Apple UX Designer Interview Guide

This initial step is primarily about ensuring that you meet the basic qualifications and work eligibility for the role. It's a brief 30-minute interview where the recruiter gauges your suitability for the position. Expect questions related to your background, work experience, and eligibility to work at Apple.

This is a more in-depth interview. An existing UX designer at Apple will conduct this interview, having already reviewed your portfolio. The conversation typically begins with a 5-10 minute introduction and information exchange. The major part of this interview is dedicated to your portfolio. 

You'll be asked to walk the interviewer through about two projects from your portfolio—the interviewer will have the projects on their end and will want you to explain the design process, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved for each project.

Understanding the interview process at Microsoft can provide valuable context.

The onsite round of the UX Designer interview process at Apple consists of six back-to-back interviews. These interviews are typically a day long, although they can also be conducted over video or phone. During these interviews, you'll have the opportunity to speak with designers and project managers from different teams and at various levels within the company.

• Technical Rounds: The majority of the rounds will revolve around testing your UX skills and seeing what you have accomplished. So, this means, what's your design philosophy? Do you have design tool fluency? Do you have a grasp of and ability to distill complex systems? Can you perform usability testing? Can you synthesize actionable data and articulate a design challenge? Are you familiar with code? 

Here's an example question that's generally asked: "Can you provide an example of a mobile app that has successfully translated into a great desktop version, and explain why it succeeded?" Another frequently encountered question is, "Select a website you frequently use. What aspects of its design do you admire, and conversely, what elements do you find less appealing?" As you answer this, make sure you underpin your opinions by considering both the perspective of the average user and the business objectives at play.

Technical rounds also include design challenges where you are asked to, for instance, create an app that simplifies the grocery shopping experience for users. We'd suggest you practice design challenges beforehand. You can find mock design challenges online or with peers on platforms like Prepfully who can help you become more comfortable with the process.

• Portfolio Presentation: A very commonly asked question is "Pick a project you have in your portfolio and walk me through your design process." This is where you are expected to take your interviewers through the intricacies of your design process, from inception to execution. Here, it's crucial to be ready for a bunch of follow-up questions and be prepared to defend your design choices. These are the types of inquiries that might arise when discussing your portfolio projects:
  
• Why did you opt for an icon view instead of a list view? 
• What was the rationale behind placing the text input box in the top right as opposed to the top left? 
• Have you conducted user testing for your design, and if so, what methods did you employ? 
• Could you share what you find most gratifying in the design process?

They want to evaluate your ability to apply a methodical approach to address design challenges and substantiate your assumptions.

• Behavioural: Finally, there is the behavioral round—where the main focus is to establish a strong rapport with Apple's design team. This is your chance to discuss your passion for design, your motivations, and your career choices. While you may encounter specific design-related questions, the overarching theme of these interviews is to assess whether you are the right cultural fit for Apple. They want to ensure that your values and approach align with the company's ethos. Be ready to share your vision for your work and your insights into the future of the design industry.

Interview Questions

• Have you ever encountered a feature that you thought was not worth pursuing? How would you ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the product development process at Apple?
• How would you ensure your design of a user interface for banks meets the needs of different user groups?
• What is an achievement that you are most proud of and why do you consider it significant?
• Have you ever faced a situation where the product owner did not agree with your product design decision?
• What is an example of a design project you recently completed, and what metrics did you use to measure its performance? How did you track those metrics?
• Can you share an experience where you had to challenge your teammate's approach?
• Create an app that simplifies the grocery shopping experience for users.
• In your opinion, what would be the most efficient and effective way to design an elevator system for a 1000-floor building?