Learn how to effectively prepare for a UI Designer interview, understanding what to expect and how to answer top questions. For those keen to pursue a career in UI Design, explore the various classes, courses, and bootcamps offered by Noble Desktop.
Key Insights
- UI designer interviews often have multiple stages with different focuses, such as technical and professional interviews. Strong performance in these interviews involves more than just having the correct answers—it also requires presenting yourself confidently.
- Practicing common interview questions is essential in preparing for a UI designer interview. This can be achieved through methods such as mock interviews or practicing in front of a mirror.
- A key question in UI designer interviews is about the reasons behind choosing this career. The ideal answer would demonstrate a passion for UI design, aligning personal interests with the position on offer.
- An interviewer might ask about the designer's favorite part of UI design, not only to understand their motivations but also to gain insight into what aspects affect their work.
- Staying updated with design trends is crucial in UI design. Interviewees may mention UI design inspiration websites or prominent designers they follow to demonstrate their commitment to learning and improving their craft.
- Noble Desktop offers a range of UI design classes, courses, and bootcamps, including a UI Design Certificate designed to prepare students for a career in UI design. Courses can be attended in person in NYC or online from anywhere.
Interviews are an important part of the job application process, where you’ll convince hiring managers that you are a good fit for the job. Interviews are a make-or-break part of the job application process, making them particularly stressful. For some positions – particularly more competitive, higher-paying jobs – you’re likely to undergo multiple stages of interviews with different personnel. While you can expect every job interview to be different, it’s possible to prepare by practicing answers to common questions.
What to Expect in a UI Designer Interview
Some UI design interviews may have multiple stages, usually featuring higher-ups and managers. Other interviews may focus on different aspects of the job, such as technical and professional interviews. While your resume and portfolio may have shown you possess all the necessary skills and experience, the goal of the interview(s) is to demonstrate you are a good fit for the company. Interviewers want to know about your background, career goals, and what makes you tick as a designer. They also want to know what has attracted you to their company. The goal for the interviewee isn’t just to have the correct answer; it’s important to carry and confidently present yourself. Even the perfect answer won’t hold the right weight if you aren’t confident in your skills.
Top Interview Questions for UI Designers
Practice is an important step in interview preparation. Familiarizing yourself with the answers helps you not be stumped on the interview day. It can make you feel more confident and improve your performance in the actual interview. One of the best ways to practice includes a mock interview, which simulates a natural interview environment. You get to run through the entire interview and receive feedback on your answers and how you present yourself. However, this method requires knowing someone who has experience conducting interviews. Otherwise, another great way to practice is in front of a mirror so you can judge your own body language. At the very least, you want to practice your interview questions out loud so you can become comfortable with the wording.
Why did you become a UI Designer?
This is an important question for companies looking to hire long-term employees. This is an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you as a UI Designer. They want to establish your design history and your passion for the field.
How to answer
You want to avoid an overly long narrative. Briefly touch on what drew you to UI design. Your goal is to demonstrate that you care about UI design and that your interests align with the position on offer.
Which is your favorite part about UI design?
The goal of this question is similar to the previous one. The interviewer is looking for greater insight into who you are as a UI Designer and where your motivations lie.
How to answer
Be honest about your UI design interests and how those interests affect your work. For example, you might be a fan of user testing and enjoy how the feedback you receive improves your design and ultimately aids future users.
How do you keep on top of design trends?
Interviewers are interested in your commitment to the industry and in improving your work. They want to know that you are interested in learning and honing your craft.
How to answer
This is a good place to discuss UI design inspiration websites or social media accounts you follow. Be sure to mention what drew you to these accounts in particular. If you follow any particularly prominent UI designers shaping the industry, feel free to name-drop them.
Tell me about a recent UI project that you worked on.
This is a chance for interviewers to get a glimpse of your design experience. They are interested in how you approach project goals and drive projects to success.
How to answer
Prior to the interview, you should review your portfolio for a project to present to your interviewers. The more relevant to the company or position you’re applying for, the better! Discuss the goals of the project and how you worked to achieve them. You also want to highlight any difficulties you encountered and how you overcame them. A good guide to follow in this situation is to answer the questions; who, what, where, when, and how?
How would you describe your design process?
This question dives deeper into the previous. If you receive this question later in the interview, feel free to tie it back to a previously mentioned project. Interviewers want to understand how you make decisions and iterations. They want to know the choices you make are deliberate and informed.
How to answer
Go back to the project you outlined before. This time, walk through the design process and explain how each step-shaped your decisions. Be sure to highlight your iteration process and what you learned throughout the project. Try not to make your answer too long. You’re not delivering a dissertation but rather walking your interviewers through a journey about your decision-making process.
Can you describe an app that meets your ideal UI design and why?
The goal of this question is to get a feel for your values as a UI Designer and how you put yourself in the end user's shoes. You might receive this same question framed in another way, such as “How would you redesign a well-known user interface?”
How to answer
When describing your ideal UI design, focus on minutiae such as colors, shapes, sizes, and buttons. Back up your choices with specific reasons. It’s also helpful to tie each factor into how it affects useability.
Learn the Skills to Become a UI Designer at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop offers several UI design classes for those seeking professional instruction in pursuing a career as a UI Designer. Classes are small and feature expert instructors and free retake options. Courses can be attended in person in NYC or online from anywhere.
The UI Design Certificate is designed to prepare students to launch a career in UI design. You’ll learn essential design principles as well as how to use the most popular UI design tools: Figma, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Throughout the course, you’ll complete a number of hands-on projects and build a portfolio to showcase your skills to potential employers.
Should you be interested in UX design as well as UI design (the two fields commonly overlap), you can pursue the UX & UI Design Certificate. You’ll learn the design principles and industry tools of both UX & UI design, build a professional portfolio, and receive one-on-one job preparation assistance.
Bootcamps are also available where you can learn the ins and outs of the most popular UI design tools, including Figma, Photoshop, and Illustrator. These courses are open to pure beginners and are designed to guide you to mastery of the program.
If you’re not ready to jump into a full UI design course, you can explore Noble Desktop’s learning hubs. These hubs are designed to inform you about a topic and offer learning resources, including free tutorials and self-guided education. UI design learn hubs include: