Tell me about a time you had to explain a design decision to people who are not designers. How did you make it convincing?

What the interviewer is looking for

• This question tests communicating design decisions. Explains rationale in terms of user and business outcomes, uses evidence, and persuades non-designers without relying on taste alone.
• What to bring out: Uses plain language, links decisions to goals and evidence, anticipates objections, and tells a clear story rather than defending taste.
• Expect a follow-up like: What objection did you find hardest to answer?

Another way it may be asked: Think of a time you had to justify a design to executives or engineers. What did you say that won them over?

A structure to follow: STAR, with the weight on Action and Result

1. Step 1

   Situation

   One or two sentences: where, when and what was at stake. Pick a real example you were close to.

2. Step 2

   Task

   What you personally were responsible for. Say "I", not only "we", so the communicating design decisions you showed is visible.

3. Step 3

   Action

   The two or three things you did and why you chose them over the alternatives. This should be about half your answer.

4. Step 4

   Result

   What changed, in your own measure of it, and what you would do differently. Only use numbers you can stand behind.

This is guidance on shape, not a script. Use your own real experience and facts; never invent details to fill a gap. See the STAR guide and answer frameworks.

Common slips

• Describing what the team did without saying what you did.
• Choosing an example with no clear outcome, or one you cannot answer detailed questions about.
• Ending on the action and skipping the result and what you learned.

How to practise it

Write two bullet points for each STAR letter, then say the answer aloud in about two minutes.

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