Hiring UX Leaders doesn’t have to be hard. It has to be Exceptional.
Exceptional UX Leadership, Without the Guesswork.
TA-DA partners with startups and growing teams to place Director and Executive-level UX talent—without the noise, pressure, or guesswork of traditional recruiting.
We specialize in Director and Executive-level UX talent for companies that know design is a strategic advantage, not a nice-to-have.
years of experience
placements
industries served
client partnerships
days without F-bombs
TA-DA Engagement Models
Signature Search (Retained UX Leadership Search)
A white-glove, end-to-end search for critical UX leadership hires.
Best for: Mission-critical leadership hires
For founders and executives hiring Director- or Executive-level UX leaders where precision, discretion, and outcome matter.
- Exclusive partnership
- Deep role discovery & org design guidance
- Curated shortlist of exceptional, fully vetted leaders
- Ongoing support through offer, close, and onboarding
Select Search (Contingent UX Search)
Success-based recruiting for senior UX and product design roles.
Best for: Senior IC or Manager-level UX roles
For teams who need high-quality candidates quickly, with flexibility on structure.
- No hire, no fee
- TA-DA’s full vetting and candidate preparation
- Shortlist over volume
Embedded Talent Partner (Fractional)
An embedded recruiting partner for startups without in-house UX recruiting.
Best for: Teams building design capability over time
For early-stage or scaling teams building multiple UX or product design hires.
- Ongoing monthly partnership
- Hiring strategy + execution
- UX-focused talent pipeline development
Compare Engagement Models
Not sure which engagement fits your team?
Let’s talk through your goals and uncover the right model.
Kind Words
I struggled to find strong creative talent. Most recruiters I worked with did not know how to evaluate designers. They would see Adobe or Figma on a resume and treat that as enough to move a candidate forward. There was very little critique of the portfolio or understanding of what high quality design work looks like. She understood our design culture extremely well. She worked seamlessly with our teams and had a natural sense for what makes someone a strong fit in a creative environment. She could evaluate talent with real clarity and had a sharp eye for quality. She also brought positive energy to every interaction, which made the process better for everyone involved.
Before working with Sarah, I had trouble finding the right people who understood the changing needs and skills in today's market. Sarah had the forethought to be proactive and bring new insights to me when she was vetting candidates. She understood what we were looking for and what felt like a good fit. It was a true partnership - that she understood the need and the challenge we were up against and was as invested in the search as we were. She truly understood the business, the changing landscape and the talent nuances we were seeking. If you want someone who is truly invested in your business and cares about people and talent, this is who you want to work with. ~ Amanda Hurte, Brand and Content Strategy Leader
We landed a new client and needed phenomenal talent like - yesterday. Sarah took time to deeply engage and learn about our business to determine what we needed for talent to make our client successful. She listened to me. It was such a sense of relief knowing she truly understood what we were looking for, I trusted her completely. The end result was a happy client that sought us for more projects resulting in more revenue! You’ll be in great hands with Sarah. She’s the best at what she does! ~ Colleen T., VP Customer Experience
As I was growing my team, it was a constant struggle working with recruiters who didn’t know how to screen UX Designers. Either my hiring managers had to take on extra responsibilities, or we risked missing out on good candidates because our HR partner didn't understand the nuances of the field—the different disciplines, the relevant experience, the best schools. Sarah became our go-to recruiter because she actually understands what top talent looks like. I never expected to have someone in her role who felt like a true partner -- that we were on the same team, rowing the boat in the same direction. Even though she had many other clients to serve, I always felt like she had my team's best interests in mind. Her expertise accelerated the hiring process and got us new team members who were a great fit much faster than in the past. You won't find a more dedicated, tireless partner to get you the talent you need, and you'll enjoy every step of the process to boot. ~ Jeff Neely, VP of Design, IBM Z
Why TA-DA?
Experience. User Experience to be exact.
TA-DA was built on 22+ years inside design, product, and technology—not on recruiter playbooks or keyword matching. We know the difference between filling a role and building a design organization that elevates your product, attracts better clients, and drives real revenue.
Portfolio-first, always.
We can immediately spot the difference between a great portfolio vs. a good one—and whether it’s right for your business.
Real conversations, not interviews.
We don’t interrogate candidates. We have thoughtful discussions that reveal how they think, lead, and influence.
Candidates you’re excited to meet.
No résumé overload. No “I’ll know it when I see it” talent. Only people you want in the room.
Built around your business.
We take the time to understand your product, growth stage, and goals—because design leadership should attract better clients and drive revenue, not just ship features.
Fulfilling Roles With
CONTACT
Ready to build the best damn design team and have a blast doing it? Good. Me too.
Fill out the form and let’s start a conversation.
