45 Product Design Interview Questions to Prepare For
by Kelsey Arrington on Feb 22, 2022 So, you’re a product designer who landed an onsite or virtual interview? Congratulations! Landing an interview is a huge accomplishment – especially in an economy saturated with job seekers!
But, where do you go from here? And how can you do everything in your power to land the position?
If you want to feel prepared and exude confidence during your next product design interview, keep reading. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 45 design questions and 5 tips to help you make it to the next phase of the interview process.
In the article:
- 5 Tips to Prepare for any Product Design Interview
- Porfolio Review #1-10
- Research Methods #11-15
- Design Tools #16-25
- Mobile Applications #26-30
- Design Scenarios #31-40
- Design Challenges #41-50
- Conclusion
5 Tips to Prepare for Any Product Design Interview
1. Google Yourself
Most people go into an interview with the intention of making a great impression – which is the best attitude to have! However, sometimes, the first impression your employer gets is from your online presence. Think about it. If they’ve bothered to google you, even once, your interviewer may have already formed an opinion of you.
So, when was the last time you searched your name online? If you have a product design interview coming up, we highly recommend doing so!
After all, you want the company to get to know you as a designer, so it is important to make sure your online persona represents you well.
2. Show Your Design Process
It almost goes without saying that your portfolio is important! So, what should you show? There’s no right or wrong answer. As a product designer, you can apply design thinking to this task and curate the best possible portfolio.
You’ll want to include your best pieces, of course – creations that undoubtedly speak to your visual design aesthetic. But, what else?
In addition to those high-fidelity portfolio pieces, consider showing your design process as well. Are sketches a part of your process? Do you use stickie notes to brainstorm? Use this opportunity to show off your insightful and dynamic thinking skills!
3. Be Enthusiastic
Going through the product design interview process can be a bit daunting – especially if you have your heart set on the role. However, it is important that you don’t give in to feelings of anxiety. Instead, try to remain enthusiastic!
Enthusiasm is especially important for those who are participating in a phone interview or video conferencing session with their prospective boss. In those instances, verbal cues may be disruptive. But, the good news is that enthusiasm can be shown in other ways! Want to show you’re actively listening? Smile, nod, and acknowledge the interviewer often.
4. Do Your Research
As a product designer, surely you’re familiar with conducting user research. So, apply similar research methods to get to know your soon-to-be boss a little better!
Why? Well, gathering information ahead of time can help you craft a dynamic design presentation and discuss your design process with ease.
5. Actively Listen & Avoid Over-Talking
During the interview process, you’ll likely want to share as much as you can – with the goal of standing out from the other candidates. While this approach can work, it’s important that you strike a balance between listening and responding to your interviewer.
Our advice? Avoid over-talking. You don’t need to share every detail of your last position. Instead, take moments to actively listen and, when appropriate, ask questions about the role you’re applying for.
45 Product Design Interview Questions
Ready to rock your next product design interview? Read these 45 product design interview questions and prepare to wow your future boss!
Product Design Portfolio #1-10
- How would you define yourself a product designer?
- Can you tell us about a project that you are most proud of and why?
- When it comes to design, what are your weaknesses?
- Can you describe your design process?
- How would you defend the typography choices you’ve made in your portfolio?
- If you could re-do a project that you struggled with, would you? What would you do differently?
- How would you rate your visual design skills?
- Can you discuss your experience with interaction design?
- What does product thinking mean to you?
- Where do you find design inspiration?
Research Methods #11-15
- Which user researcher methods do you apply to your design process?
- How do you conduct usability testing?
- Do you use data to drive your design decisions?
- Are you familiar with A/B testing?
- When it comes to product design, how do you measure success?
Design Tools #15-25
- What are your go-to tools as a designer?
- What is your experience with material design?
- What are your favorite prototyping tools?
- Are you familiar with Android UI?
- What is your process for solving design problems? What tools do you use?
- Are you familiar with the CSS framework LESS?
- Which tech companies have you worked for and have you used their proprietary tools?
- Can a product designer solve design problem without a computer? If so, how?
- Which tools would recommend for beginner product designers?
- What tools help simplify your design process?
Mobile Applications #26-30
- What is your experience with designing mobile applications?
- If you had the opportunity, how would you improve upon Siri?
- Can you provide an example of a mobile experience and how you would make it better?
- Can you discuss an app you like and what makes it enjoyable?
- What could Google Assistant do better?
Design Scenarios #31-40
- How do you handle a design project when you know you cannot meet the deadline?
- How would you attract users to our company’s website?
- Do you modify your design decisions when your colleagues or clients don’t agree with your proposed plan?
- What usually prevents you from meeting a deadline?
- Can you describe how you would conduct usability testing to ensure your designs meet customer needs?
- How well do you collaborate with others?
- Can you describe interaction design and product thinking to someone who is unfamiliar with those terms?
- How do you pitch your ideas to fellow product designers?
- Which part of your design process do you prioritize to ensure you meet deadlines?
- How do you communicate to a developer who is unsure how to develop a product the way you designed it?
Design Challenges #41-45
- Decribe how you would design a brick and mortar book store.
- Design an animation for a local community center.
- Reimagine a remote control. How could it look different than standard ones while maintaining functionality?
- Create a wireframe for a language-learning app
- Redesign an existing digital product
Conclusion
The world of product design is vast and as a product designer, you can never be too prepared! So, read the questions above and test your knowledge before attending an on-site or virtual interview!