5 Interaction Designer Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction

This question assesses your ability to balance user needs with business goals, a critical skill for a Principal Interaction Designer who must often bridge these two areas.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to structure your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Clearly describe the project and the specific business constraints you faced.
• Explain your approach to advocating for user-centered design, including how you communicated with stakeholders.
• Discuss the outcome and how it impacted both user experience and business objectives.
• Share any lessons learned that could apply to future projects.

What not to say

• Blaming others for not understanding the importance of design.
• Failing to mention specific strategies you used to advocate for design.
• Only focusing on the difficulties without highlighting your contributions.
• Not addressing how you resolved any conflicts that arose.

Example answer

“In my role at Adobe, I worked on a mobile app redesign that faced pressure to reduce development time. I organized workshops with stakeholders to demonstrate how user-centered design could enhance retention. By presenting data on user engagement and demonstrating quick prototypes, I secured buy-in for essential features. Ultimately, the app saw a 30% increase in user satisfaction, validating the importance of user advocacy.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your knowledge and commitment to accessibility, a crucial aspect of interaction design that affects user experience for diverse populations.

How to answer

• Discuss the accessibility standards or guidelines you follow (e.g., WCAG).
• Describe your design process and how you integrate accessibility from the beginning.
• Share specific tools or methods you use to test accessibility in your designs.
• Provide examples of how you have adapted designs to improve inclusivity.
• Emphasize the importance of user feedback in refining accessible designs.

What not to say

• Claiming accessibility is only an afterthought.
• Not mentioning any specific guidelines or standards.
• Focusing solely on visual aspects without considering other accessibility factors.
• Neglecting to provide concrete examples of past work.

Example answer

“I adhere to WCAG guidelines throughout my design process. For a recent project at Microsoft, I conducted user testing with individuals from diverse backgrounds to ensure our interface was usable for everyone. I utilized tools like Axe to identify accessibility issues and iterated on designs based on user feedback. As a result, our product received positive reviews for its inclusivity.”

Introduction

This question assesses your ability to navigate stakeholder relationships while championing user-centered design principles, a critical skill for a Lead Interaction Designer.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to structure your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Clearly explain the project context and the conflicting interests involved.
• Detail the strategies you employed to advocate for user needs, such as presenting user research data or usability testing results.
• Highlight your communication techniques in addressing stakeholders' concerns.
• Quantify the positive outcomes of your advocacy on the project or user experience.

What not to say

• Focusing solely on the technical aspects of design without mentioning user needs.
• Neglecting to discuss how you addressed stakeholder concerns.
• Claiming total success without acknowledging any challenges faced.
• Avoiding specifics about the project or the stakeholders involved.

Example answer

“In my role at BBVA, I led a redesign of our mobile banking app. Stakeholders were primarily focused on adding features, which conflicted with our user research showing that users needed a simpler interface. I organized a workshop where I presented usability testing results, demonstrating how fewer features could enhance user satisfaction. As a result, we implemented a streamlined design that increased user engagement by 30% and received positive feedback from clients.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your understanding of inclusive design principles and your ability to implement them effectively in your work.

How to answer

• Discuss the importance of accessibility in interaction design.
• Outline specific guidelines or standards you follow (e.g., WCAG).
• Share a relevant project example where accessibility considerations were a priority.
• Explain the design choices you made to improve accessibility.
• Conclude with the impact of these choices on user experience.

What not to say

• Ignoring the importance of accessibility in design.
• Providing vague examples that lack detail about accessibility features.
• Focusing on accessibility as an afterthought rather than a core design principle.
• Failing to mention user feedback or usability testing related to accessibility.

Example answer

“At Telefonica, I worked on an e-commerce platform redesign where accessibility was a key focus. I adhered to WCAG guidelines, ensuring color contrast ratios were sufficient and that all interactive elements were navigable via keyboard. We conducted usability tests with users with disabilities, which led to significant improvements in our interface. Post-launch analytics showed a 25% increase in conversions from users with accessibility needs, highlighting the importance of inclusive design.”

Introduction

This question helps evaluate your ability to integrate user-centered design principles with business goals, which is crucial for a Senior Interaction Designer.

How to answer

• Begin by outlining the project context and its importance
• Explain the user needs you identified and how they were gathered
• Discuss the business objectives that needed to be met
• Describe the design solutions you implemented to balance both aspects
• Quantify the outcomes and how they benefited users and the business

What not to say

• Focusing solely on user needs without considering business impact
• Neglecting to mention how you gathered user insights
• Using jargon without explaining design decisions clearly
• Failing to present measurable results or feedback

Example answer

“At Atlassian, I worked on a project to redesign our project management tool. We conducted user interviews to understand frustrations, which highlighted the need for better task visibility. Balancing this with our goal to increase user adoption, I introduced a dashboard feature that provided real-time updates. This led to a 30% increase in user engagement and a 15% boost in overall productivity.”

Introduction

This question is important as it assesses your commitment to inclusivity and your knowledge of accessibility standards, which are vital for effective interaction design.

How to answer

• Describe your understanding of accessibility and its importance in design
• Mention specific guidelines you follow (e.g., WCAG)
• Share examples of how you've incorporated accessibility into your designs
• Explain how you test for accessibility in your final products
• Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them

What not to say

• Saying accessibility is not a priority for your designs
• Providing vague examples without specific measures taken
• Ignoring the importance of user testing for accessibility
• Failing to recognize the range of user disabilities

Example answer

“I prioritize accessibility by following WCAG guidelines closely. For instance, in a recent project for a mobile app at Canva, I ensured all text had sufficient contrast and that the app was navigable via keyboard. We also conducted usability tests with users who have disabilities, which led to valuable insights and adjustments. This approach not only improved accessibility but also enhanced overall user satisfaction.”

Introduction

This question assesses your ability to integrate user-centered design with business objectives, which is crucial for an Interaction Designer.

How to answer

• Use the STAR method to frame your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Clearly outline the project context and the conflicting needs of users and the business.
• Detail your design process and how you prioritized user feedback while considering business constraints.
• Explain the final outcome and how it benefited both users and the business.
• Highlight any metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your design.

What not to say

• Ignoring business objectives and focusing solely on user needs.
• Failing to explain your design process or decision-making.
• Neglecting to mention how your design impacted the business positively.
• Providing vague examples without specific outcomes.

Example answer

“In my role at Zomato, we redesigned the restaurant discovery feature. Initially, users wanted more filtering options, while the business aimed for a simplified interface to drive ad placements. By conducting user interviews and usability testing, I proposed a hybrid solution: a streamlined interface with expandable filter options. This design increased user engagement by 30% and ad revenue by 20%, showing that we could balance user needs with business goals effectively.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your understanding of usability testing processes and how you incorporate user feedback into your design iterations.

How to answer

• Describe your usability testing methodology and tools you use.
• Explain how you recruit participants and ensure diverse user representation.
• Detail how you analyze testing results and incorporate feedback into design revisions.
• Share an example of a significant change made as a result of usability testing.
• Discuss how you measure the success of the usability tests.

What not to say

• Claiming to skip usability testing in favor of personal opinions.
• Focusing solely on quantitative metrics without qualitative insights.
• Not addressing the importance of diverse user testing groups.
• Providing generic examples that lack depth or detail.

Example answer

“At my previous job with Flipkart, I implemented a usability testing process using both moderated and unmoderated tests. I recruited participants through our user panels, ensuring a mix of demographics. After observing user interactions with our app, I identified pain points that led to a redesign of the checkout process, ultimately reducing cart abandonment rates by 25%. Usability testing is crucial for iterative design and ensuring user satisfaction.”

Introduction

This question assesses your understanding of user-centered design and your ability to communicate its importance to stakeholders, which is vital for an interaction designer.

How to answer

• Start by outlining the project context and the stakeholders involved
• Explain the user-centered design principles you advocated for
• Detail how you communicated these principles to others
• Share any resistance you faced and how you overcame it
• Highlight the positive outcomes resulting from your advocacy

What not to say

• Failing to mention specific user-centered design principles
• Describing a project where you didn’t influence decisions
• Overlooking the importance of collaboration with stakeholders
• Being vague about the project's outcomes or impacts

Example answer

“In my internship at a local startup, I worked on a mobile app for food delivery. I noticed the initial designs didn't prioritize user feedback. I organized a workshop to educate the team on user-centered design principles, emphasizing usability testing. Although some team members were skeptical, I presented user research data that demonstrated how improved usability could enhance customer satisfaction. Ultimately, we integrated user feedback into the design, leading to a 30% increase in user engagement post-launch.”

Introduction

This question evaluates your knowledge of usability testing methods and your ability to implement them effectively, which is crucial for an interaction designer.

How to answer

• Outline your step-by-step process for usability testing
• Mention the types of usability testing you have experience with (e.g., remote, in-person)
• Discuss how you recruit participants and select tasks for testing
• Explain how you analyze the results and incorporate feedback into your designs
• Share specific examples of insights gained from usability tests

What not to say

• Suggesting that usability testing is optional or unnecessary
• Failing to detail how you collect and analyze data
• Overlooking the importance of participant diversity
• Not mentioning how feedback is integrated into design iterations

Example answer

“For a project at university, I conducted usability testing on an educational app I designed. I used remote testing with a diverse group of participants. I developed specific tasks for them to complete while observing their interactions. After analyzing the feedback, I identified pain points in navigation. This led me to redesign the navigation menu, making it more intuitive, which improved user satisfaction scores in subsequent tests by 25%.”