Specialized UI/UX Design Agency

Serving Chicago clients

Team Size: 11–50 employees

Overview

UIDesignz specializes in creating sophisticated, user-centric digital experiences with a strong emphasis on research-driven strategies that solve real business challenges.

The firm has completed 450+ projects across various industries, maintaining an impressive 98% client satisfaction rate. Their expertise spans startup MVPs to enterprise-level digital transformations, with particular strength in dashboard design, mobile apps, and responsive web platforms.

Services Offered

• Website Design: Custom responsive websites optimized for conversion
• Dashboard Design: Complex data visualization and admin interfaces
• Landing Page Design: High-converting marketing pages
• Mobile App Design: Native iOS and Android application interfaces
• Prototyping: Interactive Figma prototypes for stakeholder validation
• Design Systems: Comprehensive UI kits and component libraries
• Iconography: Custom icon sets aligned with brand identity
• Web Development: Front-end implementation services

Why Choose UIDesignz

Cross-Industry Expertise: The agency demonstrates deep knowledge across fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, education, and business services, adapting design approaches to sector-specific user needs.

Quality Assurance: UIDesignz maintains rigorous quality standards with experienced professionals who bring design expertise to every project.

Client-Centric Approach: The agency prioritizes transparency, keeping clients informed about precisely where and how their investment is being spent.

Pricing & Affordability

• Hourly Rate: $25-49 per hour (Clutch) / $50-70 per hour (DesignRush)
• Minimum Project Size: $1,000+
• Cost Efficiency: Competitive pricing praised by multiple clients for delivering quality within budget constraints

Clients consistently highlight UIDesignz's affordability, with reviews noting they "offer good value for cost" and "meet budgets while delivering quality designs."

Client Testimonials

"I have had the pleasure of working with the UIDesignz team for the last three months. They have exceeded every expectation we had. We crafted a complex design system and redesigned our entire web platform as well as our mobile application. We operate a complex lending platform where UI/UX is critical to optimizing the user experience. The UIDesignz team simply crushed the project in every way." — Co-Founder & COO, Vero Finance Technologies

"UIDesignz brought their expertise to design an app with a modern experience, controls, and look and feel. UIDesignz showcased impressive expertise and delivered a modern and high-quality prototype our organization use to attract investors and customers. The team offered frequent meetings, delivered on time, and stayed on budget." — Vice President, Visual Communications Inc.

3. Phenomenon Studio - Product Design & Development Agency

Serving in Chicago, IL; Wrocław, Poland; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA

Team Size: 50-99 employees

Overview

Established in 2019, Phenomenon Studio has rapidly grown into a leading digital product design agency serving startups and established businesses across multiple continents.

Phenomenon specializes in Healthcare, SaaS, FinTech, and EdTech sectors, offering end-to-end solutions from discovery to development. 

Services Offered

• UI/UX Design: Complete interface design with user-centered methodologies
• Web & Mobile Development: Full-stack development capabilities
• MVP Creation: Rapid prototyping and minimum viable product development
• UX Audit & Discovery: Comprehensive analysis of existing products
• Product Redesign: Modernization of legacy applications
• Branding & Identity: Visual identity and brand strategy
• Motion & Illustrations: 2D/3D animations and interactive elements
• Design Systems: Scalable component libraries with design tokens

Why Choose Phenomenon Studio

Global Expertise, Local Access: Work directly with UX strategists in North America while benefiting from execution speed delivered by senior European teams.

Award Recognition:

• UX Design Awards nominee
• Webflow Professional Partner
• Best Studio 2020 (Upwork)
• 4.9 average rating on App Store for delivered applications

Pricing & Affordability

• Hourly Rate: $50-99 per hour
• Minimum Project Size: $10,000+

Clients consistently praise Phenomenon for being "competitively priced and communicative" while delivering exceptional quality. One review states: "I have never worked with a team so talented while also being competitively priced."

Client Testimonials

"Not only is the team extremely communicative, their work is exceptional. I have never worked with a team so talented while also being competitively priced and communicative." — CTO, Gaming Platform

"The quality of the designs is fantastic. Phenomenon Studio works at speed and is extremely punctual with timelines. They deliver top-notch outcomes with exceptional designs." — Product Manager, SaaS Company

4. Meticular - Workflow & Enterprise UX Specialists

Serving in Chicago, IL

Team Size: Small boutique team

Overview

Meticular represents a new generation of specialized UX design companies focused on transforming complex internal tools into seamless digital experiences. Founded in 2020 by James Taylor (10+ years UX experience), Meticular has carved out a niche serving banks, healthcare organizations, and operations teams.

Unlike agencies pursuing broad markets, Meticular deliberately focuses on dashboards, admin panels, and workflow applications that employees use daily, often neglected areas where thoughtful design creates substantial productivity gains.

Services Offered

• Internal Tool Design: Admin panels, dashboards, and workflow applications
• Enterprise UX: Complex B2B software and internal platforms
• Research-Driven Design: Deep discovery processes with stakeholder interviews
• Workflow Optimization: Streamlining multi-step processes and reducing friction
• Design Systems: Creating consistency across enterprise application suites

Why Choose Meticular

Enterprise Focus: Specialized expertise in designing for complexity, the types of applications where users have no choice but to use the tool, making excellent UX critical for productivity.

Research Excellence: Thorough discovery phases that go beyond generic questions to domain-specific insights, resulting in strategic persona development.

Trusted by Major Institutions: Portfolio includes work with Fortune 1000 companies and leading financial services firms.

Boutique Attention: Small team size ensures founder-level attention and direct communication throughout engagements.

5. Theydo - Strategic Digital Design Agency

Serving Downtown Chicago, IL

Team Size: 2-9

Overview

Founded in 2018 by experts in digital design and marketing, Theydo represents Chicago's emerging class of user interface agencies blending strategic thinking with execution excellence. The agency works with ambitious startups through Fortune 500 companies across diverse sectors including e-commerce, wellness, healthcare, and technology.

Services Offered

• Web & Mobile Application Design: Complete UI/UX for digital products
• User Research: Behavioral analysis and needs assessment
• Strategic Design: Brand-aligned visual experiences
• Prototyping & Testing: Iterative validation with target users
• E-commerce UX: Conversion-optimized shopping experiences
• Wellness App Design: Specialized expertise in health and wellness products

Why Choose Theydo

Versatile Portfolio: Experience ranges from early-stage startup MVPs to enterprise digital transformation projects.

Brand Integration: Designs complement and enhance existing brand identities rather than imposing generic templates.

Sector Diversity: Cross-industry experience provides fresh perspectives.

Pricing & Affordability

• Engagement Model: Project-based and retainer options
• Pricing Range: hourly rate of $100–149/hr and minimum project size $10,000+
• Value Focus: Emphasis on strategic outcomes rather than deliverable count

How to Choose the Right UI/UX Design Agency for Your Project

Step 1: Define Your Project Requirements

Before contacting agencies, clarify:

• Project scope: Simple website redesign vs. complex application with multiple user roles
• Timeline: Launch deadlines, MVP requirements, phased rollouts
• Budget range: Available investment for design work
• Success metrics: What outcomes will demonstrate ROI (conversion rate, user engagement, support ticket reduction)

Step 2: Evaluate Agency Fit

Portfolio Review: Look for projects similar in complexity and industry to yours. Don't just admire pretty interfaces, ask about the problems solved and results achieved.

Process Alignment: Does the agency's methodology match your working style? Some businesses prefer highly collaborative approaches with frequent check-ins; others want to define requirements and receive completed deliverables.

Technical Compatibility: If you have an existing tech stack or development team, ensure the agency's deliverables (Figma files, design systems, component libraries) integrate seamlessly.

Cultural Fit: For longer engagements, personality compatibility matters. Initial consultations reveal communication styles and collaborative dynamics.

Step 3: Ask the Right Questions

During discovery calls, inquire about:

1. "Can you show examples of projects that achieved measurable business results?"
2. "What's your typical design process from kickoff to handoff?"
3. "How do you handle revisions and scope changes?"
4. "Who will be working on my project, and what are their experience levels?"
5. "What tools do you use for collaboration and file sharing?"
6. "Do you provide post-launch support or optimization services?"
7. "Can you provide references from clients in similar industries?"

Step 4: Review Proposals Carefully

Strong proposals should include:

• Clear scope of work: Specific deliverables, not vague promises
• Timeline with milestones: Realistic schedule with check-in points
• Detailed pricing: Breakdown of costs, payment terms, what's included/excluded
• Team composition: Names and roles of people working on your project
• Success criteria: How both parties will evaluate project completion

Step 5: Start with a Discovery Phase

For complex projects, consider beginning with a paid discovery sprint. This lower-risk engagement:

• Validates agency fit before full commitment
• Produces strategic artifacts (personas, journey maps, competitive analysis)
• Establishes working relationship and communication patterns
• Often reveals scope adjustments that save money long-term

Understanding UI/UX Design Pricing in Chicago

Project-Based Pricing

Simple Website Redesign: $10,000-30,000

• 5-15 pages with standard functionality
• Template customization or light custom design
• 4-8 week timeline

Custom Web Application: $30,000-100,000

• Multi-role user experiences
• Custom component libraries
• Responsive design across devices
• 8-20 week timeline

Mobile App Design (Native): $40,000-150,000

• iOS and/or Android platforms
• Multiple user flows and feature sets
• Design system development
• Iterative testing and refinement
• 12-24 week timeline

Enterprise Design System: $75,000-200,000+

• Comprehensive component libraries
• Brand guidelines and documentation
• Training and implementation support
• Ongoing governance frameworks

Value-Based Pricing

Progressive agencies increasingly offer value-based pricing where fees correlate to business outcomes rather than hours worked. For example:

• Performance bonuses tied to conversion rate improvements
• Revenue share models for e-commerce redesigns
• Success fees for products securing VC funding post-launch

This model aligns agency incentives with client success but requires clear success metrics and longer-term partnerships.

Red Flags to Watch For

When evaluating UI UX design firms, avoid agencies that:

Provide template-based solutions without customization: Your users and business challenges are unique; cookie-cutter approaches rarely deliver optimal results.

Skip user research phases: Agencies jumping straight to design without understanding your users create pretty interfaces that don't solve real problems.

Overpromise on timelines: Quality design requires iteration. Agencies guaranteeing 2-week turnarounds for complex applications either cut corners or will miss deadlines.

Lack accessibility knowledge: With WCAG requirements increasingly mandated by law, ignorance of accessibility standards creates legal liability.

Provide no performance metrics from past work: Legitimate agencies track outcomes (conversion improvements, engagement increases, support ticket reductions) and share these confidently.

Resist collaborative input: While agencies should educate on best practices, dismissing stakeholder input creates misalignment and frustration.

Conclusion: Making Your Decision

Selecting the right user interface design agency in Chicago requires balancing multiple factors: expertise, pricing, communication, and proven results. TheFinch Design checks all these factors. TheFinch Design is the best UI design agency for a Chicago‑based UI/UX company because we combine world‑class UI design with incredible affordability. Our $25–$49/hr rate enables U.S. businesses to access top-tier talent without paying U.S. agency premiums, while our 200+ completed projects and 11+ verified 5-star Clutch reviews prove we deliver measurable, high-impact UI/UX solutions remotely, aligned to your time

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What's the difference between UI and UX design?

User Experience (UX) design focuses on the overall experience users have with your product navigation structure, user flows, information architecture, and interaction patterns. User Interface (UI) design deals with visual elements colors, typography, spacing, iconography, and component styling. The best agencies excel at both, ensuring products are both functional and beautiful.

Q2: How long does a typical UI/UX project take?

Timelines vary dramatically based on scope:

• Simple website redesigns: 4-8 weeks
• Mobile app design: 12-20 weeks
• Complex web applications: 16-30 weeks
• Enterprise design systems: 20-40+ weeks

Q3: Should I hire a local Chicago agency or work remotely?

Local benefits: Face-to-face workshops, understanding of Midwestern user preferences, easier collaboration with your development team, regulatory knowledge for Illinois-specific requirements.

Remote benefits: Access to specialized expertise, potentially lower costs, flexible availability across time zones. 

Q4: What deliverables should I expect from a UI/UX project?

Professional engagements typically include:

• User research findings and personas
• Competitive analysis
• Information architecture / sitemap
• User flows and journey maps
• Wireframes (low-fidelity layouts)
• High-fidelity mockups
• Interactive prototypes
• Design system / component library
• Design specifications for developers
• Usability testing reports

Q5: How do I measure ROI from UI/UX investment?

Track metrics aligned with your goals:

• E-commerce: Conversion rate, average order value, cart abandonment
• SaaS: User onboarding completion, feature adoption, churn rate
• Content platforms: Time on site, pages per session, return visitor rate
• Internal tools: Task completion time, error rates, employee satisfaction

The best agencies help define these metrics upfront and design with measurable outcomes in mind.

Q6: Can these agencies handle development too, or just design?

Several agencies profiled offer UI/UX design services and development services:

• TheFinch Design: End-to-end development services
• UIDesignz: Full-stack web and mobile development
• Phenomenon Studio: Complete development capabilities including backend
• Meticular: Partners with development firms for implementation
• Theydo: Primarily design-focused with development partner network

Q7: What if I only have a small budget?

For limited budgets ($5,000-15,000), consider TheFinch Design, as we offer competitive entry-level project minimums suitable for startups and small businesses in Chicago.