The UX interview can be a big hurdle if you’re stepping into UX design or looking to switch roles within the industry. But the truth is, it’s not just about what you know, it’s about how you think, approach problems, and communicate your process.
In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about UX interview questions. From understanding the interview process to answering behavioral and technical questions, this blog will help you confidently walk into your next UX design interview.
What is a UX Interview?
A UX interview involves conversations and tasks designed to evaluate your skills, knowledge, and thinking as a UX designer. This process often includes a portfolio review, technical questions, design challenges, and sometimes a hands-on design exercise. Interviews vary depending on the company, but they often include a mix of:
- Behavioral questions
- Technical skills assessments
- Design challenges
- User research methods
- Portfolio review
- Team fit evaluations
The goal? To determine if you have UX design skills and can contribute to a product development process with a user-centered design approach.
The UX Design Interview Process
Let’s break down the typical UX design interview process. While the structure can vary by company, most processes include the following steps:
Initial Screening (Phone or Video Interview)
- Focuses on your background, resume, and general fit for the role.
- Questions about your design project experience, tools, and motivation.
Portfolio Review
- You’ll present selected UX projects to demonstrate your user-centered design approach.
- Be ready to explain UX design decisions and how you solved problems for users.
Behavioral Interview
- Questions that assess your communication style, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork experience.
- Topics may include challenging projects, negative feedback, and how you handle critique.
Design Exercise / Challenge
- Could be a take-home assignment or live whiteboard session.
- Tests how you apply design methods, user flows, information architecture, and visual design.
Final Interview (Team or Cross-functional)
- Meetings with the design team, product managers, or the development team.
- Focus on your ability to work collaboratively and align UX design with business goals.
Offer Discussion
- If you’ve made it here—congrats! Final chats about compensation, timeline, and next steps.
Common UX Interview Questions and Why They’re Asked
Hiring managers use various UX interview questions to evaluate how well candidates can communicate, think critically, apply research methods, and solve problems creatively. Here are some of the most common categories:
1. General and Behavioral Questions
These questions focus on your background, motivations, and work habits. They help the interviewer understand your verbal communication style and how you approach collaboration.
- Can you walk me through your background and how you got into UX design?
- Tell us about a challenging project you worked on. How did you overcome the obstacles?
- How do you manage feedback, especially negative feedback?
- Describe when you had to advocate for a user-centered solution despite pushback from project managers or the development team.
These questions look for real-life examples that show how well you align with the company’s business goals while keeping users in mind.
2. UX Portfolio Review Questions
Almost every UX designer interview includes a portfolio review. This is where you walk through a few real-world projects to demonstrate your skills, thought process, and impact.
- What was the goal of this design project, and how did you define success?
- What user research methods did you use?
- What role did you play in the team?
- What were some design challenges you faced, and how did you resolve them?
- How did your work affect user satisfaction or product metrics?
3. UX Design Process Questions
Interviewers want to know how you go from problem to solution. These questions often touch on design thinking, user behavior, and your ability to think strategically.
- How do you start a new project?
- Can you explain your UX design process?
- What is your approach to user flows and information architecture?
- How do you incorporate user personas into your design work?
- What does user-centered design mean to you?
There isn’t always a right or wrong answer, but your explanation should be clear, thoughtful, and iterative.
4. Research and Testing Questions
These focus on your ability to gather insights and validate design decisions through usability testing and user interviews.
- What user research techniques do you use?
- How do you recruit user groups for testing?
- Describe your process for conducting user testing.
- How do you incorporate findings from usability studies into your designs?
- Have you ever changed a design based on feedback from screen readers or accessibility testing?
This area helps hiring managers assess how well you use ux research to inform design.
5. Technical and Tools-Based Questions
Expect to be asked about your familiarity with UX design tools and how you apply them in your workflow.
- What tools do you use for interaction design and visual design?
- Are you familiar with industry standard tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD?
- How do you ensure your designs are responsive and work across multiple platforms that are accessible to all users?
These questions show whether you can join a team and contribute using their existing tools and processes.
6. Hands-On Design Challenges
Companies often include a design exercise during the interview or as a take-home assignment. These test your practical abilities and problem-solving mindset.
- You may be asked to create a user flow for a new app.
- Or redesign a checkout process to improve user satisfaction.
- You might even get a hands-on design challenge where you’re paired with other designers to collaborate live.
The point is not always to arrive at the perfect solution, but to show your critical thinking, collaboration style, and design instincts.
7. Communication and Teamwork
Great UX design doesn’t happen in a silo. Your ability to communicate effectively with developers, stakeholders, and other designers is essential.
- How do you explain UX decisions to non-designers?
- What’s your approach to working with a development team?
- Describe how you handle conflict or disagreement during a project.
These types of questions help interviewers gauge your collaboration and leadership potential.
Tips and Strategies for Preparing for Your UX Interview
Here are a few ways to prepare for your UX design interview:
- Know Your Portfolio Inside Out: Be ready to discuss every detail of your ux project. Show how your work contributed to the product development, improved user satisfaction, and addressed business goals.
- Practice Common Questions: Rehearse answers to common behavioral questions, technical questions, and scenario-based prompts. Use real-world examples from your work highlighting your design methods, research, and team collaboration.
- Refresh Your Tool Knowledge: Brush up on industry standard tools, especially the ones mentioned in the job description. Highlight any experience with prototyping, design systems, or responsive design.
- Sharpen Your Research Skills: Make sure you can speak confidently about user research methods, usability testing, and how you analyze and apply user feedback.
- Prepare for Portfolio Walkthroughs: Structure your case studies to emphasize:
- The problem
- Your process (research, ideation, testing)
- The solution
- The results and impact
- Be Ready for a Design Challenge: Treat this like a real project: clarify the scope, ask questions, and show your process clearly. If you don’t finish, it’s okay just show your thinking.
- Ask Smart Questions: Interviewers appreciate thoughtful questions. Consider asking about:
- The team structure
- How success is measured
- The current UX challenges
This shows your interest in the role and your strategic thinking.
Conclusion
UX interviews are about more than your technical skills. They’re about how you think, communicate, and collaborate to solve user problems. By preparing with these UX interview questions, brushing up on research methods, and understanding the design thinking process, you’re setting yourself up to impress.
A great UX designer doesn’t just create beautiful screens. They understand user behavior, solve real problems, and align their work with user and business needs.
So whether you’re heading into your first UX designer interview or your tenth, remember: It’s all about showing that you’re thoughtful, strategic, and committed to designing experiences that matter.
Good luck with your following UX design interview, you’ve got this.
