Pre-Press Graphics Designer Interview Questions And Answers

Why yes I have done the freelance work on many occasions maybe 150 at least.

The final proof before the actual press run. It includes all the images at actual resolution, but everything is printed out in one color--blue.

Sarah from Salted Ink. I love her clean, fresh designs that stand out without being too overdone and in your face.

Adobe Photoshop - 80%, Illustrator - 35%, Dreamweaver - 60%, Premier - 40%

There’s a big difference between the level of attention you’ll get from your freelance designer if you’re providing a significant portion of their income versus sending them a small project here and there.

Before committing to a contract, set clear expectations around your requirements. Will you need closer to five or 40 hours of their time each week? Find out how booked up they are with other clients and if it’s realistic for them to take on your project given your expectations and their other commitments.

An employer might ask this question because, although you might have mentioned it on your CV or included it in your portfolio, they want to hear about your most successful campaign in your own words. With this question, the employer wants to hear about your passion for that particular campaign and why you personally think it was such a success. They’re also looking to see how you judge the success of a campaign and how and what you did to make it successful. Obviously with this question, your answer will depend on your previous experience – but whichever campaign you choose, try and have some stats to hand and be careful not to take responsibility for other people’s work.

Every designer should have a detailed answer prepared for this. A good designer won’t just jump in and start designing. Great designers begin by trying to understand the problem they’re being asked to solve. Depending on the project, they might interview users or look through data to determine the best course of action. They should also allow for at least one round of substantive feedback and iteration before they submit their final designs.

Employers love it when employees take an interest in their company or brand, especially in the case of designers. After all, how can you design something that matches their brand’s style if you don’t know anything about them?

After all, how can you design something that matches their brand's style if you don't know anything about them?

Do your homework before the interview and try to come prepared with some idea of what the company is all about. You don’t need to know all of the facts, but you should try to have an understanding of their overall message and philosophy, and why you are a good fit for them.

Liking your job has never been a requirement of employment, but good employers know that happy workers do better work—especially if they like the work they’re doing. Every designer has his or her own specialty, something they like to do above all else. If what you like to do just happens to be the same job you’re applying for, then you’re in good shape.

Liking your job has never been a requirement of employment, but good employers know that happy workers do better work—especially if they like the work they're doing.

If you’re afraid that your interests and the job you’re applying for aren’t the best match for one another, then try to find the best answer that is not only honest, but makes you the best candidate for the job. You could mention that you would like to work your way up into a position that would let you work on your favorite types of projects, if that’s a possibility.

This question, and versions of it (“Do you prefer working alone or in a team?”), is designed to ensure you work effectively with many different individuals, from your peers to executives. When asked about your collaboration abilities, give a specific example of how you regularly interacted with colleagues in other departments or led a project team that included staff from several different levels within the firm.

Look for elaborate and interesting stories, search for passion for design and design-thinking. References to history, design history, art, culture, music and architecture are useful when describing choices, intentions and solutions.

This is more of a character test. Further, it can show us which way you work, how your design process develops and what type of work you want to do. Maybe you prefer a team, and you’ll show and tell us how you would be good in a team, or lead a team?

Graphic designing is not merely an art but also a science. Not just graphic designers but many creative minds out there refuse to work on ideas or suggestions that have been given by others. This is not to imply that they are closed or rude, it simply means that creative thinking is a series of thoughts for them and they believe that they will not be able to do justice to any idea that is the brain child of another human being. Some creative minds believe that their work should be products of their own minds and they should feel and personally experience whatever they are going to present on a blank surface. Working with individuals like this could be inspiring but at the same time it could also be very difficult.

The complex process of designing graphics is a necessary part of all company campaigns and these graphics cannot be properly created without the expertise of a trained graphic designer.
It is important to ask right at this stage if this candidate’s views and thought processes are in keeping with that of the company. He or she will not be able to commit himself entirely to the company if the company’s views are in direct opposition to his own.

Individuals respond to criticism in various ways, some listen to the criticism and attempt to improve on the work that has been done, some turn a blind ear to criticism and then are a select few who cannot accept criticism and take it very personally. While hiring a graphic designer you should make sure that you hire someone who can accept constructive criticism and learn from his or her mistakes. The candidates answer will give you an insight into his or her self awareness and levels of honesty. In any event, sometimes it is nice to have a head strong designer who is unwilling to step aside from his or her beliefs.

The candidate needs to explain the entire design process, the decisions, ideation, context, why’s, do’s and dont’s, through describing the production and execution of a specific project.

Question the designer’s decisions to discover details of projects and the reasoning behind these decisions. Ask how the designer would have made those projects even better.

When discussing design research, it is necessary to cover all the angles with which the candidate is familiar, and explain the reasoning why s/he decided to use a particular technique, tool, or way of thinking to achieve a result.

Nevertheless, if a designer received the data via the client, copywriter, strategist, or UX designer, it will be necessary to conduct further research that will confirm the designer’s statements, possibly upgrading the outcome.

If you’re applying for a job designing print media, chances are the employer is going to want to know what kind of print you’ve worked with in the past. This also rings true for any design job, not just print—employers want to know how comfortable you are working in different mediums.

This is because employers want to know if they’re going to have to train you on anything down the line, which could be expensive on their behalf. So they want to see what you already know to gauge how much further you still need to go. Be sure to mention the types of media you’ve worked within, the equipment you’ve used and any formal training you might have received along the way.

If you can manage it, bring examples of your past print work for the employer to see. Since this is print we’re talking about, it makes an even bigger impression if you have actual, physical examples that the employer can touch, hold and possibly even keep for themselves. Check out our tips for designing a unique print design portfolio for more information.

...it makes an even bigger impression if you have actual, physical examples that the employer can touch, hold and possibly even keep for themselves.

Nobody likes it, but sometimes designers are asked to create something without a lot of context. A good designer can roll with the punches and find answers to their questions whether there’s a detailed creative brief or not.

This is a great opportunity to see how a designer thinks of their profession. “To create great designs” is not enough. A good designer will be able to articulate how their designs communicate your brand’s vision and solve practical problems.

Graphic designers who have a blog and actively take steps to showcase their domain expertise are more likely to bring additional value, advice, and experience to the table --beyond the deliver able you've agreed upon. The right graphic designer with an active social media following or established personal brand can help create more than just a new style for your company; they can become a worthy advocate, too.

This question can reveal a lot about whether the graphic designer you’re interviewing is genuinely interested in your company and what they’ll be working on. If they aren’t, it'll show in the final product -- and that's a losing situation for everyone.

Ask questions that gauge their knowledge of your business and goals, and observe how well their skills and interests align. You want a graphic designer who fundamentally understands what you are building and why it's important. Ideally, they’ll already be familiar with your company or will have interacted with you as a customer in the past.

When It detracts from the message. Your work may aesthetically be incredible, but it has to effectively communicate the message.

Superman. He's humble, self-sufficient, and never once blamed his upbringings for any failure he may have had in life.

The initial creation phase. It's hard to narrow down ideas to decide on one main design that will successfully represent your brand/design look you're trying to achieve.