Can You Answer These 21 UX Interview Questions?

by Kelsey Arrington on Feb 18, 2022

So, you’re trying to land a UX job? Are you stressed? Be honest. Interviews can induce stress in everyone – even talented UX designers such as yourself. But, there is good news. It is possible for you to feel confident during your next UX design interview. Just keep reading.

In this article:

1. General UX Design Related Questions
2. Candidate / Career-Focused Questions
3. Design Process Questions
4. Questions About Design Inspiration
5. Workflow & Collaboration Questions
6. Questions About Skill and Toolset
7. Questions to Test Your Knowledge of the Company

General UX Design Related Questions

Many UX design interviewers begin with questions that assess the candidate’s overall knowledge. What do you know about the UX design industry? Are you up to speed on the language that seasoned UX designers use? In this section, you’ll find 3 common UX questions, that you might come up with.

Questions:

1. Can you define UX design?
2. What is the difference between UI and UX design?
3. Can you explain what design thinking is?

💡Tip: Avoid giving generic answers – even to the most general questions. You can show off your problem-solving skills and personal design flair without sounding robotic. In a nutshell, use UX design terms, but also let your personality shine through. After all, it’s always best to just be yourself.

Candidate / Career-Focused Questions

It goes without saying that most interviews are career-focused. It is an interview, after all. In this section, you’ll find career-related questions that will help you explain your UX design experience.

Questions:

1. Why did you become a UX designer?
2. Did you study UX formally?
3. Can you tell us about your most and least successful UX design project?

💡Tip: Be proud of your design background -even if you are a self-taught UX designer or one with limited educational experience. Remember, UX is a new field.

Design Process Questions

Many UX designers have their creative process when it comes to their work. In this section, you’ll find questions about your design process and methodology.

Questions:

1. Can you discuss your design process?
2. What is your experience with UX research and usability testing?
3. Can you walk us through your portfolio?

💡Tip: Present your portfolio proudly. You have the option to print your work or present an online portfolio. Whichever you choose, it is important to stand behind the work you’ve created as a UX designer.

Questions About Design Inspiration

Most people will agree that their learning doesn’t stop in the classroom – life, volunteer work, and career experiences all shape who you are as a UX designer.

Before interviewing for a UX design role, think about where you find your design inspiration. It also may be helpful to come prepared with a shortlist of your favorite designers and apps you use daily.

In this section, you’ll see a few questions that dig deep into a UX designer’s source of inspiration.

Questions:

1. How do you stay motivated as UX designers?
2. What UX design publications do you enjoy?
3. Which UX designers do you look up to?

💡Tip: If you aren’t immersed in the UX design industry, you should find an entryway. Pick up some design publications, read UX design blogs, or reach out to seasoned UX designers for mentorship.

It may be safe to assume that most companies need candidates who are team players. Many interviewers will ask “Do you consider yourself to be a team player?” within the first few minutes of an interview.

So, it’s important to be prepared with an answer. In this section, these questions focus on your ability to collaborate with other UX designers.

Questions:

1. What is your experience working with UX Researchers, Product Managers and Developers?
2. Can you describe a difficult project and how you worked through the challenges to get through the design process?
3. What is your preferred way to hand-off designs to developers?

💡Tip: Be honest about your willingness to work with others. And, try to give detailed answers about your work experiences in the UX design industry.

Questions About Skill and Toolset

Let’s face it. Most companies have a preference when it comes to design software, design systems, and other essential tools. But that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce something new or discuss the tools you use. In this section, we cover skill-related questions.

Questions:

1. Can you explain how you perform a UX evaluation of a product?
2. What is your process for prototyping?
3. How is designing for web different than designing for mobile?

💡Tip: You don’t have always have to have analytical data to show to your prospective employer – but it certainly helps! Either way, you should come prepared to answer UX designer interview questions about analytical tools and evaluative processes. So, make a list of all of the tools and methods you are familiar with – the list will likely come in handy!

Questions to Test Your Knowledge of the Company

While most of the interviews will focus on the candidate, the company is likely to test your knowledge of their history too. After all, many companies realize the value of company culture.

In this section, we’ll go over some common company-focused questions.

Questions:

1. Can you tell us why you want to work here?
2. What do you know about our company and how do you think you’ll fit in here?
3. How could you use your experience as a UX designer to improve our product?

💡Tip: Prepare! Read the company’s mission statement. Do they have a blog? Read that too. It never hurts to know who you’re interviewing for.

Conclusion

Every interview is different and so is every interviewer. Naturally, there will be variations to these questions. In a nutshell, it is impossible to predict exactly what questions you’ll be asked. However, there is no such thing as being over-prepared – so get ready to wow your prospective employer!