- What qualities should a junior graphic designer have? …
- How do you incorporate feedback into your designs? …
- What are the major steps of your creative process? …
- Tell us about a time when you created great work under pressure. …
- How do you work with collaborators?
Ask these interview questions to help you hire the right graphic designer. Learn how top designers should respond to these common graphic design interview questions.
Interviewing for graphic designer jobs can be stressful whether you’re a brand new designer, fresh out of training, or a seasoned pro. Knowing what kinds of questions might be asked beyond the standard “Tell me about yourself” can make you feel a lot more confident stepping into your next interview. Plus, knowing what design teams or managers are looking for in your answers can increase that confidence even more.
To help you nail your next interview and increase your chances of getting hired, practice answering these commonly asked graphic design interview questions. Let’s get straight into it.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Interview Questions & Answers! (How to PASS a Graphic Design Job Interview!)
How would you handle negative client feedback on one of your designs?
An interviewer might ask this question to see how well you are accustomed to receiving critical feedback. Your answer should reflect a positive outlook on the situation and how you approach such situations.
Example: “Negative comments are always disappointing, as you want to deliver the best quality of work to represent your company and please the client. In these situations, I would use the clients feedback as fuel to revamp the project to incorporate their new vision and restructure my design based on the elements they disliked.”
When was the first time you realized you wanted to work in graphic design?
An interviewer might ask this question to learn more about the foundation of your graphic design career. Your answer should recount the event or instance to the best of your abilities and reflect your passion for graphic design.
Example: “I was in my senior year of high school when I first realized I had an interest in graphic design. As a part of my business class, we had to create an infographic and logo for a made-up company. Up until that point I had considered myself an artist and enjoyed painting and calligraphy, but I hadnt tried applying it to a digital format. I was intrigued by it and decided to pursue a graphic design degree.”
Interview questions about experience and background
The following list of interview questions will include questions an interviewer could ask related to your professional and educational background:
Tell us about yourself.
This is your chance to make yourself shine and explain why you’re a great match! Think of it as your elevator pitch where you concisely summarise your work experience and how it pertains to the role. This is a great way to make you stand out from other candidates, but make sure the qualities you talk about are a mix of your personal interests that also tie in to your professional experience and the expectations of the position.
Tip: Highlight your accomplishments with examples you can quantify that clearly align your experience with the requirements of the job. Show how both your skills and personality would be a great fit for the job and team.
Tell me about yourself.
While this is asked of interviewees across all industries, it carries an added weight for creatives because you are your brand. Open-ended requests like these can leave even the most seasoned interviewees stumped if they haven’t prepared. Key points to share are recent successes, strengths and abilities that relate to the job or company, and a statement on your current situation. That could look something like this:
“I’ve been in the graphic design field for two years this March. My most recent project was with a confectionary company – I was tasked with redesigning their logo, press kit, and packaging. Since it was a branding overhaul, it required a lot of attention to detail and a balance between retaining the original design and updating it for the 21st century. I particularly enjoy working in this industry because no two days are the same. When things feel new it becomes easy for me to throw myself into the work.”
Tip: Rehearse your script until you can say it off by heart – nailing the first part of the interview will give you an added boost for the rest of the questions to come.
If you don’t have any formal graphic design training, check out our article on presenting your informal education.
What made you decide to be a designer?
Employers want to hire designers who are passionate about their work. While this should come through in your graphic design resume and cover letter, the interview is also your chance to show your enthusiasm for the design industry and your chosen career path.
If you have a short anecdote about how you got started, this is a great time to tell it. If not, discuss how you first became interested in design, whether it was because of a particular design you saw, a problem you encountered, or a mentor who inspired you.
FAQ
What questions are asked in a graphic design interview?
- What made you decide to be a designer?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Walk us through your design process.
- Do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?
- What do you think the next big design trend will be?
- What do you do to improve your design skills?
What makes you a good fit for this job graphic designer?
- Understanding project requirements and ideas.
- Using graphic techniques to create drafts.
- Producing logos, banners, and interfaces.
- Pitching creative concepts.
- Collaborating with the team to launch projects.
- Using feedback from other designers to improve.
