Landing a job in product design can be both exciting and challenging. However, before you even think about securing the job and getting ready for your first day, you first need to ace the interview.
And let's face it, interviews are scary at the best of times, and even more so when it's for your dream product design career job. You're not only trying to create the best first impression of yourself in the eyes of your would-be employer, but you need to do so better than anyone else applying for the role.
No pressure then, right?
Not when you're prepared and get yourself ready beforehand. By taking the time to prep your interview, you can feel confident in your abilities, and you won't have to worry about whatever your interviewer throws your way.
This brings us to today's guide.
To help you ace your interview, we've compiled a list of 10 must-know product design interview questions. But before diving into these questions, let's take a quick look at what product design is and why it's essential.
Understanding Product Design
What is Product Design?
Product design is the process of creating functional and aesthetically pleasing products that solve users' problems or address specific needs. It involves understanding the target audience, researching the market, and iterating on design concepts to create a user-friendly and accessible product.
While you should already know all this, use this information, along with your own definitional insights, to prove you're aware of your job role when it matters most.
The Importance of Product Design
A well-designed product can greatly impact a business's success. It can increase customer satisfaction, encourage brand loyalty, and ultimately drive sales. Product designers are vital in bringing a company's vision to life and creating memorable user experiences.
With this in mind, understand that employers will be looking for designers who can bring value to their company via this goal. You can then customize your answers to prove this is the individual that brings the value they're looking for in their new hire.
Preparing for Your Product Design Interview
Succeeding in your interview takes place before you even set foot in the interview room or in the Zoom call. The more information you have, the more understanding you'll be armed with for tackling those harder questions.
Research the Company
Before the interview, it's essential to research the company and understand its mission, values, and products. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses to the interview questions and demonstrate your genuine interest in working with them.
Know Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is your chance to showcase your skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Make sure you know your projects inside out and be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making, and the outcomes achieved.
Practice Your Presentation Skills
Excellent communication is a critical skill for product designers. You'll need to articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely during the interview. Practice explaining your projects, design decisions, and how you've handled challenges in the past.
10 Must-Know Product Design Interview Questions
Question 1: Can you explain your design process?
This question helps interviewers understand your approach to problem-solving and design. Be prepared to discuss the various stages of your process, from initial research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and iterating.
Just be honest, but refer to your research of what the company is looking for and its workflow. The more aligned with the company's process you are, the better your chances are of thriving in the workspace.
Question 2: How do you handle feedback and criticism?
Designers often receive feedback from various stakeholders, including clients, colleagues, and users. Your ability to handle feedback and criticism gracefully is essential. Explain how you use feedback to improve your designs and how you maintain open communication with your team.
Question 3: Can you provide an example of a challenging project you've worked on?
Interviewers want to see how you tackle problems and overcome obstacles. Share a story about a challenging or even failing product project, focusing on the issues you faced, the actions you took to address them, and the lessons you learned.
Remember, the company looks at how you deal with harder times, and we've all been through them. That means you shouldn't try and make yourself seem more capable than you are by saying you've never experienced a hard time or you've always handled yourself.
Clearly explain the problem, demonstrate your understanding of the issues that came with this, and how you overcame it.
Question 4: How do you stay updated on the latest design trends?
Product design is an ever-evolving field, and staying up-to-date with industry trends is vital.
Discuss how you stay informed, whether it's through blogs, your industry mentor, podcasts, online courses, or attending conferences and workshops. Mention industry leaders the company resonates with for extra points.
Question 5: How do you prioritize features in a product?
Balancing users' needs, the business's goals, and time and budget constraints is a core aspect of product design. Explain your approach to prioritizing features, considering user needs, business requirements, and technical feasibility.
Question 6: How do you ensure accessibility in your designs?
Accessibility is crucial in creating inclusive and user-friendly products. Talk about the steps you take to ensure your designs cater to users with different abilities, such as using appropriate color contrasts, providing alternative text for images, and designing for keyboard navigation.
Question 7: How do you collaborate with other team members?
Product design is a team effort, requiring collaboration with developers, project managers, and other stakeholders. Describe your communication style and how you work with others to achieve shared goals. If you have any real-life examples of how you helped to nurture the team's direction, now is the time to bring them up.
Question 8: What is your favorite product and why?
This question offers a glimpse into your design preferences and values. Choose a product you genuinely admire, explaining what makes it stand out and how its design contributes to its success.
Question 9: How do you handle tight deadlines?
Design projects often come with tight deadlines. Discuss your strategies for managing your time, prioritizing tasks, and staying focused under pressure.
Question 10: How do you measure the success of a product design?
Understanding the impact of your design work is crucial. Explain the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics you use to measure success, such as user satisfaction, conversion rates, or usability improvements.
Conclusion
Being well-prepared for your product design interview can make all the difference in landing your dream job. Familiarize yourself with these ten must-know questions, and don't forget to practice your presentation skills, research the company, and know your portfolio.
Looking to take your interview to the next level?
Here at Mentorcruise, we provide exclusive access to some of the top mentors and coaches in the world, including those who have worked at companies like Netflix, Uber, Stripe, and many more.
With their one-on-one guidance, you can prep for your interview using those who know the industry inside-out and perhaps even have experience in the company you're applying for, giving you the inside track on what you need to do to succeed.
Schedule an appointment with your new mentor today, and be prepared to stand out and find success like never before!