20 UI Design Interview Questions and Answers You Can't Miss Out

Majored in English but fell in love with design since my last year of college, I made a choice to quit my first job as a visa officer and devoted myself into my beloved UI/UX design industry. It’s not easy for me, I’ve had like more than 10 interviews before I got my current job. Checked on tremendous UI design questions and answers, also with my own experiences, I collected these 20 questions that were frequently asked. Hope this can help you to prepare your UI interview.

1. What’s your understanding of UI design? (I was asked)

This question was highly asked in the interview process, I used to recite the definition of UI design and user interface design principles without missing a single word. However, they seem all failed. For me with no experience in UI design, they refused me for I even didn’t really know what UI design is about. Then I learned this is absolutely not a definition on explaining question, what really matters is to add your personal views towards UI design. But the precondition is you must understand what UI design is pretty well.

2. What is the average working day of a UI designer? (I was asked)

I admit that I kinda answer this question just echo what others have said. As a UI designer, you are work with other designers, developer and project managers, etc. The key point is to talk about it within a team. You may begin your workday with discussing the work and problems with your members. Then focus on how to do it and how to make the plan works, especially for those key areas. Also, do not forget to mention you are keep informed of what’s happening in UI industry so you can learn new development daily.

3. How do you get to know UI design? (I was asked)

This question is more asked to those lack of experience of UI design, as for me. What really matters is not the way you get to know it, but if the way can provide you a right and comprehensive understanding of UI design. Moreover, make it a chance to show you are following some one expert in UI design and keep learning from those via Blogger, Facebook or any other channels. Meanwhile, you show that you are studying in some UI app and UI websites.

4. Which is your favorite part about UI design? (I was asked)

It’s an open question to get an insight into who you are as a UI designer, and to know the motivation and the drive in the job. To answer this question, to list an example is important. I answered user testing attracts me most, for it not only give me feedback and see how it changes the way of the users, but also it relevant to overall design. I have no real experience about it, but if you do, do remember to add more detail like who actually give you feedback and how it helped to improve your work.

5. Describe any projects you have worked in?

It’s a good chance to share your story. Whether it’s an interesting one or a tough one, make it completed. Remember the five “W” words: who, what, where, when and how. Put emphasis on the process going and why it is so attractive to you. Also, do describe how you play a role in this project with others. This UI design questions and answers are like a story teller who presents a story to a smart listener.

6. Please describe what your design process is?

There is no standard design process, it’s alright your design process if different from others. The point is you can describe your process clearly and it reflect your logical and rationale design thinking behind it. However, for insurance, you’d better keep a standard one in your mind and manage your words before the interview. It may include the following aspects: Usability, User Research, User Testing, Information Architecture, Interaction Design, User Interface Design. Also, you should fully understand that design process varies from different UI situations. Once you make your interviewee believe you are able to adapt the best process to deal with a project, your chance towin a success UI designer interview became higher.

7. What is the most difficult task you have encountered when doing UI design?

It’s to figure out what’s your challenge as a UI designer and how you’ve overcome these to get to where you are now in your career. it’s important to fully explain the context and background to the situation, what the challenge was, how you overcame it and how you’ve managed to turn that negative into a positive in your career. For example, you can say Knowing what will attract the user and keep them hooked to it regularly is one of the biggest challenges. It’s a good UI designer interview questions and answers that UI designer will faces in day to day work.

8. Why do you want to enjoy us? (i was asked)

You must research thoroughly of the company you are applying. Look through the company’s website, blogs, and social profiles. Have a fully understand of its mentorship, corporate culture, co-workers, and mission, etc. Make it clear that it’s the place you can use your past experience and can grow up together. The most important thing is to talk about those from the design perspective.

9. How do you see yourself in five years?

Two intentions for this question: first, It’s to see if you are planning to switch jobs and companies or for how long you intend to be as a UI designer of the company. Second, to test your knowledge and understanding of UI future trend. Show your dedication, hard work and efforts to put in your work and have a good command of UI latest trends and techniques will help.

10. Why should I hire you?(i was asked)

Among all UI design questions and answers, this one is my least like question. If you have no design experience, just prove your willingness to learn is not enough. You must show them you have a good learning ability, I mentioned I learned PS skill by myself.

11. Where do you go for inspiration?(i was asked)

Talk about UX blogs, design communities, newsletters, industry leaders, or conferences that you attend or follow. Talk about the how you learn and practice UI design. Here suggest you an article to talk about: 8 of the Best Mobile UI Kits for Designers to Get Inspired

12. How do you work with others?

To test your ability with manage difference, communication skill, team work awareness, and understanding of UI design work, even how to deal with conflict. Focus on your understanding and ability to get along with engineers, developers, stakeholders, and project managers and other designers. You should know how each works and how their work relevant to yours. It’s also a good user interface design questions and answers in your daily work, not only for interview.

13. Before you start designing, is there any UX information you need to know?

UX information is a good help to do UI design. Actually, many designers so both UI design and UX design today. UX experience is usually planned out based on gathered data, including user researching, usability testing, and so on. These are also valuable information for UI design. UI design should involve in all elements together with UX to reach the good product.

14. What is your expertise as a UI designer?

To show what you are really good at. Do not just mention only one specific area, you can involve your past experience and the project you did. Even though this question is to ask what is your expertise, you also need to show your comprehensive qualities in a wise way.

15. Can you describe an app that meets your ideal UI design?

It’s a tricky UI design questions and answers. It actually asks “What do you think a great user interface looks like?”You can add your personal thoughts into the whole working project features. When describing the features of your ideal UI design, express your own design values and inspirations like colors, sizes, and buttons, etc. To give a detailed explanation and your logical design thinking is important.

16. When can you start?

It was a hard question for you maybe still working on some projects or didn’t quit your job yet. You may first ask when is their deadline and prove that you’ll make it happen if both of you feel satisfied. This is now a choice you should make.

17. What If Your client think your product failed to meet their requirement?

Make it a chance to show how you could use user feedback to improve your work, also mention the importance to do through user research. Describe the detail to settle the conflict and how it finally works. Show your ability to communicate with people and deal with user misunderstanding. Moreover, demonstrate your listening skill, you can think a moment before you answer the question.

18. What are your core areas of UI design expertise?

Think about your work experience and revolve around preferred client types or around a certain type of platforms: Designing websites, mobile apps, backend dashboards, for instance. Professional UI designers would also cover the journey itself, describing how they arrived at these areas of expertise and experience.

19. How would you redesign a well-known user interface?

Pretend you are a user to this question, then find what elements might fail to achieve good user experience. Next, figure it’s with the colors, buttons, shapes, sizes or placement. You should talk about each for a good reason and come up with a solution to redesign it. Finally, do explain why upgrade and changes are inevitable to the user interface, also tell why your redesign is better.

20. Do you have any questions for us?

Ask some question related to the work is usually better than just answering “no, thanks”. It’s a chance to express your insight into the workings and environment that you might be about to join. But ask directly what a UI designer’s salary is not suggested. Some questions you might consider:

What’s your organization design philosophy?

Where does UX currently sit in the scheme of the organization?

How often do you get to speak to real customers?

And plenty more

Find a good job is not easy, you need to do enormous preparations and attempts. Just think through where you are now and what you really want to be. Also, getting hired is only your first step to fulfilling your dream, your real challenge follows behind. Be confident and work hard. Hope the above 20 UI design questions and answers can help you realize a successful UI interview.

Also read: 10 Questions You’ll Be Asked in a UX Intervie

What Are the Best Mobile UI Design Tools?