Prepare to pass your next job interview with flying colours. In this guide, we share 16 of the most common UI UX interview questions, and show you how to answer them.
Often, job interviews are so nerve-wracking because we don’t know what to expect. And, for entry-level designers, the process can be especially daunting.
But it doesn’t have to be. If you can anticipate the kinds of questions you’re likely to be asked, you can spend time before the interview prepping your answers and making sure you highlight all the right skills and qualities.
To help you, we’ve compiled the questions that most frequently pop up in UI UX Design interviews. For each question, we explain what the hiring manager is trying to find out and share advice on how to formulate your answer. For some of the trickier questions, we’ve also included some sample answers to guide you.
Contents:
- 1) Questions about you
- 2) Questions about your work and your design process
- 3) Questions about your goals and aspirations
- 4) Where do you see yourself 3-5 years from now?
- 5) The whiteboard challenge
- 6) Launching your UI UX design career: Further tips
Let’s get straight into those questions.
Questions About You
Most job interviews will begin with some questions about you, the candidate. At this stage, the questions will typically be broader and more generic than the technical questions you can expect later on—but you still want to keep your answers focused on the role at hand.
Let’s consider some common UI UX interview “starter” questions and how you might answer them.
1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They are looking for some first-hand insight into who you are and what makes you a great candidate for the role.
How to answer:
This is a broad question, but your answer should focus on what’s likely to be interesting and relevant for the interviewer. Provide a concise summary of your professional background and achievements, as well as your most relevant skills and passions—all of which, in combination, have led you to this very interview. If there are any UI UX Design Courses you’ve pursued, now would also be the time to speak about the same.
Example answer:
“I studied psychology at university and have been working as a primary school teacher for the last five years. As a teacher, I consider myself to be extremely empathetic, a creative problem-solver, and an excellent communicator. During the pandemic, we had to adapt our curriculum for online teaching and I was involved in creating a digital learning platform for our students. This is where I discovered my passion for design and technology. I decided to learn UX UI design and have just completed my UI UX Diploma with AND Academy, an online design school. Now I’m hoping to use my problem-solving and design skills to make a difference in the educational technology space.”
2. What attracts you to this role and our company?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to gauge how well you understand and connect with their product, their mission, and the role itself.
How to answer:
Identify one or two key things that resonated with you when you came across the job ad, and explain why. Within your answer, highlight why you’re interested in both the wider company and this particular role. Be specific: instead of saying that you love the idea of working for a tech company, relate your excitement to a core value that the company stands for. And, as always, tie your answer back to why and how you’d bring value.
Example answer:
“As a teacher, I’ve always been passionate about education and helping people reach their full potential. I was excited to come across your product and see that you’re working to improve the educational technology space—that really resonated with me. As I read through the job description, I noticed lots of emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. I’ve spent most of my career working in schools and have always thrived in a collaborative environment, so this appeals to me. With my teaching experience and my design skills, I believe I can bring a valuable perspective to the team while learning a lot in return.”
3. Why did you choose to pursue a career in UI UX design?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to see if you understand what a career in UI UX design entails and what’s required of a good UI UX designer. The interviewer also hopes to see genuine passion and enthusiasm for the field.
How to answer:
The easiest way to convey passion and enthusiasm is to be authentic. What is it about UI UX design that you truly enjoy? Which of your skills and interests does it resonate with?
Think about all the different things that a UI UX designer does—conducting research, engaging with end users, solving problems, designing solutions, creating design deliverables—and the most important UI UX design skills they call upon: creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork, empathy and curiosity (to name a few). Which aspects of the field do you really love and why? How does the role draw on your natural talents?
Example answer:
“I chose to pursue a career in UI UX design because I’m a problem-solver at heart, and that’s what UI UX design is all about. Throughout my career as a teacher, I was naturally listening to different people’s needs every day and coming up with solutions to meet those needs, so UI UX design speaks to that skill. I’m also passionate about creating tech products which people can actually use to make a difference in their lives, and UI UX design offers a space for that. Generally, I love being creative and seeing my ideas evolve into fully-fledged solutions, so that’s another part of UI UX design that I’m drawn to.”
4. What would you say are your greatest strengths?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to see how closely your strengths align with the requirements of the role.
How to answer:
Your answer should directly relate to the job description. Ahead of the interview, read through the job ad and highlight the top skills and qualities the employer seems to be looking for. You’ll then base your answer on those that closely match your own strengths, providing concrete examples as proof.
Example answer:
“One of my greatest strengths is asking the right questions and actively listening to learn more about people. As a teacher and a mentor to primary school age children, I often held one-to-one sessions with my students to learn about their challenges and how I could better support them. I asked open-ended questions and practised active listening to build trust and encourage them to share their needs. This enabled me to find solutions and offer effective support. I understand that user research is a major component of the role here, and I believe this strength would prove really valuable.”
5. And what are your weaknesses?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to see self-reflection, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn and grow.
How to answer:
Honesty is important here, but don’t highlight a weakness that would directly affect your ability to do the job. Focus on a genuine weakness that’s not absolutely critical to the position—and share concrete actions you’ve taken to improve.
Example answer:
“I’m not the most confident public speaker. I tend to get very nervous about giving presentations in front of a large audience, and earlier in my career, I let this hold me back from certain opportunities. Since then, I have taken a workshop in public speaking to learn some useful techniques and I make sure I always say yes to speaking opportunities so I can continue to overcome my nerves and build my confidence in that area.”
Questions About Your Work and Your Design Process
Now that the interviewer has learned a bit about you, they’ll want to delve deeper into the specifics of your work. This is where the questions become more technical; the hiring manager wants to see proof of your skills, knowledge, and expertise. Consider this the “main course” of the interview.
6. How would you explain UI and UX design to someone who is unfamiliar with the terms?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want you to demonstrate that you understand exactly what UI and UX design are and how they differ. This helps them to see how you interpret the role, and shows them that you know what’s required of you as a UI UX designer.
How to answer:
Emphasise that UX design is the art of designing entire experiences, while UI design focuses specifically on the ‘surface’ of a digital product. It can be helpful to bring in an example; you could pick a product and explain which aspects relate to UX design and which relate to UI design.
Lastly, be sure to mention that both UX and UI design are user-centric disciplines which aim to solve real user problems, and that they both prioritise usability and accessibility . You’ll find a helpful explanation of UI UX design here , complete with examples—use it to model your own answer.
7. Can you talk me through your typical UI UX design process?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to know how you approach different design challenges. Specifically, they are looking for evidence of your problem-solving skills and your ability to prioritise user needs.
How to answer:
Provide a high-level overview of all the steps you would follow when tackling a design project. Be sure to reference user research, analysis, defining the problem, ideating solutions, running usability tests, and iterating on your designs. You want to demonstrate that your process begins with understanding your users’ needs, and that you recognise the importance of continuously testing, validating, and improving your designs.
Using a project as a reference point is also a great strategy to explain your UI UX process. Take the Mission Outdoors Project by AND learners for reference. The project highlights all the steps, making it an excellent project to effectively communicate your design process.
8. When it comes to research, which methods do you use and why?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to see that you’re familiar with a variety of different research methods—and that you’re able to choose the appropriate methods depending on your goals.
How to answer:
Start by explaining that the type of research you conduct depends on the requirements and constraints of the project. Mention that budget, time, and resources all have a role to play, as well as the kinds of insights you want to uncover. For example, if you’re conducting research with a focus on information architecture, you might opt for a card sorting exercise. If you want to gather more generic feedback from as many people as possible, you’d probably run a user survey. You can also mention the difference between qualitative and quantitative UX research.
9. Can you tell me about a UI UX design project you’re most proud of and why?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to know how you define a successful UI UX project and how you contribute to that success.
How to answer:
This question is an excellent opportunity to showcase teamwork. Pick a project you contributed to, provide context (what user problem were you solving and why?), explain who else was involved in the project, and what your exact role was. Then describe what made the project a success, how you knew it was successful, and how you contributed to that success.
Answer example:
“I volunteered for a non-profit to help them improve the UX of their website. The goal was to simplify two key processes: signing up for the newsletter and making donations. I worked closely with the marketing manager to review the current donation and sign-up pages. I was able to redesign both pages which resulted in a 30% increase in newsletter subscriptions in the following month, and a 15% increase in donations.”
10. Can you tell me about a UI UX design project “fail” or a time when a project you were working on didn’t go to plan?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
The real question they’re asking here is: How do you overcome challenges and handle adversity?
How to answer:
Provide necessary context for the project you’re going to talk about (primarily, what the goals of the project were) and detail the challenges you faced. Reflect on why you think these issues arose, how you could have avoided them, and how you took steps to overcome them. Whenever you discuss ‘problem’ projects, it’s essential to also demonstrate what you learned from the experience.
11. Where do you find UI UX inspiration?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to know if you’re passionate about keeping up with the industry and expanding your creative horizons.
How to answer:
There’s no right or wrong answer here. You can share your favourite design blogs, podcasts, YouTubers, or inspirational figures within your network. The key is to explain why you turn to these particular sources for inspiration. How exactly do they inspire you? For bonus points, you could reference a specific design challenge you faced and provide an example of how and where you sought inspiration for that challenge.
12. Could you talk me through your portfolio?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to hear you talk about your process in relation to specific projects. This gives them further insight into how you think and work as a designer.
How to answer:
Before the interview, go through your UI UX design portfolio and make sure you’re able to confidently talk about each case study. The hiring manager may select one or two projects at random, or they may ask you to choose one you’d like to focus on. Either way, be ready to explain the process you followed and the reasons behind each decision you made along the way.
13. How would you improve the UI UX of our product?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
The purpose of this question is twofold. The hiring manager wants to see that you’ve thought about how you could add value to their product—and they’re also assessing your communication skills and how you deliver feedback.
How to answer:
Do your research prior to the interview, signing up as a product user if it’s possible to do so for free. Identify one or two areas of improvement, outline what measures you would take to improve them, and explain how this would benefit the end user. Throughout your answer, be constructive and diplomatic—and acknowledge the fact that you’re only able to base your ideas on assumptions.
Answer example:
“I really love the overall design of the website and I think you have a strong visual brand. I noticed some potential for improvement in the checkout process. After I added several products to my basket, I wanted to proceed to purchase as a guest but it wasn’t possible to do so without filling out a really long form. I would add the option to proceed as a guest, which would make it quicker and easier for people to purchase and reduce the risk of customers abandoning half way through. I would also consider making the sign-up form shorter so that people are more motivated to create an account.”
Questions About Your Goals and Aspirations
Usually, the hiring manager will wrap up the interview with some questions about your career goals. This helps them to understand how you want to grow within the field, and if your aspirations align with the company’s vision.
14. Where do you see yourself 3-5 years from now?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to know what ambitions you have to learn and grow, and to see if you’re considering a long-term future with your next company.
How to answer:
First, outline your own career goals. Perhaps you want to improve your skills in a specific area such as UX research, evolve into a strategic design role, or gain management experience. Then try to relate this to the company and the role you’re applying for. If the job ad mentions that you’d be the first UI UX designer to join the company, you could express how you’d eventually like to help them grow the team.
15. On the spectrum of UI UX roles, where do you see yourself thriving?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
They want to see that you’re aware of different career paths within the UI UX industry, and that you’re able to recognise where your own skills and strengths currently lie.
How to answer:
Ahead of the interview, spend some time learning about different roles within the field and considering how they tie in with your own career goals. For example, how does a UX researcher differ from a UX designer? What would it mean if you were to specialise in UI or .interaction design? Browse through job descriptions (and even live job ads) to get a feel for what these different roles entail, then consider where your own strengths, skills—and ultimately, your interests—lie. You don’t need to go into the interview with a solid plan as to how you would like your design career to unfold. For now, it’s enough to demonstrate an awareness of different pathways and where you believe you could offer most value.
16. Do you have any questions for me/us?
Why the interviewer asks this question:
If you don’t have any questions for the hiring manager, it can seem like you’re not really interested in the job. This is your chance to find out more about the role (or the company) and to express your enthusiasm.
How to answer:
Ask one or two open-ended questions about the role and the company culture. Refrain from grilling the hiring manager about specific details; instead, ask questions like “How would you describe the company culture here?”, “What do you personally enjoy most about working for this company?” or “How do you measure success in this particular role?”
The Whiteboard Challenge
Often, the UI UX design interview process will include a practical component such as a whiteboard challenge. Typically, the hiring manager will give you a design challenge to solve and have you work on it right in front of them.
Why employers include whiteboard challenges:
They want to see your design process in action. The whiteboard challenge allows them to witness first-hand how you structure your work and go about finding solutions.
How to prepare:
The best way to prepare for a whiteboard challenge is to have a framework at the ready. As you’ll only have between 30 minutes and an hour to complete the challenge, condense your framework accordingly and allocate a set amount of time for each step. Then, practise applying your framework to different design challenges at home. You can come up with your own challenges, ask friends and family, or take inspiration from Sebastian Mondo’s 30 whiteboard challenge ideas.
Launching Your UI UX Design Career: Further Tips
The key to a successful UI UX design interview lies in knowing how to communicate your skills, strengths, and passions—and being able to relate them to the job you’re applying for. Prepare your own answers to each of the questions in our guide and you’ll be ready to attend your next interview with confidence. Even if the hiring manager throws in some curveball questions, you’ll be well-versed in the art of crafting an insightful answer.
Ahead of your interview, it’s also worth conducting some research into UI UX designer salaries . This will help you to handle the topic of salary (and negotiate a reasonable offer) should it come up in the interview.
Next Steps
If you’d like to learn more, check out our articles over on the AND Academy Design Blog. You can also check out this project by AND Learner, Vikas Sen, for more insights into the applications of UI UX.
In case you think you need further assistance, here are some of our resources you can consider:
- Watch this session by Shiva Viswanathan, Design Head of Ogilvy Pennywise, and Naman Singh, Product Experience Designer at RED.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our UI UX Design courses – all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding option to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
