Heady Flashcards
Do you have an e-commerce website you really like and why?
What compensation range you’re looking for?
I’m looking for around $70/hr
Do you have any questions?
- Could you provide some context regarding why this role is currently open? I’m interested in understanding the factors that led to this opportunity becoming available.
- Could you give me an idea of how the team has evolved or changed in the past year?
- Do you know the people I’ll be interacting with on a daily basis?
- What is the rest of the interviewing process like?
Ending.
Thank you for having me and taking the time. I really enjoyed this.
Hope you have a good weekend.
What e-commerce experience do you have?
Do you have experience working with offshore teams?
Yes, I have experience working with offshore teams, including offshore engineer teams. In my previous roles, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with engineers located in different regions. This experience allowed me to develop strong communication skills and adapt to the challenges of remote collaboration.
When working with offshore teams, I emphasized clear and frequent communication to ensure alignment on project goals, deliverables, and timelines. I utilized various communication tools and platforms to facilitate real-time discussions, virtual meetings, and screen-sharing sessions. Building strong relationships and trust with offshore team members was crucial in fostering effective collaboration and achieving project success.
I also learned to navigate time zone differences and accommodate varying work schedules to ensure smooth coordination and timely progress. By leveraging project management tools, version control systems, and collaborative platforms, I facilitated the seamless sharing of design assets, feedback, and updates.
Through my experience with offshore teams, I gained a deeper appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration, adaptability, and the value of fostering strong working relationships across geographical boundaries.
What’s your dream tech stack?
Every product designer has a different set of tools they like to use, from project management tools such as JIRA to user survey tools such as Qualtrics. But asking your candidate the components of their tech stack can demonstrate their interest in—and capabilities of—pushing the boundaries of their role.
Describe a time when you’ve used data to solve a problem.
The ability to demonstrate data-driven decision making is important in any role, but especially product design. Ideally, this question will lead the candidate to talk about a time when they noticed some type of user friction and then proposed a change to make the experience smoother.
For example, a product designer who uses FullStory might see in their Dashboard that an element on the login page is causing a frustrating user experience. The designer can build a case that this issue should be fixed by combining the qualitative data of Session Replay to provoke user empathy with metrics that quantify how many users are having this frustrating experience.
How do you know when you’ve gotten a design right?
Answering this question gives the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate how they analyze and measure user experiences—whether newly launched or on an ongoing basis. Not having an answer to this question is likely a bad sign, as it points to the practice of launching product experiences and never checking in on how they’re being used.
Additionally, this allows the candidate to mention the tools and softwares they use to measure and monitor their designs. This is a good place for you to dig deeper into what kinds of metrics they typically look for and leads you into the next question.
As a product designer, I gauge whether I’ve gotten a design right through a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures. Here are some indicators I look for:
User feedback and satisfaction: Positive user feedback is a strong indicator that a design is successful. I gather user feedback through usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and monitoring user behavior analytics. If users find the design intuitive, easy to use, and enjoyable, it suggests that I’ve achieved a successful design outcome.
Meeting user needs and goals: A well-executed design should effectively meet the needs and goals of the target audience. By conducting thorough user research and user testing, I can ensure that the design addresses user pain points, solves their problems, and provides a seamless experience. If users can easily accomplish their tasks and achieve their goals, it indicates that the design is on the right track.
Business impact: A successful design should align with the business objectives and contribute to positive outcomes. This could include improved conversion rates, increased user engagement, higher customer satisfaction, or achieving other key performance indicators. By analyzing relevant metrics and data, I can evaluate the impact of the design on business goals.
Alignment with design principles and goals: I assess whether the design aligns with established design principles and goals. This involves considering factors such as visual aesthetics, usability best practices, accessibility guidelines, and brand consistency. If the design successfully reflects and adheres to these principles, it suggests that I’ve achieved a desirable design outcome.
Iterative refinement and validation: Design is an iterative process, and continuous refinement is key. I make use of user testing, A/B testing, and feedback loops to validate and refine the design over time. By incorporating user insights and iterating on the design based on the findings, I can ensure that the design is continuously improved and refined.
Ultimately, knowing when a design is right is a combination of user satisfaction, meeting user needs, achieving business objectives, adhering to design principles, and engaging in an iterative and data-driven approach. Striving for a balance between these factors helps me determine the success and effectiveness of a design solution.
What type of work or project do you not enjoy doing?
Talking about what you like to do is easy when you’re interviewing. Talking about things you’d rather not do (while remaining professional)? Well, that’s trickier. Candidates don’t want to seem lazy or overly particular, but it can be telling to hear how someone talks about work that’s less-than-thrilling. It’s unlikely that the outcome of the interview will hinge on this response, but understanding what types of projects a candidate isn’t interested in helps you assess how they might fit into your team.
Can you give an example of something recent that inspired you?
This is essentially the opposite of the above question and gives the candidate the opportunity to talk about a user experience—or a single element of one—that they find excellent. You can follow up by asking them if and how they took that inspiration back to a project they were working on. Asking candidates to “provide an example of a time when…” is also a great way to gauge their introspection and willingness to talk about when things didn’t go right.
What’s an example of a user experience that you think is broken?
A passionate product designer shouldn’t need to hem and haw over this one—if they love user experience, they’ll have an answer at the ready. Have them critique the experience from multiple angles, and then ask them to speculate on how it ended up that way.
What analytics tools and key performance indicators (KPIs) do you use to evaluate product designs?
As a product designer, I utilize various analytics tools and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate product designs and assess their performance. Here are some commonly used tools and KPIs:
Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a popular analytics tool that provides valuable insights into user behavior, such as page views, bounce rates, session duration, and conversion rates. It helps evaluate the overall performance of the design and identify areas for improvement.
Heatmaps and Click-tracking Tools: Heatmap tools, like Hotjar or Crazy Egg, offer visual representations of user interactions on a website or app. They provide valuable insights into how users engage with the design, where they click, scroll, or spend the most time. This data helps identify usability issues and optimize the design accordingly.
Conversion Funnel Analysis: Analyzing conversion funnels helps understand the user journey and identify drop-off points within the design. Tools like Mixpanel or Kissmetrics provide detailed funnel visualizations, allowing designers to pinpoint areas where users abandon the process and optimize those stages for better conversions.
User Surveys and Feedback: Conducting user surveys and collecting direct feedback from users is a valuable qualitative method to gauge their satisfaction, identify pain points, and gather suggestions for improvement. Tools like SurveyMonkey or Typeform enable designers to gather insights and make informed design decisions based on user feedback.
A/B Testing: A/B testing tools, such as Optimizely or VWO, allow designers to compare and test different design variations simultaneously. By analyzing user interactions, conversion rates, and engagement metrics between different design versions, A/B testing helps determine the most effective design solution.
As for key performance indicators (KPIs), they can vary based on the specific goals and objectives of the product or project. Some common KPIs in evaluating product designs include:
Conversion Rate: Percentage of users who take a desired action (e.g., making a purchase, signing up) out of the total number of visitors or users.
Bounce Rate: The percentage of users who leave a website or app without taking any further action, often indicating a lack of engagement or relevant content.
Time on Page/Session Duration: The average amount of time users spend on a specific page or within a session, indicating the level of user engagement.
Task Completion Rate: The percentage of users who successfully complete a specific task or goal within the design, reflecting its usability and effectiveness.
User Retention: Measures the percentage of users who return to the product over a specified period, indicating the level of user satisfaction and engagement.
It’s important to select relevant KPIs based on the project goals and align them with the overall product strategy to assess the success and impact of the design.
What’s the difference between product design, UX/UI design, Interaction design, User interface design, visual design, and motion design?
While there is some overlap and interconnection among these roles, each has distinct focuses and responsibilities. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between product design, UX/UI design, interaction design, user interface design, visual design, and motion design:
Product Design: Product design is a broad discipline that encompasses the entire process of creating and shaping a product, including its functionality, user experience, aesthetics, and overall value proposition. Product designers take a holistic approach, considering the entire user journey, business goals, and technological constraints to create cohesive and impactful experiences.
UX/UI Design: UX/UI design stands for user experience/user interface design. It focuses on creating intuitive, engaging, and seamless interactions between users and digital products. UX designers primarily concentrate on understanding user needs, conducting user research, creating user flows, wireframes, and prototypes to optimize the overall user experience. UI designers then focus on designing the visual elements, such as layouts, typography, colors, and icons, to ensure a visually appealing and user-friendly interface.
Interaction Design: Interaction design is concerned with defining how users interact with a digital product or system. Interaction designers focus on designing the specific interactive elements, transitions, and behaviors that allow users to perform actions, navigate through interfaces, and accomplish their goals effectively. They pay attention to the usability and interactivity of the product, aiming to create intuitive and meaningful user interactions.
User Interface Design: User interface (UI) design specifically focuses on designing the visual elements and aesthetics of a digital interface. UI designers work on creating visually appealing, consistent, and functional interfaces by applying principles of layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy. They ensure that the interface elements are visually pleasing, accessible, and aligned with the brand identity.
Visual Design: Visual design is a broader discipline that encompasses various design fields, including UI design. It focuses on the overall visual aesthetics, communication, and presentation of a design. Visual designers apply principles of design, such as color theory, typography, layout, and composition, to create visually appealing and engaging experiences across different mediums.
Motion Design: Motion design refers to the design of animations, transitions, and dynamic elements within a digital interface. It involves bringing visual elements to life through movement, creating engaging and delightful user experiences. Motion designers focus on timing, choreography, and the principles of animation to enhance the usability, clarity, and visual interest of the design.
It’s important to note that the specific responsibilities and boundaries of these roles may vary across organizations and projects. Sometimes, designers may have skills and expertise that overlap across multiple areas, and they may assume hybrid roles that combine aspects of these disciplines.
What are some of the biggest trends in the product design field?
The field of product design is constantly evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing user expectations. Here are some significant trends that have been shaping the product design landscape:
Design Systems: Design systems have gained popularity as a way to create consistent and cohesive experiences across platforms and products. Designers are developing comprehensive systems that include reusable components, guidelines, and style libraries. Design systems promote efficiency, maintainability, and brand consistency throughout the design and development process.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR technologies are gaining momentum, opening up new possibilities for immersive and interactive experiences. Product designers are exploring how to integrate AR and VR into various industries, including gaming, e-commerce, education, and healthcare. Designing intuitive and compelling interactions within these immersive environments is a key focus area.
Design for Sustainability: There is growing awareness and emphasis on sustainable design practices. Designers are considering the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle, from materials and production to end-of-life considerations. Sustainable design focuses on creating eco-friendly products and experiences that promote a circular economy and minimize waste.
Inclusive Design: Inclusive design aims to create products that are accessible and usable by all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Designers are considering accessibility guidelines, ensuring proper color contrast, providing alternative text for visual content, and accommodating different interaction methods to make products more inclusive and reach a wider audience.
