Top interview questions to expect

1. Tell me about a project where you had to balance user needs with business goals.
2. Give an instance where you had to adapt to changing user needs or design constraints.
3. Describe a challenging feedback situation and how you handled it professionally.
4. Share a time when you championed inclusivity and accessibility in your design process.
5. Tell me about a time when you collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver a successful project.
6. Give me an example of a time you had to iterate quickly on a design based on user testing feedback.
7. Describe a time when you went above and beyond to resolve a user experience issue.

Check the latest questions for this role:

Answering interview questions with STAR structure

The STAR framework is a structured method for answering behavioral interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. When using the STAR framework, you should start by describing the situation you were in, then explain the task you were assigned, and the actions you took to complete the task. Finally, you should discuss the results of your actions. The STAR framework helps you provide clear, concise, and structured answers to behavioral interview questions.

Sample answers to above interview questions

1. Tell me about a project where you had to balance user needs with business goals.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to redesign the checkout process for an e-commerce website. The business goal was to increase conversions, while the user goal was to have a smooth and seamless checkout experience.

Task: My task was to create a checkout process that met both the business and user goals.

Action: I conducted user research to understand their pain points with the existing checkout process. I then worked with a cross-functional team to develop a new checkout process that addressed these pain points.

Result: The new checkout process resulted in a significant increase in conversions.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to balance user needs with business goals.


2. Give an instance where you had to adapt to changing user needs or design constraints.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to design a mobile app for a healthcare company. The user needs changed significantly during the project, and I had to adapt my design accordingly.

Task: My task was to create a mobile app that met the new user needs while still being consistent with the company’s brand and design guidelines.

Action: I worked closely with the product manager and user experience team to understand the new user needs. I then revised my design to meet these needs.

Result: The final product was a mobile app that met the needs of the users and was consistent with the company’s brand and design guidelines.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to adapt to changing user needs and design constraints.


3. Describe a challenging feedback situation and how you handled it professionally.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project with a client who was very critical of my design work. They constantly gave me negative feedback, which was difficult to deal with.

Task: My task was to manage the client’s feedback and continue to work on the project.

Action: I took the client’s feedback seriously and tried to understand their concerns. I also made an effort to communicate with them regularly and keep them updated on my progress.

Result: I was able to successfully complete the project and meet the client’s needs.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to handle a challenging feedback situation professionally.


4. Share a time when you championed inclusivity and accessibility in your design process.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to design a website for a non-profit organization. The website needed to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Task: My task was to create a website that was inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities.

Action: I conducted research on web accessibility and consulted with experts in the field. I also used a variety of tools and techniques to make the website accessible to people with disabilities.

Result: The final website was accessible to people with disabilities and met the needs of the non-profit organization.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to champion inclusivity and accessibility in my design process.


5. Tell me about a time when you collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver a successful project.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to design a new product for a technology company. The project involved a cross-functional team of engineers, marketers, and designers.

Task: My task was to collaborate with the cross-functional team to design a product that met the needs of the users and the business.

Action: I worked closely with the team members to understand their needs and perspectives. I also facilitated brainstorming sessions and design workshops to generate ideas and solutions.

Result: The final product was a success and met the needs of the users and the business.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to collaborate with a cross-functional team to deliver a successful project.


6. Give me an example of a time you had to iterate quickly on a design based on user testing feedback.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to design a new user interface for a software application. The user testing revealed that the interface was confusing and difficult to use.

Task: My task was to iterate on the design quickly to address the user feedback.

Action: I worked with the development team to make changes to the interface based on the user feedback. I also conducted additional user testing to ensure that the changes were effective.

Result: The final user interface was easy to use and met the needs of the users.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to iterate quickly on a design based on user testing feedback.


7. Describe a time when you went above and beyond to resolve a user experience issue.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project to design a new website for a retail company. The client was experiencing a high bounce rate on the website, and they asked me to help resolve the issue.

Task: My task was to identify the cause of the high bounce rate and recommend solutions.

Action: I conducted a thorough analysis of the website’s analytics data and user behavior. I also conducted user interviews to understand their pain points.

Result: I was able to identify the cause of the high bounce rate and recommend a number of solutions. The client implemented the solutions, and the bounce rate decreased significantly.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it follows the STAR framework and provides a clear and concise example of how I was able to go above and beyond to resolve a user experience issue.