Expert Tips for Acing Your Product Design Interview: Practical Advice for Success

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 7 min read

Preparing for a product design interview can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but with the right approach and guidance, you'll be well on your way to acing it. In this blog, we'll explore expert tips for understanding the interview process, showcasing your portfolio, preparing for design exercises, asking insightful questions, and following up after the interview. Along the way, we'll also discuss some common product design interview questions to help you feel confident and ready for your big day.

Understand the Interview Process

Before diving into specific tips and strategies, it's important to have a solid understanding of the product design interview process. This includes researching the company, knowing the role you're applying for, and familiarizing yourself with common interview questions.

Research the Company

Learning about the company you're interviewing with is a crucial step in the preparation process. This knowledge will not only help you tailor your responses to their specific needs and values, but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the company. When researching, consider the following:

Company history and mission
Key products and services
Target audience and user base
Design principles and methodologies
Competitors and market trends

Know the Role

Next, make sure you have a clear understanding of the role you're applying for. This will help you highlight your relevant skills and experiences during the interview. To get started, review the job description and take note of:

Key responsibilities and tasks
Required skills and qualifications
Preferred software and tools
Team dynamics and reporting structure

Additionally, you can reach out to your network or use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with current or former employees who can provide further insight into the role and the company's expectations.

Familiarize with Common Interview Questions

While every product design interview may be unique, there are several common questions that you can expect to encounter. Familiarizing yourself with these questions will give you a head start in preparing thoughtful, tailored responses. Some examples of common product design interview questions include:

What is your design process?
Can you walk us through a recent project from start to finish?
How do you handle conflicting feedback from stakeholders?
What design tools do you prefer and why?
How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and best practices?

As you prepare for these questions, remember to draw on your research and knowledge of the company and role to demonstrate your expertise and genuine interest in the position.

Showcase Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is your opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and unique approach to product design. To make the most of this opportunity, it's important to select relevant projects, present your design process, and highlight your unique skills.

Select Relevant Projects

When choosing projects to include in your portfolio, consider the following factors:

Relevance to the company and role you're applying for
Projects that demonstrate a variety of skills and design challenges
Recent work that reflects your current abilities
Examples that showcase your unique style and approach

By carefully curating your portfolio, you'll be able to show potential employers that you have the skills and expertise they're looking for.

Present Your Design Process

During a product design interview, you may be asked to walk the interviewer through one or more of the projects in your portfolio. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to communicate your design process effectively. To do this, consider the following:

Explain the project's goals, challenges, and constraints
Describe your role and responsibilities within the project
Discuss the research, ideation, and iteration phases of the design process
Share any user testing or feedback you incorporated into your design
Highlight the final outcome and any key learnings from the project

Paying attention to these details will help you convey your design process clearly and effectively, setting you apart from other candidates.

Highlight Your Unique Skills

In addition to showcasing your design prowess, your portfolio should also highlight your unique skills and strengths. Consider what sets you apart from other designers and how you can weave those qualities into your portfolio and interview responses. This may include:

Expertise in a specific design tool or methodology
A strong background in user research or usability testing
Experience in a particular industry or product category
A unique approach to collaboration and teamwork
Strong presentation and storytelling abilities

By emphasizing your unique skills, you'll be better positioned to make a lasting impression on potential employers.

Prepare for Design Exercises

Design exercises are a common part of product design interviews, allowing interviewers to assess your design thinking, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills. To prepare for these exercises, practice whiteboarding, develop rapid prototyping skills, and hone your collaboration techniques.

Practice Whiteboarding

Whiteboarding is often used during design exercises to quickly sketch out ideas and concepts. To improve your whiteboarding skills, consider the following tips:

Practice sketching simple shapes, icons, and layouts
Develop a visual vocabulary for common UI elements and design patterns
Work on organizing your ideas in a clear and logical manner
Focus on legibility and clarity over artistic perfection

By becoming adept at whiteboarding, you'll be better equipped to communicate your ideas quickly and effectively during a design exercise.

Develop Rapid Prototyping Skills

Rapid prototyping is the process of creating quick, iterative mockups of a design to gather feedback and refine your ideas. Improving your rapid prototyping skills can be beneficial during a product design interview. Consider the following:

Practice using tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD
Develop a library of reusable UI components and design patterns
Focus on creating low-fidelity wireframes that communicate the core functionality of a design
Learn to quickly iterate on your designs based on feedback and new information

By honing your rapid prototyping skills, you'll be able to efficiently demonstrate your design thinking during a design exercise.

Hone Your Collaboration Techniques

Product design interviews often involve working with others to solve a design problem. To prepare for these collaborative exercises, practice the following techniques:

Active listening: Pay attention to what others are saying and ask clarifying questions when needed
Clear communication: Express your ideas and reasoning in a concise and understandable manner
Open-mindedness: Be receptive to feedback and alternative ideas
Teamwork: Work cooperatively with others and build on each other's ideas
Conflict resolution: Address disagreements constructively and find common ground

By improving your collaboration skills, you'll be better prepared to work effectively with others during a product design interview.

Ask Insightful Questions

Asking thoughtful questions during your product design interview can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role. Focus on inquiring about company culture, seeking information on design challenges, and discussing growth opportunities.

Inquire About Company Culture

Understanding a company's culture is crucial for determining if it's the right fit for you. Consider asking questions like:

How would you describe the company's design culture and philosophy?
What kind of collaboration happens between product designers and other teams?
How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being?

By asking about company culture, you can get a better sense of whether the organization aligns with your values and work style.

Seek Information on Design Challenges

Asking about design challenges can give you insight into the company's current projects and help you showcase your problem-solving skills. Some questions to consider include:

What are some of the most significant design challenges the company is currently facing?
How do you approach solving complex design problems?
Are there any recent design projects that you're particularly proud of?

By inquiring about design challenges, you demonstrate your curiosity and interest in understanding the company's work better.

Discuss Growth Opportunities

Asking about growth opportunities can show your ambition and long-term commitment to the company. Here are some questions you might ask:

What kind of career development opportunities are available for product designers at the company?
How does the company support continuous learning and skill development?
Are there opportunities for product designers to take on leadership roles in the future?

By discussing growth opportunities, you demonstrate your eagerness to grow and contribute to the company's success in the long term.

Follow Up After the Interview

Following up after your product design interview can leave a lasting positive impression and increase your chances of landing the job. Focus on sending a thank you note, asking for feedback, and staying connected with the interviewers.

Send a Thank You Note

Sending a thank you note after your interview is a simple yet effective way to show your appreciation for the opportunity. In your note, consider including:

A genuine expression of gratitude for the interviewer's time and the opportunity to learn more about the role.
A brief mention of any memorable moments or discussions from the interview that stood out to you.
A reinforcement of your enthusiasm for the role and your readiness to contribute to the company's success.

By sending a thank you note, you demonstrate your professionalism and leave a positive impression on the interviewer.

Ask for Feedback

Asking for feedback after your interview can help you identify areas of improvement and show your commitment to continuous learning. Some tips for asking for feedback include:

Expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to interview and your interest in the role.
Politely asking if the interviewer has any feedback on your performance or suggestions for improvement.
Being open to constructive criticism and thanking the interviewer for their insights, whether or not you agree with their feedback.

By asking for feedback, you demonstrate your willingness to learn and improve, which can be an attractive quality to potential employers.

Stay Connected

Staying connected with the interviewers and the company can help you maintain a positive relationship, even if you don't get the job this time. Some ways to stay connected include:

Connecting with the interviewers on professional social media platforms like LinkedIn.
Sharing relevant articles or industry news with your contacts to show your continued interest in the field.
Keeping an eye on the company's job listings and reaching out about future opportunities that align with your skills and interests.

By staying connected, you demonstrate your ongoing interest in the company and position yourself as a potential candidate for future opportunities.

If you're looking to improve your design skills and learn how to effectively respond to client briefs, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'How to Respond to a Design Brief' by Benjamin Thomson. This workshop will provide you with essential tips and strategies to ensure you're delivering top-notch work that meets your clients' expectations.