Looking for a job in graphic design and got an interview set for the next couple of days? It’s best to come to the interview prepared. These questions about graphic design can help you impress the interviewer. And of course, that will improve your chance of getting hired!
And if you’re set to become an interviewer, you can check out these questions, too. You can fast-track the interview by asking potential new hires these questions. They’re a great way to quickly assess someone’s personality and potential.
Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
Tell Us About Yourself
No matter what job you’re applying to, companies usually won’t go into the technical parts of the job right away. Instead, they will start by gauging the personality of the interviewee. And the best way to do that is to ask introductory questions.
If you’re being interviewed, this is the opportunity to make yourself stand out. Think of it like a business pitch, but you’re not pitching a product idea. You’re pitching yourself. Summarize yourself as a person, then highlight your achievements and relevant experience.
The point is to show them that you’re an excellent fit for the job, and they won’t find a better candidate!
Why Do You Want to Work for Us?
Enthusiasm is always what companies are looking for in a new employee. Most will ask this question to see if the candidate is genuinely interested in the job. It’s about as popular as the “Tell us about yourself” question. So, you should prepare your answer to this question in advance, just in case.
You will want to research the company’s background, culture, and mission statement. Talk about some of the projects of the company. The aim is to show you’re a compatible candidate and that you have done your homework before coming in.
Why Did You Choose Graphic Design?
This is usually the “warm-up” question to more technical questions. Plus, it’s another way for the potential employer to get to know the candidate better. If you’re asked this question, you can tell them about your education and personal experience. Talk about things that motivate you and lead you to pursue graphic design.
Depending on how formal the workplace is, tailor your answers . You don’t want to talk about all the times you spent doodling in school in a formal company. Instead, talk about your passion. For example, how you would like your works to be seen everywhere and appreciated.
But the doodling story can score points if the company is laid-back and informal!
What Makes You a Good Graphic Designer?
Companies tend to ask this question to see the candidate’s professional qualities. As a designer, you must deliver products that meet your client’s demands using your skills, creativity, and sense of style. You and your client won’t always meet eye-to-eye.
As a result, one of the most sought-after qualities in a new hire is patience and communication skill. The ability to gracefully take criticisms is also ranked highly.
If you’re an employer, watch out for these if you decide to use this question.
Strengths and Weaknesses?
This one is a classic, and interviewers love to ask this question. With this question, they can see if the candidate’s abilities suit the position. And above all, everyone loves an employee who is honest and aware of their strengths and faults.
As an interviewee, you have to be strategic with your answers. Ensure that the strengths you tell in the interview benefit the company. For example, you can say that you’re excellent at designing UI and you’re great at managing time.
Weaknesses are more difficult to talk about. Don’t talk about weaknesses that aren’t actual weaknesses. You will appear disingenuous. You also don’t want to be too honest about your faults. Try to find something in-between: genuine but it shouldn’t be such a bad flaw that it will disqualify you.
Tell Us About Your Favorite Design in Your Portfolio
Every designer has a prized piece in their portfolio. Interviewers can use this question to reveal the actual competence of the candidate. And, more importantly, to see their thought process.
You’re expected to discuss your design thoroughly if you’re the interviewee. Then, it would help if you discussed in detail the brief, tools, techniques, and rationales you used to create the design.
If it’s allowed, we highly recommend you make a presentation on this before coming in. Make the slides clear and concise. You can add texts and captions with an online caption tool to your presentation to be more effective at getting your points across.
This question could be the one to decide whether you’re hired or not if you’re applying to a UX/UI position.
Which tools do you use?
Graphic designers must rely on tools to do their everyday tasks, so we highly suggest that you craft an answer detailing your experience with using relevant tools, such as:
- Pixelied: A graphic design platform. You can add text to photos, flip images, and create image assets.
- Figma: A UI designing platform.
- Adobe InDesign: A layout and page design application.
Where Do You Get Your Inspirations From?
No designer’s style is the same. This question allows the candidate to express their uniqueness. You can talk about your sources of inspiration, hobbies, and personal tastes—the more diverse your answer, the better.
Draw examples from famous figures not only in the graphic design world but also in music, movies, classical art, and so on. It will help you stand out among the pool of candidates.
Like before, it’s better if you can make a presentation to show your interviewer better. Include all relevant things in your slides. You can even sell yourself more by inserting a few minor things about yourself in the presentation, like a lovely self-portrait at the start. Before you add it in, flip it with tools like Pixelied’s image flip tool to look your best!
8. How Good Are You At Handling Tight Deadlines?
Tight deadlines are something that every designer has to deal with. But the way people deal with them differs from person to person. If you’re asked this question, you have to show that you can handle the pressure and deliver.
The answer won’t just reveal how well you manage time and resources to the interviewer. It will also say a lot about your ability to cope under pressure and your ability to take on challenges.
Conclusion
That’s a lot of questions to prepare for! You can use tools like Bingo cards, crossword puzzles, and flashcards to help you learn the questions faster and more effectively. But in the end, as long as you keep a cool head and are confident in your ability, it will go fine!