If you’re an experienced designer or a recent graduate from a graphic design program, interviews are the perfect way to showcase your talents when you’re looking for a new job. But you might be wondering what type of graphic design interview questions will be asked. We’ll get into these shortly. The first and most important thing for any graphic design interview is being able to show off your portfolio. This is valuable because it gives employers a better idea of the skills you bring to the table.
A portfolio is one of the most important parts of any graphic design job interview. So, if you want to up your chances at landing the job, it’s essential to know how to build an impressive design portfolio.
There are many ways that designers can go about building their portfolios. One option is by creating a physical portfolio and carrying it with them on interviews; others prefer to send links and digital copies of their work via email or in person during the interview.
The next thing you need to learn is how to answer interview questions. Oftentimes, they are deceptively simple questions, but they are loaded questions. If you answer them well, you might be selected to continue on in the interview process or selected for the position.
Here are some common graphic designer interview questions you might be asked with suggestions on how to answer them.
Tell us about yourself?
This is a common interview question in graphic design interviews, if not most interviews. The interviewer is mainly focused on why you got into the graphic design field, what you would like to do in the field and what your background is, both educationally and professionally.
If you are just out of a graphic design school, you should focus your answer on why you decided to become a graphic designer, what you enjoyed most during your studies, which areas you want to focus on in your career and why you feel your skillset would be a good fit for the company. You could also discuss some of the graphic design tools that you learned and which ones you’ve excelled at.
If you have many years of experience, you could say something like this:
“I have been a graphic designer for 3 years. I have two years of experience as a designer at a digital agency where I created web layouts, print designs, and animated video ads. My most recent gig was as a senior graphic designer at Lucid Design Group where I created graphics for their clients’ websites, social media pages, and ads.”
How would you define your strengths as a graphic designer?
Focus on the strengths that you think matter most for the position. You can find out what these are in the job description. Once you know what they are, focus on what you’ve done to build up those strengths whether in previous jobs or during your academic program. Some good responses to this question include:
“I’m a detail-oriented designer with a good eye for color and composition.”
“I’m skilled in using graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and WordPress.”
“I can take on any project that is thrown my way and complete it to the best of my ability.”
“I have an eye for design trends and know how to make everything look current yet unique.”
“My work is always on time with high-quality results every time.”
What are some weaknesses you may have as a graphic designer?
When you think of weaknesses, think of deficiencies – more specifically, professional deficiencies This is a great opportunity to highlight areas or skills that you want to build on. Keep your responses in line with the job responsibilities, company initiatives and your own professional goals.
If you are applying for an entry-level job or an apprenticeship and have little or no graphic design skills in a professional setting, then you should offer an honest, but unapologetic answer. For example, “I love to design for print, but I don’t have a lot of experience with it. I’m working on developing my skills in this area and am taking courses at a local college.”
If you have considerable graphic design skills, then you could answer in the following way:
“Sometimes I feel like my work isn’t good enough or that it needs more details, so I spend too much time perfecting it.”
What is your favorite color?
Sounds like it might be a silly question to ask but it’s very common, especially for entry level positions. No matter what your response is, there really is no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s more about the way you describe why your favorite color is what it is. Graphic designers tend to work with color in their designs, and you should understand how it appeals to your audience.
Why are you interested in joining the graphic design team at our company?”
Answer in a way that highlights how you will be valuable to the company and what attracted you to the company and position in the first place. An employer is going to want to know what your contributions will be as a graphic designer. Also, talk about what you’ve researched about the company. Perhaps share a positive opinion about their culture, ethics, and values.
Conclusion
Some companies may be looking for someone who specializes in logo design, while others might want someone who can create print materials or digital assets. But no matter if you’re an experienced designer or just starting out, the interview will help you figure out what type of design work they need from their designers and whether it’s a good fit for both you and the company. We hope these graphic designer interview questions will help you ace the interview and get the job.
Check out our career advice blog for more interview tips.