How to Prepare for the Whiteboard Product Design Challenge

Here are some tips on how to prepare for a whiteboard product design challenge:

Understand the problem. The first step is to understand the problem that you are being asked to solve. What are the user’s needs? What are the constraints of the problem? Once you have a good understanding of the problem, you can start to brainstorm solutions.

Brainstorm solutions. Once you understand the problem, it’s time to start brainstorming solutions. Don’t be afraid to come up with a lot of ideas, even if they’re not perfect. The goal is to get your creative juices flowing.

Prioritize your solutions. Once you have a list of solutions, it’s time to prioritize them. Which solutions are the most feasible? Which solutions will have the biggest impact on the user?

Sketch your solutions. Once you’ve prioritized your solutions, it’s time to sketch them out. This will help you visualize your ideas and communicate them to the interviewer.

Think out loud. As you’re sketching, don’t be afraid to think out loud. This will help the interviewer understand your thought process and how you’re approaching the problem.

Be open to feedback. The interviewer will likely give you feedback on your sketches. Be open to this feedback and use it to improve your designs.

Practice, practice, practice. The best way to prepare for a whiteboard design challenge is to practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be and the better you’ll be able to communicate your ideas.

Here are some additional tips:

• Use a framework to help you structure your thinking. There are many different frameworks that you can use, but some popular ones include the design thinking process, the lean startup methodology, and the five whys.
• Be clear and concise in your communication. The interviewer will be watching you closely, so it’s important to be clear and concise in your explanations.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re not sure about something, ask the interviewer for clarification.
• Be confident. The most important thing is to be confident in your abilities. The interviewer wants to see that you’re capable of solving problems and designing great products.

Here are some examples of whiteboard design challenges:

• Design a new user interface for a website.
• Design a new feature for a mobile app.
• Design a new way to improve the customer experience.
• Design a new product that solves a specific problem.

I hope these tips help you prepare for your next whiteboard product design challenge. Good luck!

Carl is a Former Product Designer Turned Recruiter. Before recruiting, he was a UI/UX designer working with many tech startups to design their products. Carl is also the co-founder of a Meetup called Global UXD where he helps connect designers with each other and create new opportunities. Having completed Bloc and DesignLab boot camps before becoming a recruiter, he’s an expert at helping designers land their first design roles. Find Carl on carlwheatly.com and LinkedIn. Need your Design Portfolio Reviewed?? Check out carlwheatley.com