Design Recruiting · Born in Chicago
The right designer
changes everything.
Connecting startups with the designers who shape what they become.
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Chicago, IL
Brand Design
Product Design
Founding Design
Design Leadership
Brand Design
Product Design
Founding Design
Design Leadership
Brand Design
Product Design
Founding Design
Design Leadership
Our thesis
The best companies don't treat design as an afterthought. They treat it as a foundation. We find the designers who build it.
What we place
04 disciplines
Brand Design
Visual · Motion
Brand Strategy
Brand Strategy
Product Design
UX · UI
Design Systems
Design Systems
Founding Design
Zero to One
Full Stack Craft
Full Stack Craft
Design Leadership
Head of Design
VP · CDO
VP · CDO
Process
Simple by design.
/01
Tell us what you need
Share the role, the team context, and what great looks like. We dig deep on craft, not just descriptions.
/02
We source and vet
Our network spans brand, product, and leadership. We review portfolios personally and surface only candidates worth your time.
/03
You make the call
Interview, decide, hire. You pay only when you find the right person.
FAQ
Common questions.
What types of roles do you place?+
We specialize exclusively in design: brand designers, product designers, founding designers, and design leaders. We don't do generalist recruiting.
What makes Oakdale different?+
We only do design. That means we can actually evaluate a portfolio, understand craft levels, and know what good looks like — something a generalist recruiter can't offer.
What does the search process look like?+
We start with a deep-dive conversation about your team, your product, and what great looks like. From there we source, screen, and present only the candidates worth your time.
Do you work with companies outside of Chicago?+
Yes. We're based in Chicago but work with companies across the US.
Can you help us define the role before we search?+
Yes. We often help clients think through what they actually need before writing a job description. That clarity is what makes the search faster and the hire better.
Let's work together