SitePoint has a new article posted today with their opinions on how to hire a web designer.

Today, anyone who wants to provide information, sell something, share information or promote a business knows that a Web presence will help them achieve those goals. [...] If you want a Website, but you're not a designer or developer, how can you go about getting one? You don't have the time to learn what it takes to be a Web design guru and you don't trust that your cousin, who studied computer science, has enough experience to build you a professional Website. So, who can you hire to build your site? With thousands of Web designers and developers out there, ranging from individual freelancers to big Web design agencies, how can you make sure you choose the right help?

Some of the criteria that they say to look for in the work a designer does include: "Do you like the navigation system?", "Are there a contact page and site map and can they easily be found?", "Do the pages load fast?", "Is there a portfolio you can view?", and many more. They also mention a few things about a freelance designer versus going with a larger firm as well as pricing/guarantees and keeping contact with the designer...