Where would the best place to find a web designer be ? I wasnt sure if this fit in the Web Design and content directory but i looked in there and didnt see anything that seemed helpful to my exact question

Go to web design offers and requests.

Well most web designers have websites. You might be able to google some of them. Some web hosting companies also have in-company designers working for them or at least are affiliated with some designers for referral.

Do you prefer local designers so that you can meet face to face? or are you fine with just communicating through email?

What's your price range? You might try getting a site from templatemonster.com and editing it. Most hosting company sites look pretty similar nowadays.

Web design offers and requests is appropriate section.

If you mean "Where in WHT" the answer has already been posted. Otherwise I would recommend web design directories. There are a few of them that are very comprehensive.

Design offers and request here on WHT, freelanceswitch jobs lists if you are looking more options.

The web designer's duty is very important basically without a design you can't make web application that can full fill all the requirements of the customers so it is highly recommended that you should keep attention toward the good web designing, you can also hire some very good custom web design company too in this regard if you want to get a real success....:)

Assign the job to a freelance web designer, and pay him as the job completes...simple. There are many sites that are providing platform for both to come together, designer as well as client who needs designing services.

Seems you got a lot of help already :D , but yea Web Request / Offers is the best spot on WHT.

http://www.sortfolio.com

You can visit any of the webdesigners site & fill the form for requesting a quote from there side.You can choose the best from a lot of replies & select the best one which is available.