The best countries to hire remote designers

Every company has a recognised brand that attracts customers and new hires alike. At the heart of that branding? Designers. The global graphic designer job market is over $45.8 billion, and they live worldwide. All they need is an internet connection to join your remote team full-time.

Recruiting top talent internationally brings a competitive edge through diverse backgrounds and expertise, especially in design, offering broader time-zone coverage for urgent client needs.

Not every talent pool matches every need; certain regions excel in cultivating designers with a creative flair, some of whom also specialise in software development, particularly within startups, highlighting the importance of selecting the right source for innovative design talent.

Let's take a look at some of the top countries to consider when hiring remote graphic designers.

The top 6 best countries to hire designers

1. Spain

With the release of the digital nomad visa in Spain, remote workers, including those in web design, are flocking worldwide to the country. Spain is the third most popular destination for European tech talent, after Germany and the United Kingdom. The European Union (EU) tech ecosystem is undoubtedly thriving, bringing in €582 million alone in the first week of 2024.

For design inspiration, the Barcelona Centre of Design caters to international audiences, promoting the city’s creative and design scenes and nurturing local design talent.

• Average designer salary: EUR 44,021 or AUD 72,440 per year
• Time zones: GMT+2
• Top talent hubs: Barcelona, Madrid

2. Singapore

Singapore is recognised as a 'nation by design' due to its creative and innovative solutions to various challenges. The country had to create a solution for everything—from cleaning its own water to public housing despite limited land resources—earning the UNESCO designation for Creative City of Design in 2015. As a result, design has become a significant part of Singapore's culture, making it an attractive destination for highly skilled UI/UX design professionals in high demand.

A hub for digital innovation, Singapore's emerging industries like AI, data science, and cybersecurity also require top-notch design talent. Singapore is the third highest adopter of artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia.

• Average designer salary: SGD 67,344 or AUD 75,836 per year
• Time zones: GMT+8:00
• Top talent hubs: Singapore

3. Philippines

Revenue in the IT Services market in the Philippines is projected to reach $3.4 billion in 2024. The Philippines is conveniently located for remote teams in Australia, Japan, and Southeast Asia and open collaboration, something very prevalent in Philippine work culture. The growing tech market in the country comes with competitive pricing and bilingual remote workers with high English proficiency.

The UI/UX design talent pool in the Philippines skews younger (18-34 years old) with up to four years of experience, as the country's UX landscape is just starting to take off.

• Average designer salary: PHP 450,000 or AUD 12,096 per year
• Time zones: GMT+8:00
• Top talent hubs: Manila, Cebu, Davao

4. Canada

If you're struggling to find top local talent for your company on platforms like LinkedIn or job boards within Australia, consider hiring remote workers from Canada.

The country's primary tech hub, Toronto, boasts a high demand for UX designers and is home to the largest concentration of tech employment, followed by Montreal and Vancouver. As average wages in Canada are mostly lower than in Australia, outsourcing designers from this country can also lower your design costs.

Managing remote employees requires efficient project management. Luckily, Rippling can help you navigate the intricacies of Canadian provinces and remain compliant while onboarding new team members.    

• Average designer salary: CAD 69,865 or AUD 78,056 per year
• Time zones: GMT-2:30, GMT-3, GMT-4, GMT-5, GMT-6, GMT-7
• Top talent hubs: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver

5. United Kingdom

If you're looking to hire remote design workers, consider adding the United Kingdom to your recruiting list. This country has world-class talent, evident in its thriving tech sector that saw higher investment than mainland Europe.

Entry-level and mid-level UX designers' talent is untapped for companies abroad as they’ve seen pay cuts as of late, making the UK a promising source of top talent. In 2021 alone, three million job roles were attributed to the UK's digital tech economy, showing a 40% increase over the two years prior.

• Average designer salary: GBP 37,500 or AUD 71,895 per year
• Time zones: GMT+1
• Top talent hubs: London, Manchester

6. Mexico

Did you know that Latin America has the second strongest growth for technology talent, particularly in software engineering and UX design? Coursera's analysis of their learners reveals that Mexicans excel in technology, with expertise in interactive design. Local design agencies have even produced work for major corporations such as Fiat and Harley-Davidson, which shows adaptability with style and software tools.

Most bilingual graphic designers in the country hold a diploma, and 40% of talent entering the field is at entry level.

• Average designer salary: MXN 241,200 or AUD 22,240
• Time zones: GMT-6, GMT-7
• Top talent hubs: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey

*Note: Salary data is gathered from Glassdoor and Indeed. Exact values vary depending on updated currency exchange rates, seniority levels, and geographical location within each country. 

Hiring remote designers across the globe with Rippling

Managing a global workforce while complying with local laws can be complex, especially when dealing with remote work in other countries. Rippling simplifies the entire employee lifecycle by providing a centralised platform, from offer letters to offboarding. 

With just a click of the 'hire' button, Rippling can support your global workforce right away, including: 

• Setting up localised employment agreements.
• Making payroll to employees and contractors globally without delays caused by bank transfers or conversions.
• Ensuring compliance with overtime, leave, and termination requirements quickly and efficiently.

Catch Rippling in action and learn how Rippling EOR can monitor the tangled web of global onboarding requirements—so you don’t have to.