Physical Product Designer interview questions:
When interviewing Physical Product Designers, it’s beneficial to structure your questions into three key approaches: understanding customers, comprehending constraints, and prioritizing the design process over immediate outcomes. While it’s unrealistic to expect candidates to design a physical product during an interview, the focus should be on comprehending their problem-solving approach, the questions they pose, and the processes they follow.
In addition to these approaches, consider including some classic questions to gain insights:
- Who are their design role models?
- Where do they seek inspiration for their work?
- How do they stay updated on current design trends?
- Can they provide an example of exceptional design, whether in the digital or physical realm?
- What books, exhibitions, conferences, or design communities do they engage with or admire?
- As designers, what do they consider the most crucial aspect of their role?
What you’re aiming for is evidence of a passion for design that transcends their specific area of expertise. Do they exhibit awareness and the ability to critically analyze design decisions that impact our daily lives? Exceptional designers actively ponder enhancements to these details.
Role-specific questions:
- How would you approach the design of an ATM specifically tailored for children? Keep an eye out for candidates who consider the needs of parents in educating their kids about money and those who delve into the design of the user interface.
- Let’s switch to a whiteboard exercise. For instance, design an improved big city transit timetable, map, and signage.
- How do you evaluate and critique your own design work?
Operational questions:
- Could you discuss your educational background? Share an aspect of your coursework that you found particularly engaging.
- What is your current professional role, and could you describe the projects you are currently involved in?
- Walk us through a couple of your favorite pieces from your portfolio. Could you outline your design process for these projects, including the issues you aimed to address and the decision-making behind specific design choices?
- To what extent do you take ownership of the work featured in your portfolio, and can you provide specific details about your contributions?
- How do you go about prototyping your design concepts, and how do you determine when you’ve achieved the right solution?
- Explain how you empathize with the end user. What research methods do you typically employ when initiating a new project?
- Can you share a project that didn’t go as planned and the reasons that contributed to the challenges? How did you resolve the issues that arose?
- Do you have any side projects or personal endeavors you’d like to discuss?
