Landing an interview as a product designer can be exciting and a little intimidating. While you may feel nervous and unsure of what to expect, preparation can help ease some anxiety and set you up for success.
Product design is a rapidly-growing field that combines elements of engineering, industrial design, UX/UI design, marketing, and creative problem-solving. As a result, tech companies will look to better understand your entire design process, expertise in product design principles, and how you communicate complex ideas.
Top Product Designer Interview Questions & Strategies
How do you prepare for a product design job interview?
- Find out about the interview process, where the interview is taking place, and when is the date
- Research the company you are applying for and the job description. It will help you understand their business goals and expectations. Then tailor your responses accordingly.
- Research product design principles. Familiarity with product design principles is key to impressing potential employers.
- Make sure you are up-to-date on all the latest trends, best practices, and technologies related to product design so you can talk about them confidently.
- Practice answering potential interview questions. Product managers conduct product design interviews in a conversational style. So it helps to practice answering specific questions ahead of time to feel more comfortable and confident during the interview.
- Dress to kill. Make sure you look presentable and professional.
- Finally, prepare your portfolio. Your portfolio should be organized, relevant to the position you are interviewing for, and showcase your best work.
What are some general interview questions?
- Can you tell us about yourself?
- Why are you currently seeking a new position?
- What do you know about our company?
- How did you learn about the job post at our company?
- Can you tell us about your strengths and weaknesses?
- How do you see yourself five years from now?
- Do you have any more questions about the role?
What are some common product designer interview questions?
Here are a few ideas for common product design interview questions and sample answers that you can practice before facing hiring managers:
What is your definition of product design?
My definition of product design is creating a product that meets user needs and satisfies their goals. It involves understanding user requirements, researching and prototyping possible solutions, developing concepts based on user needs, conducting usability testing to validate the design, and creating an aesthetically pleasing product that serves its purpose.
How does your design process typically begin?
I usually begin my design process by conducting user research and considering their needs and preferences. From there, I brainstormed ideas for providing valuable solutions to user problems, created sketches or wireframes illustrating the proposed design, and created a prototype for user tests. It helps me refine and optimize the plan before making the final product.
What design principles do you consider most important?
The three most important design principles are usability, aesthetics, and functionality. A product should be easy to use, look great, and work effectively. It should also provide a good user experience, and its onboarding process should be simple for the end user to understand.
How do you stay up-to-date with product design trends?
I stay up-to-date with product design trends by regularly attending webinars and conferences, subscribing to industry blogs and newsletters, participating in design forums and discussion boards, following relevant influencers on social media, and reading books about product design.
How do you approach the design process?
When approaching a design project, I research the user’s pain points and preferences. It helps me define the project’s scope before moving on to brainstorming and concept development. Throughout this process, I like to conduct user testing to adjust my designs based on user feedback.
Describe a project you’ve worked on that you are proud of.
I recently designed an app for a pet adoption platform that helped connect potential pet owners with rescue organizations. I conducted extensive user research with a specific age group to understand their needs, created prototypes, and tested the product with users before launching it. I’m proud of this project because it successfully addressed user problems and provided a more efficient way to find their perfect pet.
What challenges have you encountered in product design?
I’ve encountered many challenges during my product design career, from dealing with complex requirements to managing limited resources. As a result, I’ve learned to be resourceful and creative when problem-solving and open to user and stakeholder feedback.
What is your approach to making websites and platforms accessible to all user groups, including users with visual, hearing, and motor disabilities?
When designing websites and platforms, I always consider accessibility in my product design process. It means adding features such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, zoom functionality, and resizable text. I also design with visual contrast to ensure that color-blind users can read and understand the content easily. Additionally, I perform user testing with disabled users to make sure they can use the website or platform without any problems.
What design principles do you follow?
I follow the principles of usability, aesthetics, and functionality. I believe in creating products that are easy to use, understand, look good, and work effectively. Additionally, I focus on providing a positive user experience by ensuring my designs reduce cognitive load and minimize potential frustrations.
When designing for accessibility, I create with color contrast in mind, add features for disabled users, such as screen readers and zoom functionality, and perform user testing with disabled users. Lastly, I strive to optimize my design process by consistently conducting behavioral patterns research and collecting feedback from stakeholders.
I also follow the principles of minimalism when designing products. It includes using clean lines, simple shapes and forms, plenty of whitespaces, and restrained use of color. I aim to make product interfaces more intuitive and reduce user confusion by following these principles.
Overall, my design process is centered around providing a great user experience, including testing with disabled users, using minimalistic design principles, and considering the three main design principles: usability, aesthetics, and functionality.
How do you use user personas?
User personas are a great way to understand the target audience and their needs better. I use user personas to get insights into how target audiences might interact with my design, which helps me create potential solutions that meet their needs.
What do you think makes a successful product designer?
A successful product designer should have strong problem-solving skills, be highly creative and organized, have excellent communication skills, and have a thorough understanding of user problems. They should also stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and keep up with the continuously evolving technology advancements to create effective and impactful designs.
What do you think sets your product design apart from others?
I focus on creating user-centric solutions that are intuitive and aesthetically pleasing in product design. I also strive to create a positive user experience while keeping the design process efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, I pay close attention to detail regarding my design decisions’ visuals, typography, color theory, and user flows. These qualities set my product design apart from others.
What do you think makes a product design successful?
A successful product design should have an easy-to-use UI design and UX design. It should be visually pleasing, provide a holistic approach to client needs and deliver a positive experience. Additionally, it should focus on being a solution-based answer to the target audiences’ needs. It must also be accessible to all user groups, including those with disabilities, and adhere to minimalistic design principles.
What advice would you give to someone just starting in product design?
My advice for someone starting in product design is to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technology advancements, be open to feedback from users and stakeholders, pay attention to details regarding visuals and user flows, and always put the user first. Additionally, it’s essential to be resourceful and organized when addressing the user problem. With these tips and creativity, anyone can become a successful product designer.
What research methods do you use to gain actionable insights before designing new products?
I use various research methods when designing new digital products, from user interviews and surveys to usability testing for investigating behavioral patterns for a product market fit. I also often analyze the existing product of competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses and examine existing qualitative data for additional insights. All these methods help me better understand the target audience so that I can create solutions that address user problems.
How might you rate your user experience and interaction design skills if you had to rank your skill level?
I rate my user experience and interaction design skills as advanced. And have extensive experience creating effective UI/UX designs for mobile and web applications. I also understand the importance of using intuitive design principles that reduce user confusion, make the product more accessible, and foster positive user experiences. Additionally, I pay close attention to detail regarding visuals, typography, color theory, and user flow when creating my designs.
What are the key metrics to improve your product design?
Customer satisfaction, usability reliability, user engagement, conversion rate optimization, and process efficiency are the success metrics for improving product design. These metrics help measure the effectiveness of my design process and ensure that I’m creating a product that users find enjoyable and easy to use. In addition, tracking these metrics can provide valuable insights into how users interact with my design and inform future design decisions.
How many iterations of prototypes do you usually go through in your product design process?
I typically go through 3-4 iterations of prototypes in my product design process. First, I create a low-fidelity prototype to understand the basic concept and user flow, then move on to higher-fidelity versions as needed. I can refine the design through this iterative approach until it meets all stakeholders’ requirements.
What tools do you use for product design?
I typically use Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign) for creating visuals and prototypes. Additionally, I often utilize Sketch for wireframing and prototyping and Invision for interactive design. Finally, I also make use of Axure RP to create high-fidelity prototypes.
What are the tips for getting hired as a product designer?
Applying for a job is always daunting. So how do you land a job with many people competing for the same role? To increase your chances of getting hired as a product designer, I recommend doing the following:
Earn a Bachelor’s degree
Some employers require or prefer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, marketing, graphic design, or another field related to the area of product design you’re pursuing. Even if an employer doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree for this role, having one can help you differentiate yourself from other candidates. The knowledge you gain in these topics can also enable you to grow your portfolio and communicate confidently with a hiring manager about product design topics.
Build your skillset
It’s essential to have strong product design skills. It can include user experience research, visual design, prototyping and coding. Many employers also require knowledge of industry trends and emerging technologies in product design. Additionally, familiarity with the tools commonly used in this field is beneficial.
Showcase your work
Your portfolio is often the first impression you make on a hiring manager. Therefore, it’s essential to include your best work in your portfolio and ensure it is up-to-date. Additionally, displaying any awards or recognition you’ve received for product design can be a great way to demonstrate your skills and experience.
Gain experience
Having internships, freelance work, or other experiences related to product design can help you stand out from other candidates. Additionally, taking courses and attending workshops outside your study area is often beneficial to gain additional knowledge in this field.
Network
Networking is often overlooked but is a great way to get hired for product design roles. By attending industry events and connecting with professionals in the field, you can gain valuable connections and make yourself visible to potential employers. Additionally, building relationships with people in your industry will give you access to insider knowledge about open positions or upcoming projects that are not advertised publicly.
Stay updated on the latest product design trends
In product design, trends come and go quickly. Therefore, staying up to date on the latest developments in this field is essential. Reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and participating in online forums can help you build your knowledge and keep abreast of changes in product design technology.
Create a resume that highlights your product design skills
You should tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for, highlighting the relevant product design experience and skills that make you stand out from the competition. Include any awards or recognition you’ve received for product design and a list of courses and workshops related to this field.
Where do you apply to find a product design job?
Numerous websites offer job postings related to product design. Sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn are great places to start your search. Additionally, larger companies often post product design positions on their websites. You can also reach out to recruiters in the industry who specialize in product design roles.
Or you can sign-up for Design Match and get matched with the best product design jobs. Design Match is a job-matching platform that connects employers and product designers. We use technology to match talented product designers with exciting companies, making it easier for both parties to find their perfect fit.
Conclusion
Product design jobs are highly sought after and competitive. Standing out from other applicants is essential, so showcase your skills and experience in the most effective way possible. Additionally, having a solid portfolio and staying up-to-date on trends can help you find the perfect product design job. With Design Match, we make it easier for employers and product designers to find the best match. So sign up today and get connected with the perfect job for you.