You’re likely hiring a UX/UI design professional because you want someone who knows their way around the industry. But, if you don’t know much about UX/UI design, how can you pick the perfect designer? If you need some advice on how to interview new designers – look no further. These 5 critical questions should cross your mind when determining a new candidate’s performance and attitude towards UX/UI.
They Have to Know What They’re Talking About
Ask your new prospect, straight out, “what does your company do?’ If they have difficulty explaining their companies goals and projects – that’s a bad sign. A UX designer’s goal is to transfer information in the most effective way, whether it’s on a website or through language. They should know how to put structure in their answer without jumping from one detail to another. If they do, they may still make a great UI designer, but not a UX professional. There’s a difference between nervousness and not knowing how to structure a sentence.
Ask For Sketch Files
If you’re lucky enough to see a candidate’s Sketch file in person, look at the details rather than the work itself. Are the folders well organized? Is the naming consistent, or do the elements not even have names? Are their text styles consistent, or does the text get larger and smaller throughout the piece? Are they following spacing conventions, or are they more interested in creativity? A UX/UI designer is likely obsessed with details because they notice what we don’t. This post lists a number of the top UX design agencies that show the ability to execute tasks in a scalable, clear, and rigorous way – which is necessary for any great design agency.
They Need to be Curious About Your Company
One way interviewers separate one candidate from another is by asking the question, “do you have any questions?” It’s simple, but candidates that are really interested in your company and its products will go deep into specifics. That doesn’t mean you should intentionally leave critical details out, but if you must be vague to protect your project – do it! See if they notice, and see if they ask for more information. A good UX designer should want to understand the company, the business model, target clients, and the main KPI of the project.
Ask for Real-World Examples and a Portfolio
A UI designer is capable of providing a vast portfolio because the specifics of typography, layouts, and mockups have a visual component. However, a UX designer can’t just visually show all aspects of the user experience on paper. Ask questions like what they liked about the project, or if the project they’re showing is real or a prototype. Value live projects over prototypes for UX design only, and ask about the real projects KPI’s because they can measure and collect data on how good the user experience was.
Passions and Hobbies: What do They Like?
An interview is stressful, so when you’re looking for the perfect UX/UI design agency, ask some of the project designers questions about themselves. Not only will it make them feel comfortable, but their passions and hobbies are also good indicators of attitude. A great UX designer will usually like creative activities outside of their job, or belong to the “maker” type of personality. Makers tend to like cooking, playing an instrument, photography, or painting rather than passive past-times of the same category (going to a restaurant rather than cooking, or listening to music rather than playing one).
