Open Design Docs

Junior Graphic Designer

Interview Stages

StageInterviewer(s)Duration
Recruiter Screen[Recruiter Name]30 min
Hiring Manager Screen[Hiring Manager Name]45 min
Portfolio ReviewAll Hiring Team60 min
Round 2: Creative Lead[Creative Lead]45 min
Round 2: Design Team[Designer Interviewers]45 min
Round 2: Marketing/Brand[Marketing/Brand Partner]45 min
Final/Culture RoundExecutive or Culture Team Member30 min

Recruiter Screen

Focus Areas: Communication, Creativity, Growth Mindset

  • What drew you to graphic design, and what excites you about this opportunity?
  • Tell me about a design project you're particularly proud of and why.
  • How do you approach learning new design tools or techniques?

Hiring Manager Screen

Focus Areas: Design Process, Collaboration, Visual Thinking

  • Walk me through your typical design process from brief to final deliverable.
  • Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with others on a design project.
  • How do you approach receiving and implementing feedback on your designs?

Portfolio Review

Focus Areas: Visual Design Skills, Creative Thinking, Communication

The candidate should present 3-5 projects from their portfolio, explaining their design process, creative decisions, and outcomes. The presentation should demonstrate their visual design skills, creative thinking, and ability to communicate design concepts clearly. Focus on projects that showcase a range of skills relevant to the role.

Round 2 Interviews

Creative Lead Interview

Focus Areas: Design Fundamentals, Creative Process, Visual Problem-solving

  • How do you approach creating designs that align with brand guidelines?
  • Tell me about a time you had to solve a challenging visual design problem.
  • How do you stay inspired and keep your creative ideas fresh?
  • Walk me through how you think about typography, color, and composition in your work.

Design Team Interview

Focus Areas: Collaboration, Tool Proficiency, Design Process

  • What design tools are you most comfortable with, and how do you use them in your workflow?
  • How do you organize your design files and assets?
  • Tell me about a time you had to work closely with another designer. How did you collaborate?
  • How do you approach working with design systems or established brand guidelines?

Marketing/Brand Interview

Focus Areas: Brand Understanding, Marketing Awareness, Communication

  • How do you ensure your designs effectively communicate the intended message?
  • Tell me about a time you designed something for a specific audience or campaign.
  • How do you approach designing across different channels or formats?
  • What's your process for understanding a brand before creating designs for it?

Final/Culture Round

Focus Areas: Cultural Contribution, Growth Mindset, Team Fit

  • What do you value most in a creative team or work environment?
  • How do you stay motivated when working on projects that might not be as exciting?
  • Where do you hope to grow in the next year as a designer and teammate?

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