Hey and welcome back to another week! 👋

When you are reading this I’m busy unpacking boxes and putting up furniture as I’m moving house at the moment. Therefore expect slightly fewer jobs this week and no portfolio review. I’ll be back in full swing with it all on July 16.

In this issue:

Asking the Right Questions: Interviews are NOT a one-way street. Asking questions as a candidate isn’t just expected, it’s vital. Find out which ones to ask.

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The Smartest Questions to Ask in Your Design Interviews 🧐 

In a previous issue, we covered how to best prepare for your interviews as a junior designer—from practicing interview formats to prepping a case study slide deck. One of the final tips in that guide was to never skip the chance to ask thoughtful questions at the end of your interviews.

Today, we’re going deeper.

Before we jump in, one important caveat: Never ask a question that you could easily find the answer to on the company’s website or in the job description. Doing so can make it seem like you haven’t done your homework. Good questions show that you’ve looked into the company and still have thoughtful, specific areas you want to explore further.

This article breaks down the most effective questions you can ask—grouped by type and intent—so that you not only come prepared but also leave a lasting impression. These aren’t filler questions. These are prompts designed to:

• Show genuine interest in the company and product

• Signal that you’re thinking like a designer

• Gather information to help you evaluate the opportunity

👉 Want more? Here’s a free interview question database with dozens more smart prompts you can use and adapt.

1. Questions About the Design Org and Workflow

These questions show you care about the craft and how it’s practiced at the company.

• "How is design currently structured in the organization?"

• "Who do designers typically collaborate with day-to-day?"

• "Is there a design system in place? Who maintains it?"

• "What tools and processes do you use to hand off work to engineering?"

Bonus tip: If the company is smaller or early stage, these questions can reveal whether design is treated as a first-class citizen or an afterthought.

2. Questions About the Product

These are especially helpful if you’ve had a chance to try the product yourself.

• "What are the biggest UX challenges you're currently facing?"

• "What are some recent design decisions you're proud of?"

• "Are there any areas of the product you feel still need a lot of love from design?"

Pro move: Tie this to something you've noticed or have experience with. For example, "I noticed your onboarding feels a bit complex—is that something you're actively working on? How is the onboarding flow currently performing, and are there any metrics you're tracking around activation or drop-off?"

Disclaimer: Be mindful when making candid remarks about the product—your interviewer may have been involved in its design. When in doubt, keep your observations fact-based and curious rather than critical.

3. Questions That Show Strategic Thinking

These help you stand out by showing you’re already thinking beyond pixels.

• "How does design contribute to company-level goals or OKRs?"

• "What does success look like for a designer in this role after 6 months?"

• "How do you typically balance speed vs. quality in your team?"

4. Questions About Team Culture and Support

This is where you signal that you care about fit, mentorship, and growth.

• "What do junior designers typically struggle with when they start here?"

• "Is there a formal mentorship or feedback process in place?"

• "Can you tell me about the last design critique session you ran?"

5. Questions About the Business

Especially good for startups or product companies.

• "What's the company’s biggest priority over the next 6–12 months?"

• "What is the primary business model, and how does design impact it?"

• "Are you currently profitable or planning another funding round?"

Summary

Great interview questions do more than check a box. They can signal curiosity, preparation, and design maturity. If you're ready to go deeper, grab the free interview question database here—it'll help you stay sharp and stand out.

Ideally, mix and match your questions from the database for each interview based on your research on the company and its product. That way, you’ll always bring your best.

Until then, feel free to bookmark or reuse these questions—and if you haven’t yet, check out the article on prepping for design interviews!

That’s it for this week—thanks so much for the support! ♥️

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• Book an in-depth portfolio or resume review with me

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• Book a quick 15 min chat to ask a question and see if we vibe

Keep kicking doors open and see you next week!
- Florian