As you prepare for your interviews, expect a variety of questions that assess your skills, experiences, and approach to design challenges. The following categories represent typical areas of inquiry, drawn from experiences shared by candidates. Remember, the goal is to illustrate question patterns rather than provide a memorization list.

Design Process and Methodology

This category evaluates your understanding of design principles and your process for creating user-centered solutions.

• How do you approach a new design project?
• Can you describe your design process from research to final implementation?
• What methods do you use to gather user feedback?
• How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive?
• Tell us about a time when your design was challenged—how did you respond?

Portfolio Review

Prepare to discuss your past work and the impact of your design decisions.

• Walk us through a project in your portfolio that you are particularly proud of.
• What was your role in this project, and what challenges did you face?
• How do you measure the success of your designs post-launch?
• Can you describe a project where you had to balance user needs with business goals?
• What design tools and software do you prefer, and why?

Behavioral Questions

These questions will assess your interpersonal skills and cultural fit within nCino.

• Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a difficult team member.
• How do you handle constructive criticism of your work?
• Tell us about a time when you had to advocate for a design choice.
• How do you prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment?
• What motivates you as a designer?

Problem-Solving and Case Studies

Expect scenarios that will test your analytical and design thinking skills.

• How would you redesign an existing product to improve user experience?
• Given a specific user problem, how would you approach finding a solution?
• Describe a design challenge you faced and how you resolved it.
• How do you stay updated on design trends and user expectations?
• If you were given limited resources for a project, how would you proceed?

Technical Skills

You may encounter questions that gauge your proficiency with tools, technologies, and design methodologies.

• What design software are you most comfortable using, and why?
• Can you explain the difference between UX design and UI design?
• How do you integrate user research into your design process?
• What is your experience with responsive web design?
• Have you worked with design systems, and how do you apply them in your work?

This visual timeline illustrates the stages of the interview process, offering a clear overview of what to expect. Use it to plan your preparation and manage your energy throughout the different phases. Familiarizing yourself with the flow will help you approach each stage with confidence.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Understanding how you will be evaluated in your interviews is crucial. Here are some of the major evaluation areas that nCino focuses on during the interview process:

Design Thinking and User-Centered Design

This area assesses your ability to apply design thinking principles and prioritize user needs in your work.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research and how it informs your design decisions.
• Strong candidates can clearly articulate their design process and demonstrate how they incorporate user feedback into their iterations.
• Example questions may include: "How do you identify user needs?" and "Describe a time when user feedback significantly changed your design."

Collaboration and Communication

Your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams is critical at nCino.

• Interviewers will evaluate your experiences in collaborative environments and how you communicate your design ideas to others.
• Strong performance in this area includes demonstrating empathy, active listening, and the ability to navigate differing opinions.
• Example questions may include: "How do you handle disagreements within a team?" and "Can you provide an example of a successful collaboration?"

Problem-Solving and Innovation

This area focuses on your creativity and analytical skills when faced with design challenges.

• Candidates should showcase their ability to think critically and develop innovative solutions.
• Strong candidates will demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in their problem-solving approaches.
• Example scenarios may include: "How would you redesign a feature based on negative user feedback?" and "Discuss a time when you had to think outside the box to solve a design problem."

Technical Proficiency

Your familiarity with design tools and methodologies will also be assessed.

• Interviewers will look for your proficiency with design software and your understanding of the technical aspects of design.
• Strong candidates can discuss how they leverage technology to enhance their design processes.
• Example questions may include: "What design tools do you use, and why?" and "Explain how you ensure your designs are technically feasible."

Advanced Concepts

Although less common, demonstrating knowledge of specialized topics can set you apart.

• Be ready to discuss topics like design systems, accessibility standards, and responsive design.
• Strong candidates can articulate their understanding of these concepts and how they apply them in real-world scenarios.