[01] Design Talent That Defines
High-Craft Design Recruiting
We're former designers and design leaders turned recruiters. We know the work because we've done it.
Specialized search for the design and product talent that defines great companies: founding designers, senior ICs, and design leaders.
We focus on three disciplines that are increasingly hard to hire well: Product Design, Creative, and Design Engineering. Whether you need a Founding Designer, a creative lead, or a Design Engineer who can ship, we know the profiles, the portfolios, and how to find the people other recruiters miss.
[01] Who We Work With
You're good at the design part. We're good at the people part.
Early Stage
Pre-seed to Series A founders making their first design hire. We help you find the Founding Designer who sets the bar for everything that comes after.
Growth Stage
Series B and C companies scaling a design org. We place the senior ICs, staff designers, and design leaders who can operate at speed and ambiguity.
AI & Emerging Tech
Companies building at the frontier who need designers that understand the medium. Voice AI, multimodal, agentic — we know these roles and how to evaluate them.
Design-Led Teams
Companies where design has a seat at the table. We find the talent that matches your bar — not just someone who can ship, but someone who can raise the standard.
Any Stage, Any Size
From a solo founder making their first design hire to a scaling team building out a full design and product org — if design matters to your company, we can help.
[02] Why It Matters Who You Hire
A Recruiter Who's Been on Both Sides
Former Designer
Before I recruited designers, I was one. I spent years as a Product Designer and Founding Designer at early-stage startups and portfolio companies backed by 500.co and Plug and Play. I know what good design thinking looks like, how it shows up in a portfolio, and what it doesn't.
10+ Years in Recruiting
I've spent 10+ years in recruiting, including 6 years at Meta placing designers, creative directors, and product engineers across Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Facebook. I've hired Founding Designers, senior ICs, design leaders, product and design engineers, and creatives for early-stage and fast-growing companies. I've reviewed thousands of portfolios. I know what elite looks like and I know how to find it.
Boutique
X2Talent is intentionally small. When you work with us, you get me — not a junior coordinator working from a job board. Every search gets hands-on attention, honest feedback, and a recruiter who can have a real conversation with your candidates.
Design Community
I've spent years building relationships with the design community — running communities, mentoring designers, and staying embedded in the space. When I reach out, designers respond. That access is the difference between a good shortlist and a great one.
[03] How We Work
How We Work
- Retained Search
- For your most critical hires. We work exclusively on your role with dedicated sourcing, weekly updates, and a structured process from kickoff to close.
- Contingency Search
- No upfront cost — you only pay when we place. We move fast and draw on our active network to get quality candidates in your pipeline quickly.
- Contract & Freelance
- Need design talent for a project, a sprint, or a gap between hires? We place contractors and freelancers who can hit the ground running.
- Contract-to-Hire
- Not ready to commit full-time? Start with a contract engagement and convert when the fit is confirmed.
- Fractional Design Leadership
- Need a senior design leader before you're ready to hire one full-time? We can connect you with experienced fractional CDOs and Heads of Design.
[04] What to Expect
A Process Built for Startup Speed
- Step 1
Week 1
Kickoff
- Step 2
Week 1–2
Active Sourcing
- Step 3
Week 2–3
Curated Shortlist
- Step 4
Weeks, not months
Offer
[05] Testimonials
Loved by designers, founders, and hiring teams.
“Carl made my job search a lot less painful. He gave me real options instead of pitching whatever he needed filled. And once I chose where I wanted to go, he stayed with it the whole way through and provided support at every stage. Happy to recommend him to anyone hiring or looking.”
“Creative is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Carl. I've had the pleasure of working with Carl for the summer, during which we worked on the original designs for Alumnify. Above all, I was impressed with Carl's ability to create beautiful designs, hit deadlines, and be an amazing teammate to everyone else in the company. Carl would be a true asset for any positions requiring innovation and design and comes with my highest recommendation.”
“Working with Carl has been great! He truly cares about my interests and makes sure to find a role that's a perfect fit for me. He's been so supportive and is always there when I have any questions or concerns. Highly recommended!”
“Carl Wheatley has been an exceptional career advisor and mentor to our students at Mento Design Academy. We hosted regular workshops and webinars with Carl on topics like job hunt strategies, portfolio, and career growth. He has been instrumental in helping our students navigate the job market, refine their portfolios, and prepare for interviews.”
“I've had the opportunity to not only work with Carl when building the design team, but he brought me to Meta. As the first point of contact for a candidate, he's thoughtful, responsive, and proactive. His network is vast and he prioritizes his connections with people. Carl is one of the best sourcing and recruiting partners I've had the pleasure of working with.”
“When Carl reached out about a leadership opportunity at Facebook, I honestly didn't think it'd be the right fit. His willingness to spend the time, answer the questions, make the introductions, and offer an inspiring perspective that brought the opportunity to life made all the difference. Carl has an outstanding ability to make meaningful relationships with candidates.”
“I was a big fan of working with Carl. He knows recruiting systems and technologies like the back of his hand. Carl built Greenlite's talent function into a well-oiled machine. Any organization would be lucky to have a top-tier talent professional like him.”
“Carl made my job search a lot less painful. He gave me real options instead of pitching whatever he needed filled. And once I chose where I wanted to go, he stayed with it the whole way through and provided support at every stage. Happy to recommend him to anyone hiring or looking.”
“Creative is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Carl. I've had the pleasure of working with Carl for the summer, during which we worked on the original designs for Alumnify. Above all, I was impressed with Carl's ability to create beautiful designs, hit deadlines, and be an amazing teammate to everyone else in the company. Carl would be a true asset for any positions requiring innovation and design and comes with my highest recommendation.”
“Working with Carl has been great! He truly cares about my interests and makes sure to find a role that's a perfect fit for me. He's been so supportive and is always there when I have any questions or concerns. Highly recommended!”
“Carl Wheatley has been an exceptional career advisor and mentor to our students at Mento Design Academy. We hosted regular workshops and webinars with Carl on topics like job hunt strategies, portfolio, and career growth. He has been instrumental in helping our students navigate the job market, refine their portfolios, and prepare for interviews.”
“I've had the opportunity to not only work with Carl when building the design team, but he brought me to Meta. As the first point of contact for a candidate, he's thoughtful, responsive, and proactive. His network is vast and he prioritizes his connections with people. Carl is one of the best sourcing and recruiting partners I've had the pleasure of working with.”
“When Carl reached out about a leadership opportunity at Facebook, I honestly didn't think it'd be the right fit. His willingness to spend the time, answer the questions, make the introductions, and offer an inspiring perspective that brought the opportunity to life made all the difference. Carl has an outstanding ability to make meaningful relationships with candidates.”
“I was a big fan of working with Carl. He knows recruiting systems and technologies like the back of his hand. Carl built Greenlite's talent function into a well-oiled machine. Any organization would be lucky to have a top-tier talent professional like him.”
“I've worked with Carl Wheatley a number of times over the years, and he's someone I know I can count on to find great people. Most recently, we asked Carl to help MEXT (acquired by AMD) find a senior UI/UX designer. Within days, he brought us several excellent candidates, and we hired someone with exactly the technical skills we needed who was also a great cultural fit with the team.”
“Carl is product focused. He has an excellent sense of design and understanding of the technology space. He is adaptable and highly professional. I can trust Carl to handle any business situation with great success. He produces great work on an individual basis and is a great contributor in a team setting.”
“Carl has been so nice in taking a personal interest to help locate creative work and gigs. He is quick to return questions and follow through with business. So refreshing! I would recommend him to everyone.”
“Carl was excellent at reading my skills and personality attributes to find the perfect role. He was dedicated in helping me in my job search, valued my time, and only mentioned opportunities that were worthwhile. He is professional and thorough in communicating. I highly recommend Carl!”
“Carl is an exceptional recruiter who played a crucial role in my successful journey interviewing with Meta. From the moment I first connected with Carl, I was immediately impressed by his dedication and commitment to supporting me throughout the entire interview process. He took the time to thoroughly understand my skills, experiences, and career aspirations, allowing him to provide valuable guidance tailored to my specific needs.”
“Carl is certainly one of the best I have worked with! A really great recruiter and sourcer who will allow your company to be the best. And overall just an awesome, confident person. You will be impressed by this person, give him a call or email soon.”
“I've worked with Carl Wheatley a number of times over the years, and he's someone I know I can count on to find great people. Most recently, we asked Carl to help MEXT (acquired by AMD) find a senior UI/UX designer. Within days, he brought us several excellent candidates, and we hired someone with exactly the technical skills we needed who was also a great cultural fit with the team.”
“Carl is product focused. He has an excellent sense of design and understanding of the technology space. He is adaptable and highly professional. I can trust Carl to handle any business situation with great success. He produces great work on an individual basis and is a great contributor in a team setting.”
“Carl has been so nice in taking a personal interest to help locate creative work and gigs. He is quick to return questions and follow through with business. So refreshing! I would recommend him to everyone.”
“Carl was excellent at reading my skills and personality attributes to find the perfect role. He was dedicated in helping me in my job search, valued my time, and only mentioned opportunities that were worthwhile. He is professional and thorough in communicating. I highly recommend Carl!”
“Carl is an exceptional recruiter who played a crucial role in my successful journey interviewing with Meta. From the moment I first connected with Carl, I was immediately impressed by his dedication and commitment to supporting me throughout the entire interview process. He took the time to thoroughly understand my skills, experiences, and career aspirations, allowing him to provide valuable guidance tailored to my specific needs.”
“Carl is certainly one of the best I have worked with! A really great recruiter and sourcer who will allow your company to be the best. And overall just an awesome, confident person. You will be impressed by this person, give him a call or email soon.”
“Carl reached out to me at just the right time during my job search and connected me with Rox. He was responsive, supportive, and genuinely understood what I was looking for. I wouldn't have found this opportunity without him. Highly recommend working with Carl if you're looking for your next role!”
“During my job search Carl helped me find a perfect fit! He knows the industry and has the network to find what's in the client's and candidate's best interest. Carl is also an amazing and hardworking individual with a keen eye for design.”
“I had the pleasure of working with Carl at Meta supporting Product Design hiring. In the length of time I have been in the recruiting industry, I have never partnered with a more dedicated colleague in a sourcing role. Carl not only sourced numerous product design managers as well as countless individual contributors, but was also responsible for sourcing and helping to place a very high priority Design Director.”
“Carl was originally my recruiter into Facebook/Meta. The candidate experience I've received from Carl made my own interview process so much better. I was able to calm my nerves and actually focus on the interview at hand. Carl is a go-getter, and the most accountable recruiter I've ever had the pleasure of working with.”
“I worked with Carl as a sourcer at Meta. He was always professional and helpful. He helped me land my job as a Product Designer and put me at ease. Thanks Carl!”
“Carl led the search for our Head of Design at Ninety and delivered genuinely strong, well-vetted candidates, people who fit our culture, not just the job description. What stands out is how easy he makes the process: he listens, communicates quickly and clearly, and handles candidates with real care.”
“Carl reached out to me at just the right time during my job search and connected me with Rox. He was responsive, supportive, and genuinely understood what I was looking for. I wouldn't have found this opportunity without him. Highly recommend working with Carl if you're looking for your next role!”
“During my job search Carl helped me find a perfect fit! He knows the industry and has the network to find what's in the client's and candidate's best interest. Carl is also an amazing and hardworking individual with a keen eye for design.”
“I had the pleasure of working with Carl at Meta supporting Product Design hiring. In the length of time I have been in the recruiting industry, I have never partnered with a more dedicated colleague in a sourcing role. Carl not only sourced numerous product design managers as well as countless individual contributors, but was also responsible for sourcing and helping to place a very high priority Design Director.”
“Carl was originally my recruiter into Facebook/Meta. The candidate experience I've received from Carl made my own interview process so much better. I was able to calm my nerves and actually focus on the interview at hand. Carl is a go-getter, and the most accountable recruiter I've ever had the pleasure of working with.”
“I worked with Carl as a sourcer at Meta. He was always professional and helpful. He helped me land my job as a Product Designer and put me at ease. Thanks Carl!”
“Carl led the search for our Head of Design at Ninety and delivered genuinely strong, well-vetted candidates, people who fit our culture, not just the job description. What stands out is how easy he makes the process: he listens, communicates quickly and clearly, and handles candidates with real care.”
[06] Track Record
Companies We've Placed Designers At
Here are just some of the companies we have worked with.
[07] What We Search For
Specialized Design Search
Founding Designer Recruiting
Specialized search for the first design hire at early-stage startups — the zero-to-one designer who sets the bar for brand, product, and team culture before anyone else.
View serviceProduct & UX Design Recruiting
Recruiting for Product Designers, UX Designers, and Interaction Designers — the core design roles that define how a product thinks, feels, and works.
View serviceVisual & Brand Design Recruiting
Recruiting for UI, Visual, and Brand Designers — the designers who build the visual systems, identities, and creative direction that define how a company shows up in the world.
View serviceEmerging & Specialist Design Roles
Recruiting for Voice AI Designers, Conversation Designers, and other cross-disciplinary specialists — the hardest roles to find and the ones most recruiters don't know how to evaluate.
View serviceDesign Engineering & Technical Talent
Recruiting for Design Engineers, Front-End Engineers, and Product Engineers — the technical talent that sits at the intersection of design and code.
View service[08] Team
Design-Literate Recruiters

Carl
Founder of X2Talent, Ex-Product Designer
10+ years in design. Transitioned from product design to recruiting, building teams at BCG Digital Ventures portfolio companies. Spent 6 years at Meta across Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Facebook. Founded X2Talent.

Jeremy
Ex-Meta Design Recruiting Leader
11 years at Meta. Came up in design, transitioned to building design recruiting teams. From IC to Org Leader, has personally recruited hundreds of designers and design leaders.
[09] FAQ
Questions, Answered
Who do you work with?
We partner with early-stage and fast-growing startups at any funding stage — founders making their first design hire, growth-stage teams scaling a design org, and companies that know great design is a competitive advantage.
What are your pricing models?
We offer retained search (engagement fee + success fee) for senior and critical hires, and contingency search (success fee only, paid on placement) for all other roles. We'll recommend the right model based on your role and timeline, and we're always open to building something custom that works for your needs.
How long does a search take?
We move at startup speed. Expect vetted, high-fidelity candidates in your inbox within the first week — and an offer in hand in weeks, not months.
What roles do you specialize in?
We place across all levels, from individual contributors to leadership. Founding Designers, senior and staff Product Designers, design leaders, Design Engineers, brand and visual designers, Content Designers, and the cross-disciplinary hybrid roles that are hardest to fill, including Voice AI and Conversation Designers, creatives, Digital Designers, and Product Engineers. Not sure where your role fits? Just let us know what you need and we'll figure it out together.