Here's how you can tackle a design challenge given during an interview.

Tackling a design challenge in an interview is an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills and design thinking abilities. It's essential to approach the challenge systematically, starting with a clear understanding of the problem and its constraints. Conducting thorough research and gathering insights will help you generate innovative ideas. Evaluating and prioritizing these ideas ensures that you focus on the most effective solutions. Creating prototypes allows you to visualize your designs and gather feedback for iteration. Finally, presenting your solution effectively demonstrates your ability to communicate complex ideas and collaborate with others. By following these steps, you can tackle design challenges.

Understanding the brief and stating the problem correctly brings you 50% success already. “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” - Charles Kettering Having been on the other side of the table, I’ve noticed that candidates often fail to fully understand the problem statement. They don’t ask questions and rush into solutions, which is starting on the wrong foot. Take the time to understand the problem. Ask questions and seek clarity. Validate your hypothesis with the interviewer before moving forward.

As a seasoned product designer, tackling interview design challenges is all about building a strong foundation. The first step is meticulous. I actively listen or carefully read the brief to fully grasp the problem, target audience, and any constraints. Proactive clarification through questions demonstrates my attention to detail and commitment to user needs. This ensures I'm on the right track from the start and avoids misunderstandings later.

Design challenges are a fantastic way to showcase your capabilities as a designer. They simulate real-life scenarios, allowing interviewers to see how you think and operate on the job. Start by thoroughly understanding the brief. It often mirrors situations you might encounter in the actual role. Take your time with this step—research the company, understand the business needs, and clarify the objectives. This will help you tailor your design to address real business challenges, making you stand out.

Once you have a solid grasp of the brief, dive into research. Gather information on user demographics, market trends, and competitor products. Even if time is limited, quick online searches can yield valuable insights. This research phase is crucial as it informs your design decisions, ensuring your solution is both user-friendly and aligned with the company's goals. Understanding the context will make your design more relevant and impactful.

The ideation phase is crucial in the design process as it is where innovative solutions are born. To ideate creatively, create an environment that encourages free expression of ideas without judgment. Use techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and role-playing to explore different perspectives and solutions. Framing problems with “How Might We?” questions helps in positively orienting solutions. Don’t limit yourself to conventional ideas; often, the best solutions come from unconventional approaches. Considering the diversity of thought within your team can enrich the creative process, bringing new visions and approaches to the design challenge.

After understanding the brief, I move to rapid prototyping. While perfection isn't the goal, the prototype should effectively communicate my design concept. I leverage available resources, be it pen and paper or digital tools, to bring my ideas to life. This tangible representation showcases my thought process and how I translate ideas into user-centric products, giving the interviewer valuable insight into my design approach.

Prototyping is about bringing your ideas to life. Develop a quick prototype that conveys your concept, focusing on a strong user flow rather than detailed designs. Use available materials, whether pen and paper or digital tools. The prototype doesn't have to be perfect, but it should clearly show how your solution addresses the user problem. This tangible representation of your idea demonstrates your thought process and practical skills.

Following rapid prototyping, I focus on clear and concise presentation. I explain the reasoning behind my design choices and how they effectively address the challenge laid out in the brief. Walking the interviewer through my design thinking process, from initial research to the final prototype, demonstrates my thought leadership. I anticipate questions and prepare to defend my decisions confidently, without being defensive. This showcases my ability to effectively communicate design concepts, a vital skill for any product designer.

When it’s time to present, clarity is key. Explain the rationale behind your design choices and how they address the brief. Walk the interviewer through your process from research to prototyping. Be prepared to answer questions and defend your decisions confidently. Effective communication is as important as your design skills. A clear, concise presentation shows your ability to articulate complex ideas and collaborate with others.

After your presentation, be open to feedback. Interviewers may provide critiques or insights, and showing that you can take constructive criticism demonstrates your willingness to learn and adapt. Reflecting on feedback and discussing how you might incorporate it into your design shows maturity and a professional attitude. It also highlights your collaborative nature and receptiveness to other viewpoints.

In addition to the structured steps, consider sharing personal experiences or insights that highlight your problem-solving skills and creativity. How have you tackled similar challenges in the past? What unique approaches have you used to gather data or test with real audiences when typical channels weren't available? These anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of your abilities and thought processes, making your application even more compelling.

When given a design brief, interviewers don't expect a ready to ship design in 2 hours. What they DO expect is a clear showcase of your thinking process. Here are some key points to keep in mind: 1. Always check in with the interviewer after each major step, to see if your thought process is aligned with what they are expecting. If it's not, discuss and realign. 2. Realistically speaking few rushed hours is not enough time or context to find the "perfect solution". Instead try to highlight that outside the box thinking of yours, by rapid brainstorming and iterations of different possible solutions. 3. Be ready to justify your design decisions with clear rationale, not just gut feelings.