They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the truth is that if a 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 big leg up when it comes to your company’s optics.
So, what can you do to ensure you hire graphic designers that can take your visuals to the next level? It starts with carefully 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, particularly AI.
1. Tell us about your design process.
A skilled graphic designer will be able to explain how they structure their creative 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.
What to listen for: Clearly articulated methodology, research phase, iteration process, and timeline management.
2. What design tools do you have experience working with? Which do you prefer?
Whether it’s Photoshop and Illustrator or Sketch and Canva, there are many options graphic designers have today when it comes to tools and software. By asking this graphic design interview question, you can get a feel for how familiar candidates are with the types of tools your organization uses. But the answer can also provide insight into how up-to-date they are on the most current graphic design tools – and how flexible they are when it comes to learning new technologies.
What to listen for:Proficiency in industry-standard tools, willingness to learn new software, and reasoning behind tool preferences.
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. If your organization’s visuals come off as dated, prospective clients and customers might be less likely to explore your offerings.
Follow up with questions specifically about their experience with AI-powered design tools like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Canva’s AI features, DALL-E, and Figma AI. How do they incorporate these tools into their workflow? This will help you understand whether they view AI as a threat or as an opportunity to enhance their creative process and overall efficiency.
What to listen for: Active learning mindset, specific AI tool experience, and strategic thinking about AI integration.
4. How do you balance AI efficiency with human creativity?
Savvy candidates will demonstrate that they understand that AI is a powerful tool for ideation, iteration, and efficiency, while recognizing that strategic thinking, brand understanding, and emotional connection remain distinctly human strengths. They should be excited about AI’s potential to handle routine tasks so they can focus more time on the creative and strategic work that truly moves the needle for your business.
What to listen for: Understanding of AI’s current creative strengths and limitations, emphasis on human creative value, and practical examples of AI-human collaboration.
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 an awkward negotiation like this one. Knowing how to balance the fine line between what you feel is the best business solution versus what the client wants can be tricky. How deftly 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.
What to listen for: Diplomatic communication skills, compromise strategies, customer service orientation, and client education approaches.
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 rather than getting offended by it.
What to listen for: Open-mindedness, structured feedback processes, and examples of improvement through iteration.
7. Tell us about a time when you had a design project for a client with a limited budget 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 gauge their time-management and organization skills, as well as their resourcefulness and ability to innovate.
What to listen for: Prioritization skills, creative problem-solving under constraints, and examples of delivering quality work within restrictions.
8. 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.
What to listen for: Understanding of cross-platform consistency and how design elements translate across mediums, resolution, color modes, and responsive design principles.
9. 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. Being able to clearly describe how their work contributed to a larger goal is also a great way to see how they might fit into your current team.
What to listen for: Communication skills, stakeholder management, and team orientation.
10. 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.
What to listen for: Enthusiasm, clear and compelling explanation of design decisions, problem-solving skills beyond aesthetic appeal, and understanding of project impact and ROI.
11. Why did you become a graphic designer?
This may be one of the best interview questions for graphic designers to help you 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.
What to listen for: Genuine passion, long-term commitment to the field, and alignment with your company mission and values.
Whether you’re looking to hire a full-time or freelance graphic designer, 24 Seven can streamline your hiring process and help you find candidates who are not just technically skilled, but also forward-thinking about how emerging technologies can enhance their creative impact.
Our specialized creative recruiters understand the evolving landscape of graphic design roles in 2025. We know how to identify candidates who can grow with your organization and adapt to new technologies as they emerge.
Our comprehensive talent solutions support includes:
From pre-vetting talent to setting up interviews and helping with onboarding, 24 Seven can handle the hiring heavy lifting for you!