By the end of this lesson you can
- Prepare for the common stages of a design interview process.
- Answer behavioural questions with structured stories.
- Research the organisation and prepare good questions.
The idea
Design hiring processes usually include several stages: a screening call, a portfolio review or presentation, a design exercise (live or take-home), behavioural interviews and sometimes a meeting with leadership.
Behavioural questions
Questions like "Tell me about a time you disagreed with a product manager" are best answered with the STAR structure: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Prepare five to eight stories covering conflict, failure, influence, ambiguity, collaboration and impact.
Research the organisation
Use their product, read their job description closely and look for public information about their design team. Note one or two ideas or questions about their product.
Questions to ask
- How is design involved in deciding what to build?
- How does the team do research?
- What would success look like in this role after six months?
- What are the biggest challenges for the team right now?
Take-home exercises
Clarify the time expected and stick to it. Show your process and assumptions, not just polished screens.
Why it matters in real projects
Preparation turns interviews from stressful guesswork into confident conversations. Structured stories make your experience memorable and show reflection. Good questions show genuine interest and help you decide whether the job is right for you, since interviews work in both directions.
A realistic example
Asked about a failure, a candidate uses STAR: "Situation: we launched a new search feature. Task: I designed the results page. Action: we skipped testing to hit a deadline, and usage was low; I ran quick tests after launch and found the filters were hidden. Result: we moved filters into view and usage doubled. Since then I always push for at least one round of testing, even if it is small."
Step by step
Map the process
Ask the recruiter what stages to expect.
Write STAR stories
Prepare five to eight stories.
Research
Use the product and read about the team.
Prepare questions
Write four or five thoughtful questions.
Practise
Do a mock interview with a peer.
Reflect afterwards
Note what went well and what to improve.
Common mistakes
Mistake Rambling answers.
Instead Use STAR and keep to two minutes.
Mistake No questions for the panel.
Instead Prepare thoughtful questions.
Mistake Spending too long on take-homes.
Instead Agree and respect the time limit.
Check your understanding
Choose an answer, then check it. There is an explanation either way.
Practice exercise
Exercise · about 1 h
Story bank
Build a bank of interview stories.
Steps
- List six themes: conflict, failure, influence, ambiguity, collaboration, impact.
- Write a STAR story for each.
- Practise telling two aloud in under two minutes.
- Write four questions to ask a design team.
Deliverable
A story bank and question list.
Self-assessment
Tick each item when it is true of your exercise. Be honest; this is for you.
4 items
Summary
- Know the interview stages.
- Use STAR for behavioural answers.
- Research the organisation.
- Ask good questions.
Further reading
Third-party sources, chosen for reliability. They open in a new tab.
- National Careers Service: the STAR method (opens in a new tab)National Careers Service
- National Careers Service: interview advice (opens in a new tab)National Careers Service
Your notes
Marking complete updates your course and roadmap progress.