50+ best product design interview questions

As expert recruiters across product design and UX, we’re often asked for a list of the best product design interview questions. We’ve complied a list of 50+ questions that are appropriate for the recruitment process of all levels of product designer. 

What competencies should a I look for?

Before the interview, you’ll need to understand the business objectives and how this filters down to the product design objectives and tasks. Once you understand this, you’ll know more about the skills and attributes required from this candidate to make an impact to the business.

It’s also important to remember that you’ll need to take into account the personal attributes of the candidate. This could include personality, cultural fit (or non-fit, which could be an objective) into the business, and the values they demonstrate at work. 

How do I attract a great product design candidate?

It’s important to remember that an interview is an opportunity for both parties to understand if the fit is right. A senior level candidate will also be assessing the business too – everything from the package and benefits to cultural fit, to the reputation of the brand.  You’ll often be competing for the people you like best, perhaps they will also have a couple of other opportunities they’re evaluating too.

So, it’s critical that you have your ‘employer brand’ well defined, showcasing your strategy for recruiting the right employees for the right roles, and keeping employees engaged and retained. This can often be the deal-breaker for senior candidates.

We always recommend that at the beginning of the first session, you take a few minutes to frame your business strategy, what’s in the roadmap and the part this hire will play in the journey from A to B.  Always work on the assumption that you’re meeting your perfect candidate – it’s critical that they understand the strategy and what’s exciting about your business.

The bulk of the interview will then involve talking through the candidate’s background, understanding their experience and assessing against competencies. Towards the end of the session, if you like the candidate, always ask them how they feel about the opportunity, the good and the bad. You may be able to give them comfort around any areas of concern and increase their engagement.

Product design interview questions

Here is our guide to the best product design interview questions. This isn’t a comprehensive list, and you should add specific competency questions, but this list should offer some guidance for a product design interview.

General product design interview questions

• What are your reasons for wanting to leave your current role?
• What excites you about our business?
• Talk me through your product portfolio?
• What areas of product design do you specialise in? What areas need improvement?
• What is your most impactful product design? What impact did it make?
• What is your preferred working style?
• What websites and applications are your favourite from a product design perspective? Why?
• When starting a new role, how do you ensure you get up and running quickly?
• What other business areas do you have experience in?
• What products inspire you, and why?
• How do you stay up to date with the product design industry?
• Why should we hire you?

Business related product design interview questions

• What is your product design vision for this brand?
• What is the first task you would undertake within the product design team?
• What 3 objectives would you create for the product design team?
• What do you like v don’t like about our product design? What improvements do you see?
• How would you measure success of product design in this business?
• What does great product design look like to you?
• What are the latest product design trends?
• What are the upcoming product design trends? Where do you see product design going in the future?
• In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of product design?
• What part of the design process is your favourite and why?
• What part of the design process is your least favourite and why?

Product design task related interview questions

• What analytics tools and key performance indicators do you use to evaluate product designs?
• What product do you think has a broken user journey, and why?
• Talk me through your process of assessing and testing a new design?
• What is a recent product design project that you felt challenged by? Why was this a challenge and what did you do?
• Describe a time when you have used data to solve a product design problem? Has there ever been a time where you have disregarded data in response to a problem?
• Describe your product design process and methodology?
• If you could go back and redesign one of your previous products, what product would this be? What changes would you make?
• What are your go-to product design tools?
• How do you approach navigation features for digital products?
• How do you know when you have not got a product design right?
• Describe your experience with user research or usability testing.
• What is your ideal tech stack?
• What do you think of the businesses existing tech stack? What would you change?
• How does your design process differ for digital vs. physical products?
• Customers want products that are easy to use. How would you define a product that is easy to use?
• When do you think user experience should be considered in designing a product?
• What is the most important aspect of visual design? Why?

Stakeholder manager / relationships / leadership

• What do you think the most important skill is for a product designer?
• What is your leadership style?
• What makes you a great leader?
• How do you communicate well with your team and peers?
• How you motivate other people? Give an example.
• What best practise product design methods will you introduce into the team, and why?
• How would you manage a team that wasn’t meeting objectives?
• How would you conduct product team meetings / stand ups?
• Tell me about a time where you did not agree with the product direction? What was the outcome?
• Give examples of when you have successfully managed a remote team or a team with flexible work patterns?
• How do you ensure your product design team works collaboratively across functions – including engineering, and product management teams?

Failure / self criticism / self awareness

• Tell me about a mistake you made and how you handled it?
• Give an instance where you have had a dispute at work with your peers. How did you handle it?
• Give an example of a time where you didn’t meet objectives. What could you have done differently?
• Give an example where you had to acknowledge you did not have the best idea?

Product design interview questions: summary

We have compiled a short guide for further reading: 5 questions to assess a candidates cultural fit

Intelligent People are a specialist product design & UX recruitment agency. If you need any more help with how to conduct a product design interview or would like to further discuss product design interview questions, contact us today.