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.
San Francisco startups hiring UX designers are evaluating candidates against some of the most demanding standards in the world, where investors, enterprise buyers, and technical collaborators all form rapid judgments based on product experience quality. Climate tech ventures in the Bay Area need UX designers who understand complex technical domains and can translate them into interfaces that make sense to non-expert buyers. Frontier tech companies pushing into new categories need designers who can operate in ambiguity and still produce work that is immediately legible to the decision-makers they need to reach.
Comprehensive UX design expertise spanning strategy, research, and execution to transform product visions into market-ready experiences.
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.
High-fidelity interface design with scalable component libraries, design tokens, and We deliver production-ready designs with obsessive attention to spacing, alignment, and responsiveness. specifications ensuring consistency, accessibility, and engineering-ready developer handoffs.
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.
Delightful micro-interactions, animations, and state transitions that create engaging, intuitive experiences with clear user feedback and seamless cross-device consistency.
Conversion-focused single-page experiences with strategic CTAs, trust signal placement, and buyer journey-led structures optimized for lead generation and campaign performance.
Complete digital presence from strategic workshops and site architecture to responsive designs and delightful micro-interactions, translating complex innovations into compelling web experiences.
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.
Partnering with ambitious organizations to deliver transformational design outcomes that drive measurable business results.
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"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!"
"The team at What if Design was nimble, thoughtful and flexible. Their design process forced us to reflect and rethink our corporate strategy. They brought the company messaging to the forefront and accurately translated our vision to creatively visualize our deeply scientific work."
"What If’s team did a great job learning our technology on a razor-tight deadline. They helped transform our complex interconnection process into clear, resonant visuals and messaging for both technical and non-technical audiences."
"What if Design's leadership on our brand redesign was a dream. Their team worked as an extension of our mission, embodied our values, and then expanded upon our vision with ease. Our static, version 101 website was transformed into a full brand identity - professional, creative, and human."
"Before What If, we were relying on developers for design work — it was slow and clunky. From day one, the What If team understood exactly what we were building and came with proactive ideas to improve the user flow and features, not just execute on a brief. The ease..."
"They spoke our language from day one, delivered on every commitment, and never missed a deadline. Web traffic quintupled in our first week after launch, but more than the numbers, we went from a website we wanted to hide to one we're genuinely proud to show every new stakeholder. What..."
"Working with What If Design felt like a true collaboration — flexible, responsive, and always ready to meet us where we were. Even with our ideas that weren't fully formed, they delivered a strong brand and pitch deck to show up confidently with investors and partners. That kind of adaptability..."
"I’ve worked with a lot of agencies over the years: brand, web, comms, you name it. Every project has its own vibe, its own momentum (or lack thereof), and its own set of hurdles.But it’s rare to find a team that just gets it... the tech, the market, the nuance...while..."
"Working with the What if Design team has been an exceptional experience. Their attention to detail and creativity exceeded our expectations. Their expert guidance was comprehensive through every aspect of the project, from aesthetics to crafting compelling copy. Their efficiency and professionalism were evident in every interaction and team's kind..."
"As a team of one, I needed partners who could match our pace. What If delivered on that completely. The speed of turnaround, the quick review cycles, the ability to iterate in near real time — that's what made the difference. Highly recommended if you're looking to move fast and..."
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"The old website confused people about what we actually do, but post-launch, that sort of negative feedback has completely stopped. We received a lot of positive feedback on the professionalism and the design. Our previous contact page received maybe one or two hits per week, if that. After the launch..."
"We went from people saying "I have no idea what you're doing" to immediately feeling credible and put together. What If took what was in our heads and made it real, even when we couldn't fully articulate it ourselves."
"We knew it was time to reset, sharpen our focus, and build a foundation for the next stage of growth. The new website was a big part of that. What If understood the vision, spoke our design language, and actually delivered. Anyone working with them should know it's a great..."
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"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!"
"The team at What if Design was nimble, thoughtful and flexible. Their design process forced us to reflect and rethink our corporate strategy. They brought the company messaging to the forefront and accurately translated our vision to creatively visualize our deeply scientific work."
"What If’s team did a great job learning our technology on a razor-tight deadline. They helped transform our complex interconnection process into clear, resonant visuals and messaging for both technical and non-technical audiences."
"What if Design's leadership on our brand redesign was a dream. Their team worked as an extension of our mission, embodied our values, and then expanded upon our vision with ease. Our static, version 101 website was transformed into a full brand identity - professional, creative, and human."
"Before What If, we were relying on developers for design work — it was slow and clunky. From day one, the What If team understood exactly what we were building and came with proactive ideas to improve the user flow and features, not just execute on a brief. The ease..."
"They spoke our language from day one, delivered on every commitment, and never missed a deadline. Web traffic quintupled in our first week after launch, but more than the numbers, we went from a website we wanted to hide to one we're genuinely proud to show every new stakeholder. What..."
"Working with What If Design felt like a true collaboration — flexible, responsive, and always ready to meet us where we were. Even with our ideas that weren't fully formed, they delivered a strong brand and pitch deck to show up confidently with investors and partners. That kind of adaptability..."
"I’ve worked with a lot of agencies over the years: brand, web, comms, you name it. Every project has its own vibe, its own momentum (or lack thereof), and its own set of hurdles.But it’s rare to find a team that just gets it... the tech, the market, the nuance...while..."
"Working with the What if Design team has been an exceptional experience. Their attention to detail and creativity exceeded our expectations. Their expert guidance was comprehensive through every aspect of the project, from aesthetics to crafting compelling copy. Their efficiency and professionalism were evident in every interaction and team's kind..."
"As a team of one, I needed partners who could match our pace. What If delivered on that completely. The speed of turnaround, the quick review cycles, the ability to iterate in near real time — that's what made the difference. Highly recommended if you're looking to move fast and..."
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"The old website confused people about what we actually do, but post-launch, that sort of negative feedback has completely stopped. We received a lot of positive feedback on the professionalism and the design. Our previous contact page received maybe one or two hits per week, if that. After the launch..."
"We went from people saying "I have no idea what you're doing" to immediately feeling credible and put together. What If took what was in our heads and made it real, even when we couldn't fully articulate it ourselves."
"We knew it was time to reset, sharpen our focus, and build a foundation for the next stage of growth. The new website was a big part of that. What If understood the vision, spoke our design language, and actually delivered. Anyone working with them should know it's a great..."
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"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!"
"The team at What if Design was nimble, thoughtful and flexible. Their design process forced us to reflect and rethink our corporate strategy. They brought the company messaging to the forefront and accurately translated our vision to creatively visualize our deeply scientific work."
"What If’s team did a great job learning our technology on a razor-tight deadline. They helped transform our complex interconnection process into clear, resonant visuals and messaging for both technical and non-technical audiences."
"What if Design's leadership on our brand redesign was a dream. Their team worked as an extension of our mission, embodied our values, and then expanded upon our vision with ease. Our static, version 101 website was transformed into a full brand identity - professional, creative, and human."
"Before What If, we were relying on developers for design work — it was slow and clunky. From day one, the What If team understood exactly what we were building and came with proactive ideas to improve the user flow and features, not just execute on a brief. The ease..."
"They spoke our language from day one, delivered on every commitment, and never missed a deadline. Web traffic quintupled in our first week after launch, but more than the numbers, we went from a website we wanted to hide to one we're genuinely proud to show every new stakeholder. What..."
"Working with What If Design felt like a true collaboration — flexible, responsive, and always ready to meet us where we were. Even with our ideas that weren't fully formed, they delivered a strong brand and pitch deck to show up confidently with investors and partners. That kind of adaptability..."
"I’ve worked with a lot of agencies over the years: brand, web, comms, you name it. Every project has its own vibe, its own momentum (or lack thereof), and its own set of hurdles.But it’s rare to find a team that just gets it... the tech, the market, the nuance...while..."
"Working with the What if Design team has been an exceptional experience. Their attention to detail and creativity exceeded our expectations. Their expert guidance was comprehensive through every aspect of the project, from aesthetics to crafting compelling copy. Their efficiency and professionalism were evident in every interaction and team's kind..."
"As a team of one, I needed partners who could match our pace. What If delivered on that completely. The speed of turnaround, the quick review cycles, the ability to iterate in near real time — that's what made the difference. Highly recommended if you're looking to move fast and..."
"The extremely high quality of outputs with fast turn around times and availability of team at short notice has been perfect for our requirements"
"The old website confused people about what we actually do, but post-launch, that sort of negative feedback has completely stopped. We received a lot of positive feedback on the professionalism and the design. Our previous contact page received maybe one or two hits per week, if that. After the launch..."
"We went from people saying "I have no idea what you're doing" to immediately feeling credible and put together. What If took what was in our heads and made it real, even when we couldn't fully articulate it ourselves."
"We knew it was time to reset, sharpen our focus, and build a foundation for the next stage of growth. The new website was a big part of that. What If understood the vision, spoke our design language, and actually delivered. Anyone working with them should know it's a great..."
Strategic design expertise tailored for San Francisco's most ambitious ventures.
Deep understanding of San Francisco's unique design landscape and user expectations.
Responsive and agile, we adapt quickly to keep your critical design work moving forward.
Senior-level UX design expertise for San Francisco businesses without the overhead of in-house hiring and without compromising quality.
Specialized expertise in climate tech and purpose-driven sustainable technology initiatives.
Strategic design leaders with proven track records.
Akhila is the co-founder and lead strategist at What if Design. She helps climate tech companies turn complex science into brands and websites that close funding and partnerships. She has worked with teams backed by the US Department of Energy, ARPA-E, leading climate VCs across carbon capture, grid interconnection, and green hydrogen, contributing to over $105M raised. Founders trust her because she learns the science and market before designing, and translates what they build visually for effective communication.
Tejas is the co-founder and product UX lead at What if Design. He leads product and UX for software companies, designing for adoption, retention, and the metrics that drive growth. His work spans battery management systems, fleet platforms, and ESG tools, plus enterprise software for the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia. Founders trust him because he treats every screen as a business decision, not just a design problem.
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.
Connect with our expert team to discuss how strategic UX design can accelerate your product vision.
Share your design challenges and vision and we'd love to discuss how our UX expertise can drive your next breakthrough.
You can also send us a quick email at team@whatifdesign.in.
You can also send us a quick email at team@whatifdesign.in.
