They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the truth is that if the cover grabs your attention, you’re likely going to be more inclined to pick it up and give it a chance.
Optics matter.
And having the right graphic designers on your team can give you a leg up when it comes to your company’s optics.
So, what can you do to make sure you hire graphic designers that can take your visuals to the next level? It starts with reviewing candidates’ resumes and portfolios to get a feel for their experience and skills and then asking the right interview questions.
Following are examples of interview questions for graphic designers that can help you assess the candidate’s design approach, working style, collaboration ability, and willingness to quickly adapt to changing priorities and evolving technologies.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR A GRAPHIC DESIGNER
1. Tell us about your design process.
A skilled graphic designer will be able to explain how they structure their process from start to finish, using research, sketches, wireframes, and other tools to conceptualize a project to ensure quality work is produced while also meeting deadlines.
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2. What design tools do you have experience working with? Which do you prefer?
From Photoshop and Illustrator to Sketch and Canva, there are an array of options graphic designers have today when it comes to tools and software. By asking this question, you can get a feel for how familiar candidates are with the types of tools your organization currently uses. But the answer can also provide insight into how up-to-date they are on the most current graphic design tools – as well as how flexible they are when it comes to learning new technologies.
3. How do you stay up to date with AI and other new technologies and trends impacting graphic designers?
Like most creatives and marketers today, it’s critical for graphic designers to be familiar with the latest trends – whether that be related to AI tools or the latest styles in fonts and color palettes. Again, optics matter. And if your organization’s visuals come off as dated, prospective clients and customers might be less likely to explore your offerings.
4. How do you approach designing for different platforms, such as digital vs. print? Can you provide an example of how you successfully adapted a design for these different mediums?
Graphic designers should have a strong grasp of both print and digital design best practices and techniques. Even if your organization launches a majority of its marketing campaigns and promotions online, you’ll want to make sure the graphic designer you hire can convert and create quality printed materials when you need them.
5. Describe a graphic design project where you had to balance the client's preferences with your own aesthetic instincts. How did you find a solution that satisfied both parties?
Most graphic designers have found themselves in a situation like this one. And knowing how to balance the fine line between what you feel is the best business solution vs. what the client wants can be tricky. How a candidate answers this question can help you better understand their ability to collaborate, adapt, and communicate effectively and respectfully in what can be a challenging situation.
6. How do you incorporate feedback into your designs?
A huge part of being an effective graphic designer involves knowing when and how to incorporate client feedback into designs. This is one of the more important interview questions for a graphic designer because it also helps you see how they likely react to constructive criticism. Look for graphic designers who communicate that they appreciate, learn from, and utilize constructive feedback – not get offended by it.
7. Tell us about a time when you had a design project for a client with a limited budget and/or tight deadline. How did you approach this challenge?
Budgets and deadlines are often the only guarantees in the world of graphic design. Asking how candidates work within these challenges will help you better suss out their time-management and organization skills, as well as their resourcefulness and ability to innovate.
8. Describe a project where you had to work collaboratively with a large team of stakeholders. What was your role in the project and how did you ensure the final product met expectations?
One of the most important soft skills a graphic designer should possess is the ability to collaborate effectively with a project team made up of both creatives and non-designers. The ability to get people to coalesce around a design idea is also critical. And as the saying goes, “There’s no “I” in team,” so being able to clearly describe how their work contributed to a larger goal is a great way to see how they might fit into your current team.
9. Tell us about your favorite piece from your design portfolio.
This interview question for a graphic designer allows the candidate an opportunity to communicate some pride in their work. The graphic designer should be able to explain the design piece, their process, and what it was about the piece that they are most proud of.
10. Why did you become a graphic designer?
This may be one of the best interview questions for graphic designers to help you better get to know the candidate as a person and understand what fuels and inspires them. Maybe what started as a love for doodling turned into something more, or a passion for making even the smallest details beautiful, or perhaps the desire to create more inclusive imagery. Whatever the reason, finding out more about the candidate's “why” can be enlightening.
HOW 24 SEVEN CAN HELP YOU HIRE GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Whether you’re looking to hire a full-time or freelance graphic designer, 24 Seven can streamline your search. Our recruiters specialize in finding clients top-tier talent in the creative, marketing, digital, fashion, beauty, and retail sectors.
From pre-vetting talent to setting up interviews and helping with onboarding, 24 Seven can handle the hiring heavy lifting for you!
