Top 10 Best User Interface Design Chicago Companies for Your Best Choices

Chicago has become one of the strongest UX/UI hubs in the country. The city blends innovation, diverse industry needs, strong education pipelines, and practical Midwestern work culture. This is why many businesses across the United States look to user interface design Chicago for both creativity and reliability. This guide is written with a clear, practical, and business-focused approach to help you make the right decision—no matter your industry or project stage.

Chicago’s UI/UX Market and Trends

Chicago’s user interface design market is expanding across multiple dimensions. The region benefits from its status as a national business center, home to major healthcare providers, financial institutions, logistics enterprises, retail brands, and prestigious universities. These industries are transforming rapidly, and each requires sophisticated digital products.

1. Strong Industry Demand and Digital Modernization

Digital transformation is accelerating across Chicago’s core sectors. Hospitals need secure patient portals. Retailers require smooth eCommerce and mobile experiences. Finance companies depend on clean, reliable, and compliant user dashboards. Logistics and transportation continue digitizing their operational systems.

This multi-industry demand is one of the biggest drivers behind the city’s UI/UX growth, forming a stable and diversified market. With the global UX sector projected to reach $30.2 billion by 2030, Chicago remains a key contributor due to its deep enterprise landscape.

2. Rapid Adoption of AI and Intelligent Interfaces

Chicago design teams are early adopters of advanced technologies that reshape how users interact with products. AI and machine learning now play significant roles in:

• Interface personalization
• Predictive user behavior
• Adaptive content
• Automated user journeys

This shift has positioned Chicago as a city where companies can access future-ready UI/UX capabilities, rather than traditional design alone. Designers integrate AI not as a trend, but as a foundational tool for building smarter, more intuitive digital products.

3. Cross-Sector Innovation and Wide Application

What makes Chicago particularly unique is how UI/UX design applies across contrasting industries. A single design agency may work on:

• Healthcare workflow tools
• Fintech mobile interfaces
• University learning systems
• Transportation and mapping apps
• Retail omnichannel experiences

This cross-industry exposure strengthens the city’s design maturity. Teams understand varied user behaviors, accessibility requirements, and compliance constraints, allowing them to produce UI solutions that are both creative and highly functional.

4. Growing Talent Pipeline and Professional Training

Chicago is home to a thriving ecosystem of design education. Universities and professional bootcamps increasingly focus on digital product design, UX research, and interface prototyping. This creates a steady flow of skilled designers who are trained in modern methodologies and capable of meeting the rising demand in the market.

The city’s talent mix—junior creatives, mid-level specialists, and senior strategists—gives businesses multiple options depending on their needs and budgets.

5. Hybrid Workflows and National Reach

Although based in Chicago, many UI/UX firms now operate with national and global clients. Remote collaboration has become standard. This allows agencies to apply Chicago’s design values—clarity, practicality, and human-centered workflows—to projects across the United States.

Chicago combines the scalability of a major city with the collaborative discipline often associated with Midwestern business culture. The result is a market defined by structure, adaptability, and reliable execution.

Why User Interface Design in Chicago?

Chicago has emerged as one of the most dynamic UI/UX design hubs in the United States. The city brings together industry diversity, strong digital investment, and a fast-growing design talent pool, making it a strategic location for companies seeking high-quality digital experiences. While cities like San Francisco and New York often dominate conversations about product design, Chicago distinguishes itself through its blend of innovation, practicality, and cross-sector demand.

Chicago’s rise in UI/UX design is not accidental. It is driven by how businesses in the city operate: they prioritize usability, accessibility, and results. As industries modernize their digital systems, they rely heavily on intuitive interfaces that support customers, employees, and partners. This creates a strong foundation for sustained growth in the city’s UI/UX ecosystem.

Businesses choose UI/UX design Chicago services because the market delivers a strong balance of creativity, research, and real-world problem solving. Key advantages include:

• Broad cross-industry experience that improves design decisions and usability across various digital products.
• High design maturity, supported by research-driven processes, usability testing, and well-structured workflows.
• Innovation-oriented design culture with strong adoption of AI, microinteractions, advanced prototyping, and modern UI components.
• Scalable team structures capable of supporting startups building MVPs, growing companies, and large enterprise transformation programs.
• Reliable and transparent project management, with a reputation for collaborative communication and disciplined delivery.
• Practical, business-focused design thinking that ensures interfaces are not only visually appealing but also measurable and performance-driven.
• A deep and diverse talent pool trained in the latest UI/UX tools, research frameworks, and product design best practices.

Chicago’s UI/UX landscape brings together innovation, maturity, and cross-sector expertise—making it one of the strongest and most strategic locations for user interface design in the United States.

Top 10 Best User Interface Design Chicago Companies

Chicago has dozens of UX/UI agencies, but only a few consistently deliver exceptional results across industries. The following list includes the best UI/UX design companies in Chicago, based on capabilities, strengths, price range, and suitability for different types of clients.

The list covers companies in Chicago that specialize in user-centric design, digital product development, branding-driven UI, enterprise interfaces, or scalable solutions for high-growth businesses. Each profile includes practical insights to help you select the right partner:

1. Idea Booth

• Location: West Loop — 1017 W Washington Blvd
• Price range: Not specified
• Suitable for: Companies building or rebuilding a brand
• Core strengths: Brand-focused digital product design, full strategy-to-launch execution, strong creative identity development

Idea Booth sits in the heart of the West Loop, one of Chicago’s most design-forward neighborhoods. The agency is known for merging brand strategy with digital product execution, ensuring the user interface reflects a company’s identity at every touchpoint.

Their portfolio includes Walgreens, Nike, and Kraft, highlighting their ability to handle products with strong brand equity and large audiences. Idea Booth is ideal for companies undergoing rebranding, launching new digital products, or needing UI design deeply rooted in brand experience.

2. UX 4Sight

• Location: The Loop — 111 W Jackson Blvd
• Price range: Not specified
• Suitable for: Mid-size to large companies with complex UX issues
• Core strengths: Evidence-based UX, usability research, diagnostic UX analysis, enterprise problem-solving

UX 4Sight operates in Chicago’s central business district and specializes in research-first UX solutions. Their methodology focuses on assessing usability problems, refining user flows, and validating improvements with measurable results.

Their high-profile work with Boeing, CVS, and Disney reflects their ability to support organizations with large platforms, complex workflows, or compliance-driven design requirements. They are a strong fit for companies that need clarity and precision in tackling deep UX challenges.

3. Grand Studio

• Location: West Loop (Chicago)
• Price range: $75,000+
• Suitable for: Enterprises needing research-backed design for complex systems
• Core strengths: Design strategy, enterprise UX, healthcare experience design, deep user research

Grand Studio’s West Loop headquarters gives them proximity to some of Chicago’s largest enterprise and healthcare clients. Their project approach includes extensive discovery, ethnographic research, and scenario mapping—ideal for large, multi-stakeholder systems.

Their work with Chase, McDonald’s, and Providence underscores their capability in designing advanced tools such as enterprise dashboards, healthcare interfaces, and operational workflow systems.

4. Fuzzy Math

• Location: Chicago (multiple client regions)
• Price range: $50,000+
• Suitable for: B2B and enterprise companies with complex internal software
• Core strengths: Simplifying legacy systems, workflow-driven UX, B2B platform redesign, enterprise application modernization

Fuzzy Math is known for transforming complicated internal tools into efficient, intuitive digital experiences. They focus heavily on UX audits, user journey mapping, and designing UI systems that improve productivity for internal teams.

With clients like Hyatt, GE Healthcare, and Allstate, they excel in industries that rely on accurate data interpretation, large operational teams, and mission-critical interfaces.

5. Solid Digital

• Location: Chicago
• Price range: Not specified
• Suitable for: Businesses needing UX/UI design plus digital growth strategy
• Core strengths: Full-service digital consulting, app design, UX/UI, strategic product optimization

Solid Digital brings together UX/UI design, engineering, and digital consulting. Their recognition as Clutch’s Top App Development Agency demonstrates their ability to connect UI design with long-term digital success.

The agency is best for companies looking for a partner who helps design the interface, grow the digital product, and support long-term evolution—not just a one-time design engagement.

6. Eleken

• Location: Remote (serving Chicago clients)
• Price range: Flat monthly subscription
• Suitable for: SaaS startups and product-led companies needing an embedded designer
• Core strengths: SaaS UI/UX design, rapid iteration cycles, designer-on-demand model, 3-day free trial

Eleken works primarily in a remote model but frequently collaborates with Chicago tech companies. Their subscription-based approach allows clients to onboard dedicated UI/UX designers quickly—ideal for fast-moving SaaS teams.
Because they specialize exclusively in SaaS, Eleken fits companies that need constant feature refinement, dashboard updates, or iterative interface improvements without long contract cycles.

7. Codal

• Location: Chicago
• Price range: $75,000+
• Suitable for: Companies needing end-to-end digital product design and engineering
• Core strengths: UX/UI + development, enterprise system design, research-driven discovery, full product lifecycle delivery

Codal is one of Chicago’s most recognized full-service digital agencies. They combine UX research, UI design, and engineering to deliver large, high-impact products. Their clients include Baxter and Charles Schwab, reflecting their ability to support complex enterprise-grade systems.
Codal is ideal for clients who want a single partner capable of delivering strategy, design, and development under one coordinated process.

8. Sandstorm

• Location: Chicago — 4619 N Ravenswood Ave
• Price range: $50,000+
• Suitable for: Healthcare, non-profit, education, and regulated industries
• Core strengths: UX/UI, branding, compliance-driven design, accessibility-first digital development

Sandstorm serves sectors where accuracy, security, and compliance are non-negotiable. Their work with the American Medical Association and the University of Chicago demonstrates their alignment with organizations that require trustworthy, thoroughly researched digital solutions.
Their expertise covers UX research, UI design, content strategy, and digital transformation—making them a strong fit for institutions responsible for large communities or sensitive data.

9. Digital Silk

• Location: Chicago
• Price range: Inquire
• Suitable for: Healthcare, eCommerce, and enterprise clients requiring high-quality digital execution
• Core strengths: Deep technical expertise, enterprise UI/UX, high-quality deliverables

Digital Silk is well known for its technically strong design and development approach. The firm often serves industries with demanding UI requirements—such as healthcare, fintech, and large eCommerce businesses.

They excel in aligning UI/UX design services with performance, security, and technical standards. Many clients rely on them for full product delivery, from interface design to development, making Digital Silk suitable for projects that require technical rigor combined with sophisticated UI.

10. TXI (formerly Table XI)

• Location: Chicago
• Price range: $100,000+
• Suitable for: Large, complex digital initiatives in healthcare, finance, and operations
• Core strengths: Strategy-first product development, research-heavy UX, strong engineering capabilities

TXI is one of Chicago’s most respected agencies for strategy, UX design, and technical execution. With clients like AbbVie, they specialize in solving difficult product challenges involving compliance, long-term product lifecycles, and complex user environments.

TXI is ideal for organizations requiring deep research, multi-phase discovery, and a long-term digital transformation partner.

How to Choose the Best Vendor for Your Business?

Above is the list of best user interface design Chicago companies, but how to choose the one in those options that suit you best? Selecting a UI/UX design partner is a strategic decision that affects product usability, development timelines, and long-term customer experience. Whether you are redesigning an existing platform or building a new digital product, the right vendor must offer more than visual creativity—they must align with your goals, your workflow, and your industry requirements.

Below are the key factors that help businesses evaluate and choose the right partner with confidence:

1. Align agency strengths with your product requirements

Some firms excel at enterprise UX and complex system mapping, while others specialize in SaaS dashboards or branding-heavy interfaces. Review each agency’s case studies and confirm whether their strengths mirror your product’s complexity, audience, and long-term roadmap.

2. Assess the research depth and methodology

Strong UI/UX work starts with clarity. Ask how the vendor conducts discovery, gathers user insights, evaluates workflows, and validates assumptions. A reliable partner should be able to demonstrate how they move from research to decisions—clearly and methodically.

3. Evaluate communication and collaboration strategies

The best design outcomes require smooth communication between the vendor, internal stakeholders, and technical teams. Consider how the agency manages feedback cycles, documentation, iterative changes, and progress updates. Process discipline matters as much as creativity.

4. Ensure technical compatibility with your dev team

A great interface must also be buildable. Verify that the design partner understands your engineering environment, technology stack, and constraints. The ideal vendor collaborates seamlessly with developers, ensuring that UI decisions remain feasible, scalable, and efficient to implement.

5. Review pricing models and ongoing support options

UI/UX design is not a one-time event—it evolves with your product. Compare project minimums, subscription models, and retainer packages to understand long-term value. Choose the vendor that offers predictable cost structures and ongoing support that aligns with your growth pace.

6. Focus on measurable outcomes over aesthetics

High-quality UI/UX is not defined by aesthetics alone. Examine case studies to see whether the vendor improved conversion rates, reduced task time, enhanced onboarding, or simplified workflows. Look for evidence of problem-solving, not just well-designed screens.

Finding the best UI/UX partner requires aligning strategy, execution, pricing, and technical feasibility. Chicago offers many strong agencies, but each operates with different strengths, specializations, and engagement styles. By evaluating vendors using the factors above, businesses can avoid mismatches and choose a partner that supports both immediate needs and long-term product evolution.

Challenges When Choosing UI/UX Design Services in Chicago

Chicago offers a rich pool of UI/UX agencies, but this abundance also brings specific challenges for companies trying to select the right partner. While the city’s design expertise is strong, the variety of pricing models, project structures, and specializations can make the decision process more complex than expected:

• Significant pricing differences between agencies:
  Rates in Chicago vary widely—from subscription models to premium agencies charging over $150 an hour. This makes it hard for companies to predict total project costs or compare proposals fairly, especially when deliverables differ across agencies.
• Mismatch between UX strategy and UI execution:
  Some firms focus heavily on research and discovery, while others specialize purely in interface visuals. Without clear alignment, businesses risk paying for unnecessary UX research or receiving screens that look polished but lack validated user flows.
• Difficulty choosing between enterprise-focused and startup-focused agencies:
  Chicago agencies typically lean toward one of two extremes: long discovery phases suited for enterprises or fast iterative cycles optimized for startups. Choosing the wrong type leads to delays, budget issues, or incompatible workflows.
• Limited availability among high-demand agencies:
  Top-tier firms in Chicago often have long waitlists, strict onboarding windows, or high project minimums of $50,000 to $100,000+. This creates challenges for businesses needing immediate design work or flexible engagement models.
• Complex requirements for regulated industries:
  Sectors such as healthcare, finance, logistics, and education require strict attention to compliance, security, and accessibility. Not all firms have experience with these constraints, increasing the risk of rework or compliance gaps.

As companies evaluate UI/UX design partners in Chicago, many discover that local strengths come with limitations—especially around cost, speed, and availability. These challenges often prompt teams to explore offshore outsourcing as a complement or alternative to local agencies.

Offshore design teams from countries with strong technical talent, such as Vietnam, offer several advantages:

• More predictable pricing with lower hourly rates
• Flexible engagement models without large project minimums
• Faster team onboarding and quicker turnaround times
• Design talent experienced in global UX standards
• High-quality execution aligned with modern product design practices

For many businesses, the most effective approach is not choosing between local or offshore teams. Instead, it is combining Chicago’s strategic strengths with the cost efficiency, scalability, and speed of offshore partners.

This blended model enables companies to maintain UI excellence while gaining the flexibility needed for ongoing product evolution, rapid iteration, and long-term digital growth.

Why Newwave Solutions for User Interface Design?

As businesses compare UI/UX partners across Chicago, many recognize the value of combining local strategic expertise with the efficiency, scalability, and cost advantages of global talent. Offshore outsourcing is no longer a cost-driven choice—it is a strategic decision to expand capacity, accelerate delivery, and reduce the pressure created by high agency minimums and long waitlists.

Newwave Solutions provides a balanced alternative by offering high-quality UI/UX design services at a competitive cost through a Vietnam-based talent model. Our approach is designed for companies that want strong digital execution without compromising speed, quality, or governance.

What Makes Newwave Solutions a Strong Choice for User Interface Design Services?

• High-quality design at competitive pricing thanks to our skilled Vietnam-based UI/UX team.
• End-to-end digital product design services from discovery to developer-ready UI.
• Global-standard UX practices in accessibility, usability, and design systems.
• Fast MVP support with rapid prototyping and lean iteration.
• Web, mobile, and landing page expertise for conversion-focused interfaces.
• Flexible engagement models for startups to enterprises.
• Clear communication with structured updates and dependable delivery.

Whether you’re building a new product, refining an existing platform, or expanding digital capabilities, choosing the right UI/UX partner will shape the effectiveness, usability, and long-term success of your product. Need a reliable design partner that balances quality and cost? Newwave Solutions is here to support your next UI/UX project with skilled talent and seamless execution.

To Quang Duy is the CEO of Newwave Solutions, a leading Vietnamese software company. He is recognized as a standout technology consultant. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Mr. To Quang Duy

CEO, Newwave Solutions

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