Top UX Designer Roles in San Francisco

San Francisco's competitive design landscape demands elite UX talent capable of transforming complex product challenges into intuitive experiences. From climate tech startups redefining sustainability to frontier tech companies pushing boundaries, the Bay Area's most ambitious ventures need designers who combine strategic thinking, user advocacy, and technical excellence to drive measurable business outcomes and accelerate product-market fit.

UX designer collaborating on wireframes and prototypes in modern San Francisco office

Our UX Design Services

Comprehensive UX design expertise spanning strategy, research, and execution to transform product visions into market-ready experiences.

Website UX Design

User-centered web experiences from journey mapping and information architecture to wireframes and usability testing, optimized for conversion and engagement across complex B2B and consumer platforms.

Website UI Design

High-fidelity interface design with scalable component libraries, design tokens, and pixel-perfect specifications ensuring consistency, accessibility, and engineering-ready developer handoffs.

Product UX & Prototyping

Insight-driven prototypes validated through iterative testing, uncovering real-world pain points to boost adoption, reduce rework, and enhance launch retention for enterprise and consumer products.

Interaction Design

Delightful micro-interactions, animations, and state transitions that create engaging, intuitive experiences with clear user feedback and seamless cross-device consistency.

Landing Page Design

Conversion-focused single-page experiences with strategic CTAs, trust signal placement, and buyer journey-led structures optimized for lead generation and campaign performance.

Website Design

Complete digital presence from strategic workshops and site architecture to responsive designs and delightful micro-interactions, translating complex innovations into compelling web experiences.

Expert UX Talent

Elevating San Francisco's Design Standards

San Francisco's design ecosystem thrives on talent that understands the unique challenges of building for the Bay Area market—from navigating diverse user bases spanning tech-forward early adopters to complex enterprise stakeholders. Our UX designers bring strategic insight honed in the city's demanding startup environment, where rapid iteration, data-driven validation, and business outcome alignment separate successful products from failed launches. We deliver design excellence that resonates with San Francisco's sophisticated user expectations while accelerating time-to-market.

UX design team reviewing user research findings and interface prototypes
Trusted by Leaders

Success Stories

Partnering with ambitious organizations to deliver transformational design outcomes that drive measurable business results.

"Working with What If has been transformative — faster feature roll outs, reduced development costs, and a fantastic user experience. They quickly understood our vision and offered proactive ideas"

Kent Costello
Kent Costello

"They very quickly understood the kind of messaging that was important to us and how to translate that into a compelling visual experience. I can't recommend them enough!"

Keenan Johnson
Keenan Johnson

"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"

Ayush Banerjee
Ayush Banerjee

"Working with What If has been transformative — faster feature roll outs, reduced development costs, and a fantastic user experience. They quickly understood our vision and offered proactive ideas"

Kent Costello
Kent Costello

"They very quickly understood the kind of messaging that was important to us and how to translate that into a compelling visual experience. I can't recommend them enough!"

Keenan Johnson
Keenan Johnson

"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"

Ayush Banerjee
Ayush Banerjee

"Working with What If has been transformative — faster feature roll outs, reduced development costs, and a fantastic user experience. They quickly understood our vision and offered proactive ideas"

Kent Costello
Kent Costello

"They very quickly understood the kind of messaging that was important to us and how to translate that into a compelling visual experience. I can't recommend them enough!"

Keenan Johnson
Keenan Johnson

"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"

Ayush Banerjee
Ayush Banerjee
The What if Design Difference

Why Choose What if Design?

Strategic design expertise tailored for San Francisco's most ambitious ventures.

Bay Area Expertise

Deep understanding of San Francisco's unique design landscape and user expectations.

Speed & Agility

Fast turnaround times as quick as 48 hours for critical design deliverables.

Cost Efficiency

3x cheaper than hiring in-house senior designers without compromising quality.

Climate Focus

Specialized expertise in climate tech and purpose-driven sustainable technology initiatives.

Meet The San Francisco Design Team

Strategic design leaders with proven track records.

Akhila Kosaraju

Co-founder

Akhila brings a unique perspective to UX design, shaped by years designing innovative LEED-certified buildings and orchestrating $100M+ urban interventions impacting millions of lives. Her architectural background informs her systematic approach to information architecture and spatial thinking in digital interfaces. Before co-founding What if Design, she developed user-centered solutions for complex multi-stakeholder environments where usability, accessibility, and environmental impact intersected. Her transition from physical to digital design was driven by a desire to create scalable impact through technology. At What if Design, Akhila leads strategic design initiatives for climate tech companies navigating San Francisco's competitive landscape, translating complex sustainability innovations into intuitive digital experiences. Her expertise spans user research, interaction design, and design systems development, with particular strength in designing for technical audiences while maintaining consumer-grade usability standards.

Tejas Mahajan

Co-founder

Tejas brings business-driven design thinking to What if Design, shaped by his experience driving growth for OYO across three countries and training over 1,700 professionals throughout India. His background in business operations and large-scale program management gives him a unique lens on UX design—understanding that great design must deliver measurable business outcomes, not just aesthetic appeal. Before co-founding What if Design, Tejas mastered the art of aligning diverse stakeholder needs, optimizing conversion funnels, and translating business strategy into operational excellence. His transition to design was fueled by recognizing that user experience is the critical lever for scaling impact and competitive differentiation. At What if Design, Tejas leads client partnerships and ensures design solutions drive strategic business goals for San Francisco's climate tech innovators. His expertise encompasses growth design, conversion optimization, and building scalable design processes that support rapid iteration and market validation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UX designer make in San Francisco?

UX designer salaries in San Francisco typically range from $110,000 to $180,000 for mid-level roles, with senior positions commanding $160,000 to $220,000+. Principal and staff-level designers at major tech companies can earn $250,000 to $350,000+ including equity. Compensation varies significantly based on company stage, equity packages, and specialization, with climate tech startups often offering competitive base salaries plus meaningful equity stakes.

Are UX designers still in demand?

What skills are most valuable for UX designers in San Francisco?

How does San Francisco's UX market differ from other tech hubs?

What career paths are available for UX designers in San Francisco?

Do I need a specific degree to work as a UX designer in San Francisco?

What's the hiring process for UX designers in San Francisco?

How can I transition into climate tech UX design roles?

Ready to Elevate Your Design Team?

Connect with our expert team to discuss how strategic UX design can accelerate your product vision.

Let's Build Something Great Together

Share your design challenges and vision. We'll respond within 24 hours to discuss how our UX expertise can drive your next breakthrough.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at You can also send us a quick email at team@whatifdesign.in