My Uber Whiteboarding UX Challenge // How to approach design whiteboarding exercises

Summary

In this video, product designer Finn K. shares insights on how to tackle a design whiteboarding challenge during an interview. He emphasizes the importance of clarifying the problem, understanding the goal, and collaborating effectively. Finn advises against jumping straight to solutions, urging candidates to articulate their thought process, set assumptions, and define constraints. He also suggests focusing on key stages in the user journey and presenting low-fidelity designs. The key takeaway is to prioritize UX thinking, communication, and iteration over perfect UI design, while managing time efficiently and engaging with the interviewer.

Takeaways

• 😀 The design whiteboarding challenge is a common part of the interview process for product designers, aiming to evaluate how you think and solve problems.
• 😀 You typically have 30 to 60 minutes to tackle the challenge with one or two designers assessing you during the process.
• 😀 Don't work in silence during the challenge—verbalize your thought process and rationale to demonstrate how you approach problem-solving.
• 😀 Avoid jumping straight to solutions. Instead, take time to understand the problem, its context, and the goal before proposing design ideas.
• 😀 It's okay to make assumptions and set constraints in your design, as you likely won't have all the context or resources available in the room.
• 😀 Ask clarifying questions and discuss your interpretation of the problem with the interviewer to ensure you understand the problem and goal.
• 😀 Be mindful of time during the exercise—ask for time checks to ensure you manage your time effectively and complete your process.
• 😀 Use the interview as an opportunity to demonstrate collaboration—mention cross-functional teams (like data science or user research) and how you might work with them.
• 😀 Focus on articulating the key steps in the user journey, identifying opportunities to solve problems at each stage.
• 😀 Instead of completing every step of the journey, focus on a core part of the problem and communicate why you've chosen that area to solve in the given time.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a design whiteboarding challenge in an interview?

The purpose of a design whiteboarding challenge is to evaluate how you think, solve problems, and approach design tasks. Interviewers want to understand your design process, decision-making, and ability to work collaboratively under time constraints.

How much time is typically allotted for a design whiteboarding challenge?

Typically, you will have 30 to 60 minutes to complete the design whiteboarding challenge, depending on the company and interview structure.

What should you avoid doing during a design whiteboarding challenge?

You should avoid working in silence, jumping into solutions too quickly, and neglecting time management. It's important to speak through your thought process and ask for time checks if needed.

Why is it important to articulate the problem statement at the start of the challenge?

Articulating the problem statement helps ensure that you fully understand the challenge before moving forward. It’s also an opportunity to ask clarifying questions to ensure alignment with the interviewer.

How can you demonstrate a collaborative approach during a design whiteboarding challenge?

You can demonstrate collaboration by verbalizing your thought process, asking for feedback or clarification from the interviewer, and mentioning how you would involve cross-functional partners like data scientists or user researchers in your design process.

What is the benefit of setting assumptions and constraints during the challenge?

Setting assumptions and constraints helps narrow your focus and make your design decisions more practical, especially when you don’t have all the resources or context to come up with a perfect solution.

Should you focus on UI details during a whiteboarding challenge?

No, the focus should be on the UX flow and the overall experience, not on UI details like animations or small visual elements. The challenge is about problem-solving, not about perfecting the UI.

What is the importance of summarizing your solution at the end of the challenge?

Summarizing your solution shows that you value critique and iteration. It’s an opportunity to walk through your design, discuss potential improvements, and acknowledge any areas that could be refined with more time or resources.

How can you approach conflicts between design solutions during the challenge?

If you encounter a conflict between design solutions, keep the goal of the project in mind and evaluate which option best helps achieve that goal. If necessary, articulate both options and ask the interviewer for feedback to guide your decision.

What type of questions should you ask during the challenge to gain a better understanding of the context?

You can ask questions such as: Why is this a problem? What has been done before? What worked or didn’t work? Who are the key stakeholders? These questions help you build a narrative and understand the broader context of the challenge.