What is a UX/UI Designer at Workiva?

Workiva is a global leader in connected reporting and compliance solutions. As a UX/UI Designer here, you are not simply designing web pages; you are architecting complex, data-heavy interfaces that simplify critical financial and regulatory processes for thousands of enterprises. The core product, the Workiva platform (often referred to as Wdesk), is a powerful cloud-based tool used by accounting, finance, and audit teams to manage massive amounts of data with precision.

Your role is to humanize this complexity. You will work within a collaborative R&D environment to transform intricate technical requirements into intuitive, accessible, and efficient user experiences. This position requires a balance of visual design excellence and deep interaction design thinking. You will be expected to advocate for the user while understanding the constraints of a robust SaaS platform. If you enjoy solving "wicked problems"—where the solution involves navigating dense data, strict compliance rules, and collaborative workflows—this role offers significant strategic influence.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for Workiva requires a shift in mindset from "showing screens" to "explaining decisions." The hiring team is less interested in flashy visuals and more interested in how you untangle complexity. You need to demonstrate that you can take a vague, difficult problem and methodically arrive at a solution that works for power users.

You will be evaluated on the following key criteria:

• Process Articulation – You must be able to explain the why behind your design choices. Interviewers will drill down into your case studies to understand your research methods, how you handled constraints, and how you iterated based on feedback.
• Complexity Management – Workiva’s products are not simple consumer apps. You need to show experience or aptitude for designing for enterprise systems, dashboards, or tools where data density and workflow efficiency are paramount.
• Collaboration & Communication – You will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers. You need to demonstrate that you can defend your design decisions respectfully, accept critique, and navigate technical feasibility discussions.
• Design System Fluency – You should understand how to work within and contribute to a design system, ensuring consistency across a sprawling platform.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Workiva is thorough and can be lengthy, often taking several weeks or even months from application to final decision. The company operates with a remote-first mindset, so nearly all interactions will occur via video conference (typically Google Meet). The process is designed to vet not just your craft, but your patience, communication style, and cultural alignment.

Generally, the flow begins with a Recruiter Screen, followed by a Hiring Manager interview, and culminates in a "loop" or panel stage involving portfolio presentations and behavioral interviews. A distinctive feature of Workiva’s process is the rigor of the initial screens; unlike some companies where the first call is a formality, candidates often face challenging questions about their background and gaps early on. You should expect a mix of conversational interviews and structured "deep dives" into your past work.

This timeline illustrates a typical progression for the UX/UI Designer role. While the process usually follows this linear path, scheduling delays can occur, and the time between rounds can vary significantly. Use the gaps between interviews to refine your portfolio presentation, as this is often the pivot point for the final decision.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must prepare for specific evaluation areas that the Workiva team prioritizes. Based on candidate experiences, the focus is heavily on your practical ability to execute and your history of handling professional challenges.

Portfolio Review & Case Studies

This is the most critical part of the loop. You will likely be asked to present 1–2 projects in depth. The interviewers want to see how you think, not just the final high-fidelity mockups.

Be ready to go over:

• The Problem Space – clearly defining the user problem and business goal.
• Exploration – showing sketches, wireframes, and rejected concepts.
• Outcomes – qualitative or quantitative data showing the impact of your work.
• Advanced concepts – handling edge cases, accessibility considerations (WCAG), and responsive behavior in data grids.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project where you had to simplify a complex workflow."
• "Show us a time you had to compromise on a design due to technical constraints. How did you handle it?"
• "Why did you choose this specific navigation pattern over others?"

Product Thinking & Strategy

Workiva designers are partners in product definition. You will be tested on your ability to think beyond the UI and understand the product lifecycle.

Be ready to go over:

• User Research – how you gather insights and validate assumptions.
• Cross-functional alignment – how you ensure design, product, and engineering are on the same page.
• Prioritization – how you decide what features are essential versus "nice to have."

Example questions or scenarios:

• "What do you think is important when you design a survey or data-entry tool?"
• "How do you measure the success of a design after it launches?"
• "If a PM asks for a feature that you know is bad for the user, how do you handle it?"

Behavioral & Cultural Fit

Workiva places a high value on culture. They look for candidates who are humble, collaborative, and resilient. However, be aware that some candidates have reported rigorous questioning regarding resume gaps or career pivots.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict resolution – specific examples of disagreements with stakeholders.
• Adaptability – handling changes in project scope or leadership.
• Motivation – genuine reasons for wanting to work in the FinTech/SaaS space.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback. What did you do with it?"
• "Why are you applying for this specific job at Workiva?"
• "What are your long-term career goals?"

Key Responsibilities

As a UX/UI Designer at Workiva, your day-to-day work revolves around making the complex simple. You will be embedded in a product team, working alongside product managers and developers to deliver features for the Wdesk platform.

Your primary responsibility is to translate requirements into user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes. You will often be dealing with "dry" or dense data—financial tables, audit logs, and compliance checklists. Your job is to organize this information so that users can perform their tasks efficiently without cognitive overload.

Collaboration is constant. You will participate in stand-ups, design critiques, and sprint planning. You will also be expected to contribute to and utilize the internal design system, ensuring that new features align with the broader platform's visual and interaction language. Occasionally, you may be asked to conduct user research or usability testing to validate your designs before they go to code.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for this role, you need a solid foundation in modern product design, specifically within an enterprise context.

• Technical Skills

  • Proficiency in Figma is essential, as it is the industry standard for collaborative design.
  • Experience with prototyping tools to demonstrate interaction flows.
  • Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) is highly valued given the compliance nature of the product.
  • Basic understanding of HTML/CSS is helpful for communicating with developers, though coding is rarely required.

• Experience Level

  • Typically, Workiva looks for candidates with 3+ years of experience for mid-level roles, often favoring those who have worked on SaaS, B2B, or enterprise software.
  • A portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design process (not just UI) is non-negotiable.

• Soft Skills

  • Communication: Ability to explain complex design rationale to non-designers.
  • Empathy: A deep focus on the user's needs vs. the system's capabilities.
  • Resilience: The ability to navigate feedback loops and iterate quickly.

• Nice-to-have vs. Must-have

  • Must-have: Strong portfolio, experience with complex workflows, Figma mastery.
  • Nice-to-have: Financial domain knowledge, motion design skills, experience building design systems.

Common Interview Questions

The questions below are representative of what you might face. They are drawn from reported candidate experiences and are designed to test both your craft and your character. Do not memorize answers; instead, use these to practice your storytelling and structure.

Introductory & Background

• "Why do you want to work at Workiva specifically?"
• "What are your career goals for the next 3–5 years?"
• "Can you explain the gap in your resume here?" (Be prepared for scrutiny on your timeline).
• "What interests you about enterprise or financial software?"

Portfolio & Technical

• "Walk me through your design process for this project."
• "What is important to consider when designing a survey or data input form?"
• "How do you handle designing for a feature where the requirements are ambiguous?"
• "Show me a piece of work where you had to advocate for the user against business pressure."

Behavioral & Situational

• "Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a developer. How did you resolve it?"
• "Describe a situation where a project didn't go as planned. What did you learn?"
• "How do you handle feedback that you fundamentally disagree with?"
• "Describe your experience working in a remote or distributed team."

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does the interview process take? The process can be slow. Candidates report timelines ranging from a few weeks to three months. Delays in scheduling or feedback are not uncommon, so patience is required.

Q: Is there a design challenge or whiteboard exercise? It varies. Most candidates report a deep portfolio review as the primary technical assessment. However, some have been asked to present work or discuss a hypothetical scenario. It is less common to have a take-home assignment, but be prepared for a "live" critique of your past work.

Q: Is this role remote? Yes, Workiva has a strong remote-first culture. Most interviews and the job itself are conducted virtually using Google Meet.

Q: What is the company culture like during interviews? Experiences are mixed. Many candidates describe the design team as thoughtful, conversational, and kind. However, some have encountered distracted interviewers or rigorous "gatekeeping" by HR. It is best to approach interactions with professionalism and not be discouraged by a tough initial screen.

Q: Do I need finance experience? No, but you need to show an aptitude for complex systems. If you have only worked on simple consumer apps (e.g., e-commerce or social media), you must demonstrate how your skills translate to data-heavy enterprise tools.

Other General Tips

• Know the Product: You don't need to be an accountant, but you should understand that Workiva sells a platform for reporting and compliance. Mentioning "data integrity," "workflow efficiency," or "collaboration" shows you "get" their business.
• Prepare Your Environment: Since interviews are remote, ensure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are stable. When presenting your portfolio, have your tabs open and ready to avoid fumbling.
• Structure Your Answers: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Workiva interviewers appreciate structured thinking.
• Follow Up: Because the process can be lengthy, sending a polite follow-up email after a week of silence is acceptable and shows continued interest.
• Be Honest About Gaps: If you have employment gaps, have a clear, confident, and honest explanation ready. Trying to gloss over them may backfire during the recruiter screen.

Summary & Next Steps

The UX/UI Designer role at Workiva is an opportunity to do high-impact work in a stable, growing sector. You will be challenged to turn dry, complex financial data into seamless user experiences. The interview process is rigorous and can be slow, but it is designed to find designers who are not only skilled but also thoughtful, resilient, and collaborative.

To succeed, focus on curating a portfolio that tells a story of problem-solving. Practice articulating the "why" behind every pixel. Be prepared for a tough initial screen, but know that the team you will eventually work with is often described as supportive and talented.

The salary data above provides a baseline for expectations. Compensation at Workiva is generally competitive, but it can vary based on your location (remote vs. hub) and seniority level. Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations early in the process, usually during the first HR call.

You have the skills to navigate this process. Approach each round with confidence, keep your user-centric mindset at the forefront, and view the rigorous screening as a chance to prove the depth of your expertise. Good luck!