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JUNIOR LEVEL

Tell us about a time when you facilitated a design workshop or brainstorming session. How did you structure the session to encourage creativity and collaboration?

Product Design Lead Interview Questions
Tell us about a time when you facilitated a design workshop or brainstorming session. How did you structure the session to encourage creativity and collaboration?

Sample answer to the question

During my time as a junior product designer, I facilitated a design workshop to brainstorm ideas for a new mobile application. To encourage creativity and collaboration, I structured the session as follows: First, I set a positive and open-minded tone by stating that all ideas were welcome. Then, I started with a warm-up exercise to get everyone's creative juices flowing. Next, I introduced the design challenge and provided background information to give context. I used visual aids and examples to spark inspiration. To ensure collaboration, I divided the participants into small groups and assigned each group a specific aspect of the design challenge to focus on. I encouraged open discussion and brainstorming within the groups. After sufficient time, we reconvened as a whole group and each group presented their ideas. I led a constructive feedback session to further refine and explore the ideas. Overall, the session was highly collaborative and allowed for free-flowing creativity.

A more solid answer

As a junior product designer, I had the opportunity to facilitate a design workshop focused on improving the user onboarding experience for a mobile app. To encourage creativity, I structured the session to include a mix of individual and group activities. We started with an icebreaker activity to set a positive and collaborative atmosphere. Then, I introduced the design challenge and provided relevant user research findings to inspire the participants. To foster collaboration, I divided the participants into cross-functional teams, including designers, developers, and product managers. Each team was responsible for a specific part of the onboarding process. I facilitated brainstorming sessions within the teams and encouraged the use of design thinking techniques like mind mapping and rapid prototyping. Afterward, each team presented their ideas and received feedback from the other teams. The session allowed for lively discussions and resulted in innovative solutions to improve the user onboarding experience.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer provides more specific details and examples of how the candidate facilitated a design workshop. It demonstrates the candidate's expertise in design thinking by mentioning the use of user research findings, mind mapping, and rapid prototyping. The answer also showcases the candidate's collaboration skills by involving cross-functional teams and encouraging lively discussions. However, the answer could be further improved by providing more specific examples of effective communication techniques used during the workshop.

An exceptional answer

During my time as a junior product designer, I facilitated a design workshop aimed at exploring new visual styles for a website redesign project. To promote creativity and collaboration, I carefully structured the session. Firstly, I created a stimulating environment by setting up an inspiring workspace with mood boards, materials, and design references. I started the workshop with an interactive warm-up activity and encouraged participants to share their design inspirations. Then, I introduced the context by presenting user feedback and market research findings. To encourage collaboration, I formed mixed-discipline teams consisting of designers, developers, and content strategists. Each team was assigned a specific page or section of the website to focus on, ensuring everyone had a designated area of contribution. Throughout the session, I facilitated ideation exercises like SCAMPER and Crazy 8's to foster divergent thinking and idea generation. The teams presented their concepts to the whole group and received constructive feedback. To enhance communication, I used visual aids, such as sketches and mood boards, to convey ideas and feedback effectively. We concluded the workshop by collectively identifying the most promising design directions. The session resulted in a dynamic exchange of ideas and a strong foundation for the website redesign project.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer provides an extensive and detailed description of how the candidate facilitated a design workshop. It showcases the candidate's expertise in design by mentioning the use of mood boards, design references, and ideation exercises like SCAMPER and Crazy 8's. The answer demonstrates the candidate's strong collaboration skills by forming mixed-discipline teams and involving cross-functional participants. Additionally, the answer highlights effective communication techniques, such as visual aids and sketches, to convey ideas and feedback. Overall, this answer demonstrates a thorough understanding of design workshop facilitation and showcases the candidate's exceptional skills in design thinking, collaboration, and communication.

How to prepare for this question

  • Familiarize yourself with various design thinking techniques, such as mind mapping, rapid prototyping, SCAMPER, and Crazy 8's. Understand when and how to apply them in a workshop setting.
  • Prepare visual aids, such as mood boards, sketches, and design references, to stimulate creativity and effectively communicate ideas and feedback.
  • Practice creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere by starting the workshop with an engaging icebreaker activity and encouraging participants to share their inspirations.
  • Develop your facilitation skills by practicing active listening, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring equal participation from all participants.
  • Stay updated with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies to incorporate fresh ideas and inspirations into the workshop.

What interviewers are evaluating

  • Design thinking
  • Collaboration
  • Communication

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