Freelance designers can be an incredible asset for projects, but also pose challenges such as communication barriers and varying levels of expertise. To improve collaboration with freelance designers and increase project success, it's essential to clarify design project goals before hiring, write a comprehensive design brief that communicates your vision and expectations, have a design resource file ready to go, agree on decision-makers, value the designer's process, and provide feedback that moves the needle. By following these steps, you can ensure a smoother collaboration with freelance designers and increase the chances of achieving project success.