Get ready for your upcoming Product Design Lead virtual interview. Familiarize yourself with the necessary skills, anticipate potential questions that could be asked and practice answering them using our example responses.
Updated April 20, 2024
The STAR interview technique is a method used by interviewees to structure their responses to behavioral interview questions. STAR stands for:
Situation: Describe the context or background of the situation you were in.
Task: Explain the challenge or task you were faced with.
Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge.
Result: Share the results or outcomes of your actions.
This method provides a clear and concise way for interviewees to share meaningful experiences that demonstrate their skills and competencies.
Can you describe a product you've designed that had a significant impact on the business?
To understand your effectiveness as a product designer, it's helpful to know about your design work that contributed significantly to a business. This gives insights into your ability to create value-driven designs.
Dos and don'ts: "When discussing a product design that impacted the business, focus on quantifiable results and tangible benefits. Avoid generic statements, instead, provide specific details about your role, the design process, and the final outcome."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At my previous company, we were losing market share due to a dated product design that didn't meet current user expectations.
Task: As the Lead Product Designer, my goal was to revitalize the product to enhance user engagement and competitiveness.
Action: I led my team through an exhaustive design process, from user research to prototyping and testing. We introduced a user-centric design that addressed key customer pain points and delivered a more intuitive and engaging experience.
Result: Post-redesign, the product saw a 35% increase in user engagement, a 20% reduction in customer complaints, and ultimately, a 15% increase in market share.
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How do you ensure alignment between user needs, business goals, and the technical aspects of your design process?
Aligning user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility is a critical part of product design. Your approach to this balance reveals your design philosophy and problem-solving skills.
Dos and don'ts: "Demonstrating the alignment between user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility requires you to discuss the interplay between these elements in your design process. Avoid an overly technical discussion and instead emphasize your ability to strike a balance."
Suggested answer:
Situation: During a major redesign project, I had to ensure the product was user-friendly, achieved business goals, and was technically feasible.
Task: My challenge was to ensure these three aspects were balanced throughout the design process.
Action: I facilitated collaboration between stakeholders, UX researchers, business analysts, and the engineering team. This involved regular meetings, design workshops, and incorporating feedback from all sides in each design iteration.
Result: The resulting product effectively met user needs, drove business growth, and was praised for its technical innovation, demonstrating the value of a balanced, cross-disciplinary approach.
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Could you share an example of a design decision you made that was informed by data or user research?
The use of data or user research in design decisions reflects your user-centric approach and validates your designs. Your answer can reveal how you make informed decisions.
Dos and don'ts: "For sharing a data-informed design decision, ensure you talk about how the data was collected, interpreted, and applied. Avoid over-complication and ensure your example clearly demonstrates the positive outcome of your data-driven decision."
Suggested answer:
Situation: On a previous project, we noticed high drop-off rates in the user registration process of our app.
Task: My task was to identify the problem and redesign the process to improve user retention.
Action: I utilized user analytics, heat maps, and session recordings to study user behavior. The data showed users were confused by a certain step in the process. Armed with this insight, I simplified and clarified this step.
Result: Post-implementation, we saw a 25% decrease in drop-offs, validating the importance of data-informed design decisions.
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How do you foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and innovation within your team?
Promoting creativity, collaboration, and innovation within a team showcases your leadership skills. This question explores your team management style and your ability to drive a positive work culture.
Dos and don'ts: "Cultivating creativity, collaboration, and innovation involves both strategy and empathy. Discuss specific techniques or initiatives you've implemented and avoid giving generic, unprovable statements."
Suggested answer:
Situation: As a team leader at my previous job, I recognized the value of fostering a creative and collaborative environment for innovation to thrive.
Task: It was my responsibility to create a culture that valued and encouraged these attributes.
Action: I introduced brainstorming sessions, design thinking workshops, and regular feedback loops. I also advocated for a safe environment where all ideas were welcomed and failures were seen as opportunities for learning.
Result: This approach increased team engagement, sparked creativity, and led to a significant improvement in the quality of our design output.
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Describe a time when you received critical feedback on your design. How did you respond?
The way you handle criticism is indicative of your resilience, open-mindedness, and willingness to learn. It's important to demonstrate your ability to take feedback positively and use it for improvement.
Dos and don'ts: "Reacting to criticism professionally is key. Share a specific incident, focusing on your response, the adjustments you made, and the lessons learned. Avoid being defensive or blaming others."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In one of our projects, a major stakeholder was unhappy with the initial design presentation, stating it didn't meet their expectations.
Task: My responsibility was to address this feedback in a productive and professional way, ensuring the project remained on track.
Action: I arranged a meeting with the stakeholder to understand their concerns in detail. Then, I involved my team to iterate on our design, incorporating the feedback while remaining true to user needs and our design principles.
Result: The redesigned product was well-received by the stakeholder, proving the value of open dialogue and adaptability when facing criticism.
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How do you keep yourself and your team updated with the latest trends and technologies in product design?
Staying updated with the latest trends and technologies in design is essential to remain competitive. This question explores your commitment to learning and how you disseminate knowledge within your team.
Dos and don'ts: "Staying updated with design trends and technologies is crucial. Discuss your personal methods and how you ensure your team also stays informed. Avoid giving the impression that you merely follow trends without considering their relevance."
Suggested answer:
Situation: Keeping up with the ever-evolving trends and technologies in product design is critical to stay competitive in the industry.
Task: As the product design lead, it was my job to ensure my team and I remained up-to-date.
Action: I initiated a monthly "knowledge sharing" session, where team members would present on recent trends, methodologies, or technologies. Additionally, I subscribed to leading design publications and encouraged my team to do the same.
Result: These actions contributed to a culture of continuous learning, ensuring our designs were always fresh and relevant.
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Can you give an example of a product design that needed a major pivot or revision during the process? How did you handle this change?
Navigating through major changes or pivots in product design tests your adaptability, problem-solving skills, and leadership. It also reflects your ability to manage risks and uncertainty.
Dos and don'ts: "Handling significant changes in product design tests your adaptability. Detail a specific situation, the reasons for the change, your response, and the ultimate result. Avoid giving the impression that you resist change or pivot without justification."
Suggested answer:
Situation: We were developing an educational app for children but halfway through, user tests indicated low engagement rates due to the app's complexity.
Task: My challenge was to revise our design to improve user engagement without derailing the project timeline.
Action: We pivoted to a more gamified approach, integrating playful elements while simplifying the interface. I coordinated closely with all stakeholders to manage this change effectively.
Result: The revised app not only met the project deadline but also increased user engagement significantly, showcasing our adaptability in the face of challenges.
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What methods do you use to integrate user feedback and usability testing into your design process?
Incorporating user feedback and usability testing into your design process speaks to your user-centered design approach. This showcases your ability to validate your designs and iterate based on user needs.
Dos and don'ts: "Incorporating user feedback and usability testing requires strategic thinking. Discuss specific methods, their implementation, and how they have improved your designs. Avoid giving vague, non-specific responses."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role, I noticed that user feedback wasn't adequately incorporated into our design process.
Task: My task was to develop and integrate a more robust user feedback and usability testing protocol into our design workflow.
Action: I introduced practices like regular user interviews, surveys, and usability testing sessions into our process. I also set up a system to analyze and incorporate this feedback into our designs at different stages of the project lifecycle.
Result: By putting users at the center of our design process, we were able to deliver more effective and user-friendly designs which ultimately led to higher customer satisfaction.
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How have you tailored your design approach to cater to a diverse range of users?
Designing for a diverse range of users demonstrates your empathetic and inclusive design approach. It’s essential to show that you value and accommodate user diversity in your designs.
Dos and don'ts: "Designing for a diverse user base is about empathy and inclusion. Share concrete examples showing how you've considered diversity in your designs. Avoid any implication of bias or lack of concern for inclusivity."
Suggested answer:
Situation: When tasked with designing a mobile banking application, our user base was highly diverse, with varying levels of digital literacy.
Task: It was crucial to ensure that our design was accessible and easy-to-use for all users, regardless of their digital proficiency.
Action: I employed a universal design approach. We conducted user interviews across our demographic spectrum, applied accessibility guidelines, and designed multiple user flow scenarios to accommodate different user abilities and preferences.
Result: The finished product was lauded for its inclusivity and ease of use, demonstrating the effectiveness of our tailored approach.
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Can you discuss a project that failed to meet its initial design objectives and how you identified and addressed the issue?
Discussing a project that didn't meet its initial design objectives uncovers your problem-solving skills, resilience, and how you handle failure.
Dos and don'ts: "Discussing a project that missed its objectives can be tricky. Be honest about the situation, focusing on your problem-solving actions and the learned lessons. Avoid blaming others or denying responsibility."
Suggested answer:
Situation: We were developing an e-commerce platform, but post-launch analytics showed lower-than-expected user retention rates.
Task: As the design lead, I needed to identify what was driving users away and address it.
Action: We conducted user interviews and found that users found the checkout process confusing. We quickly revamped the process to make it more intuitive, simplified, and transparent.
Result: Following the redesign, we observed a significant improvement in user retention rates and overall user satisfaction. It was a valuable lesson in the importance of user-centric design and iterative improvement.
Share your feedback on this answer.
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Tell us about a time when a design project didn't go as planned. What did you learn from the experience?
Sharing your learnings from a project that didn't go as planned reflects your ability to learn from experiences and your commitment to continuous improvement.
Dos and don'ts: "Learning from projects that didn't go as planned shows resilience. Be candid about what went wrong, your role in it, and the key takeaways. Avoid portraying yourself as a victim or not learning from the experience."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At my previous company, we were creating a mobile application for healthcare professionals. Midway through, a key stakeholder insisted on incorporating many features that hadn't been discussed initially.
Task: We had to reassess the project scope and address the changes without compromising the user experience or project timeline.
Action: I led a meeting to reevaluate our priorities, discuss potential implications, and propose a phased approach for feature addition. We negotiated with the stakeholder, agreeing to include some immediate features and postpone others to future updates.
Result: The project was completed on time, and the stakeholder appreciated our adaptability. This experience reinforced the importance of clear communication, stakeholder management, and flexibility.
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How do you evaluate your performance and strive for continuous improvement in your skills and knowledge?
Your method of evaluating your performance and improving your skills shows your self-awareness, dedication to growth, and how you set personal goals.
Dos and don'ts: "Evaluating your performance involves self-awareness. Share your methods for assessing and improving your skills. Avoid portraying yourself as perfect or lacking areas for improvement."
Suggested answer:
Situation: I believe in continuous learning and development as a design lead.
Task: It's crucial for me to stay updated with industry trends, broaden my knowledge, and critically evaluate my work.
Action: I regularly take online courses and attend industry webinars. I also solicit feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users to improve my designs. Furthermore, I make it a point to learn from each project and implement those lessons in future work.
Result: My skills and knowledge have significantly evolved over time. By staying open to feedback and investing in learning, I've been able to continually elevate my work and lead my team effectively.
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Can you share an example of how you've resolved disagreements or conflicts within your team or with stakeholders regarding design decisions?
Dealing with disagreements or conflicts within your team or stakeholders tests your conflict resolution skills, communication, and how you handle pressure.
Dos and don'ts: "Resolving disagreements is about diplomacy and effective communication. Share an instance demonstrating your conflict resolution skills. Avoid giving the impression of avoiding conflict or of not standing up for your design choices when necessary."
Suggested answer:
Situation: During a project, there was a disagreement between our team and a stakeholder who insisted on a design change that contradicted user research findings.
Task: It was my responsibility to resolve this conflict without compromising the product's usability.
Action: I organized a meeting where I presented the user research data that informed our design decision and explained the potential implications of the stakeholder's proposed change. I also suggested a compromise that would accommodate their request without negatively impacting the user experience.
Result: The stakeholder agreed to our proposed solution. This situation emphasized the importance of clear communication, backed by solid data, in resolving conflicts and aligning different perspectives.
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Have you ever mentored a less experienced designer? If so, how did you guide their development and what was the result?
Mentoring less experienced designers displays your leadership, coaching skills, and your commitment to fostering the growth of others.
Dos and don'ts: "Mentoring a less experienced designer is a testament to your leadership. Share the steps you took, and the outcomes for the mentee and the team. Avoid boasting or giving unverifiable claims."
Suggested answer:
Situation: Early in my role as a design lead, a newly hired junior designer joined our team. She was talented but inexperienced, particularly with our design software and the agile development process.
Task: It was my responsibility to mentor her, provide guidance, and help her become a fully integrated team member.
Action: We set up regular check-ins where I could provide feedback on her work, address her questions, and help her navigate challenges. I also shared resources and organized workshops to upskill her on our design tools and methodologies.
Result: Over several months, her confidence and proficiency significantly improved. She became an essential team member and has since led several successful design projects. This experience reinforced the importance of mentorship in team growth and maintaining a productive and supportive work environment.
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Given our company's industry and target users, how would you develop and implement a product design strategy?
The development and implementation of a product design strategy requires understanding of the company's industry and target users. It reveals your strategic thinking, planning, and execution abilities.
Dos and don'ts: "Developing a product design strategy involves understanding the company's context. Explain how you'd research, plan, and execute the strategy. Avoid making broad assumptions about the company or offering generic strategies."
Suggested answer:
Situation: Considering your company operates in the tech industry and targets young, tech-savvy users, a product design strategy should cater to this demographic.
Task: My task would be to devise a strategy that aligns with user expectations, industry trends, and business goals.
Action: I would start by understanding your users thoroughly through research and feedback. I'd ensure our designs are intuitive, modern, and mobile-friendly given the audience's tech-savviness. We'd leverage the latest design trends like dark mode and augmented reality where applicable. To implement this, I'd work closely with all stakeholders—developers, marketers, and executives—ensuring alignment with our design objectives.
Result: By implementing this tailored design strategy, we can create products that engage our target users, meet their needs, and ultimately drive business success. The approach would reinforce our commitment to user-centered design and innovation.
