Where can I find high quality website designers for hire?

When I say high quality I mean "high quality."

[ron_ron]

Can anyone tell me how I can hire a freelance website designer that is a true professional and top designer for creation of an insurance website? I have been to guru.com and elance.com and have looked at thousands of portfolios. It would appear to me that the really professional and advanced website designers do not hang out at those boards.

Where are they hiding?

I am not looking for tons and tons of JS, Flash, and anime junk. I am looking to protray an image of financial security, trust, professionality, and corporate image. A website that represents a company you can trust your life and money to.

[txbakers]

Google web design firms and look at their portfolios.

Be prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

[Lobo]

Finding a designer that can do a job is easy enough, it all depends on your budget..

If you go to a design company, then you have the resources of a number of different areas of development..

If you are looking for 1 designer to employ, again it depends on your budget..

My best advice is to talk to and interview potential people, as ultimately what matters is finding a good one you can work with and feel confident and happy with, and that can rarely be done on paper..

[le_gber]

It would appear to me that the really professional and advanced website designers do not hang out at those boards.

you nailed it square on the head - a professional web designer do not usually short sell their skills, which is what people usually do on these types of sites.

If you are prepared to pay good money, you will get a professional.

I would look on CSS gallery websites - this is where you would find the professional designers you are looking for.

[vincevincevince]

Speak to someone with a really nice site with the quality you need. I've never met someone who's been less than delighted to recommend their design firm if they have been great.