So for FOSS design / development, I would not look for design help to validate the initial product.

Use existing frameworks to cobble something together. Get early users and listen to their feedback carefully.

If there’s potential, get a designer who will improve the overall UX. Don’t worry about styling yet.

If product already validated and has users then design is the product. You want a product designer who positions the product, helps refine UX. Design cannot be an afterthought. It’s not lipstick on a pig.

Designers have to consider the foss project they would like to contribute to. It’s hard, because you have no idea what the team is like unless you contribute here and there and observe to see if your contributions are implemented. Sometimes they won’t be for the right reasons. What designers want most is to see their work come to fruition in as close to perfect as possible. This goes on their portfolio and it sucks if design is good but implementation is potatoes.

But we also have to stay humble and realize when we make mistakes. Developers often have good UX insights because they are constrained by code and frankly laziness. Laziness is a friend of UX sometimes. Not always. The designer who doesn’t see acknowledge their own blind spots is not advancing themselves or their goals.

My 2 sats at this late hour.

Good night! 😴