Just a point on the creative nature of the role for your future hiring...
Hiring top creative talent is massively difficult. A lot of that challenge stems from how hard it is to properly convey what you are looking for in their work. Often times they either have what it takes or they don't, and to some extent, it is talent that can't be taught no matter how much time you invest.
Starting with contract work is probably the best bet if you are still zeroing in on what you need. But finding companies that do what you like and poaching their designers is another approach.
Without knowing the kind of feedback you've provided to your current designer, I think the other thing to look at is whether they are getting the feedback they need from you despite the time you've spent giving it. If you are unclear in your feedback, or are communicating it in a way that isn't super actionable to a designer, it can end up with both parties being extremely frustrated with no way forward.
Others here have given great advice on how to let them go, so best of luck with resolving this in a clean way.
Hiring top creative talent is massively difficult. A lot of that challenge stems from how hard it is to properly convey what you are looking for in their work. Often times they either have what it takes or they don't, and to some extent, it is talent that can't be taught no matter how much time you invest.
Starting with contract work is probably the best bet if you are still zeroing in on what you need. But finding companies that do what you like and poaching their designers is another approach.
Without knowing the kind of feedback you've provided to your current designer, I think the other thing to look at is whether they are getting the feedback they need from you despite the time you've spent giving it. If you are unclear in your feedback, or are communicating it in a way that isn't super actionable to a designer, it can end up with both parties being extremely frustrated with no way forward.
Others here have given great advice on how to let them go, so best of luck with resolving this in a clean way.