Top Prompts to Prepare for UX/UI Designer Job Interviews with ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini (Portfolio Review, Design Questions, 2026)

Top Prompts to Prepare for UX/UI Designer Job Interviews with ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini (Portfolio Review, Design Questions, 2026)

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Top Prompts to Prepare for UX/UI Designer Job Interviews with ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini (Portfolio Review, Design Questions, 2026)

November 27, 2025

Most designers bomb UX/UI interviews. They present generic portfolios, freeze during design challenges, or fail to articulate their design process clearly. They miss opportunities at top tech companies and agencies. Top-performing designers use AI to critique portfolios, practice whiteboard challenges, and prepare compelling case study presentations that land offers at Google, Apple, and leading design studios. They treat interview prep as a design problem to solve.

Preparing for design interviews without structure wastes time. You polish random projects, ignore behavioral prep, or fail to articulate design decisions that got you results.

With the right AI prompts, you can systematically prepare for portfolio reviews, design challenges, case study presentations, and behavioral questions that demonstrate your design thinking and value.

In this guide, you'll get the top free prompts for UX/UI designer interview prep using ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, or Perplexity. Just copy and paste these prompts with your situation.

These are the best designer interview prep prompts for 2026, optimized for FAANG, agencies, startups, and competitive design roles.

Quick Start Guide

  1. Open ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, or Perplexity

  2. Identify interview type (portfolio review, design challenge, case study)

  3. Paste the appropriate prep prompt

  4. Get feedback, practice problems, refine presentation

  5. Ace your interviews and land design offers

Understanding UX/UI Designer Interview Process

Typical Interview Stages:

1. Portfolio Screen (Before Interview)

  • Recruiter reviews portfolio

  • 3-5 projects showcasing process

  • Case studies with clear outcomes

2. Phone/Video Screen (30-45 min)

  • Portfolio walkthrough (1-2 projects)

  • Design process discussion

  • Basic design questions

3. Design Challenge (Take-home or Live)

  • Take-home: 3-5 day project

  • Live: 60-90 min whiteboard challenge

  • Tests design thinking, not pixel perfection

4. Onsite/Virtual Onsite (4-6 hours)

  • Deep portfolio review (2-3 projects)

  • Design critique (existing product)

  • Whiteboard challenge

  • Team collaboration assessment

  • Behavioral questions

5. Final Round

  • Leadership/stakeholder presentation

  • Culture fit assessment

  • Offer negotiation

Top AI Prompts to Prepare for UX/UI Designer Interviews

Below are the most effective, copy-and-paste designer interview prep prompts for 2026.

1. The Complete Designer Interview Prep Plan

Create comprehensive UX/UI designer interview prep plan.
Target company: [FAANG/agency/startup/specific company]
Interview timeline: [weeks until interview]
Current experience: [junior/mid/senior]
Portfolio status: [ready/needs work/starting fresh]
Weak areas: [design challenge/presentation/etc.]
Role focus: [UX/UI/product design/visual design]

Generate study plan with:
- Portfolio review and improvements
- Case study rewrite priorities
- Design challenge practice schedule
- Behavioral question prep
- Design critique practice
- Presentation skills work
- Week-by-week milestones

Structured designer prep roadmap.

My situation: [paste details]

Why this works: Structured plans ensure complete preparation. Targeted focus maximizes interview performance.

2. The Portfolio Review & Critique Prompt

Review my UX/UI design portfolio critically.
Portfolio link: [URL or description]
Projects included: [list 3-5 projects]
Role level applying for: [junior/mid/senior]
Company type: [tech/agency/startup]

Provide honest critique on:
- First impression (visual appeal)
- Case study quality (process clarity)
- Variety of work (breadth vs depth)
- Visual design execution
- UX process demonstration
- Results and metrics shown
- Storytelling effectiveness
- What's missing
- What to highlight in interviews
- Projects to replace/improve

Brutal honesty helps.

Portfolio: [paste details/link]

Why this works: Outside perspective reveals blind spots. Honest feedback improves portfolio before interviews.

3. The Case Study Rewrite Prompt

Help me rewrite design case study for interviews.
Current case study: [project description]
My role: [what I did]
Problem: [what we solved]
Process: [steps taken]
Outcome: [results]
Current length: [too long/too short]

Rewrite case study with:
- Hook opening (grab attention)
- Clear problem statement
- Your role and team context
- Design process (with visuals described)
- Key decisions and trade-offs
- Measurable outcomes
- Learnings and iterations
- Ideal length: 3-5 min presentation

Compelling case study structure.

Project: [paste current case study]

Why this works: Case studies sell your process. Clear storytelling makes impact memorable.

4. The Design Challenge Practice Generator

Generate realistic design challenge for practice.
Challenge type: [app redesign/new feature/user flow]
Company type: [consumer/B2B/enterprise]
Time limit: [60/90 min for live challenge]
Difficulty: [junior/mid/senior level]

Provide challenge with:
- Problem brief (business context)
- User needs (personas/scenarios)
- Constraints (time, platform, resources)
- Deliverables expected
- Evaluation criteria
- What interviewers look for
- Time management suggestions

Realistic practice challenge.

Level: [paste your level]

Why this works: Practice reduces anxiety. Realistic challenges build confidence in process.

5. The Design Challenge Solution Review

Review my design challenge solution.
Challenge: [problem I solved]
My solution: [design approach, sketches, final screens]
My process: [steps I took]
Time spent: [actual time]

Critique covering:
- Problem understanding (did I solve the right thing?)
- Process quality (design thinking shown?)
- Solution creativity (novel or generic?)
- Visual execution (polish level)
- User-centeredness (user needs met?)
- Business consideration (feasible?)
- What I should have done differently
- How to present this in interview

Improve my design thinking.

Solution: [paste details/images described]

Why this works: Feedback reveals gaps in thinking. Understanding weaknesses enables improvement.

6. The Portfolio Presentation Practice

Help me practice presenting portfolio project.
Project: [which case study]
Audience: [hiring manager/design team/leadership]
Time limit: [5/10/15 minutes]
Key points to emphasize: [your strengths]

Create presentation script with:
- Opening hook (30 seconds)
- Problem context (1-2 min)
- Process walkthrough (3-5 min)
- Key design decisions (2-3 min)
- Results and impact (1-2 min)
- Q&A preparation
- Transition phrases
- Energy and pacing notes

Confident presentation delivery.

Project: [paste case study]

Why this works: Presentation skills separate good from great designers. Practice builds confidence.

7. The Design Critique Practice Prompt

Practice design critique for interview.
Product to critique: [app/website/feature]
Critique focus: [UX/UI/both]
Audience: [interviewer level]
Time: [5/10 minutes]

Structure critique covering:
- First impressions (gut reaction)
- What works well (positive first)
- UX issues (usability problems)
- UI issues (visual hierarchy, consistency)
- Improvement suggestions (specific)
- Trade-offs to consider
- How to communicate tactfully
- Framework for any critique

Thoughtful, structured critique.

Product: [paste product to critique]

Why this works: Critique questions test design judgment. Structured approach shows senior thinking.

8. The Behavioral Question Prep for Designers

Prepare behavioral interview answers for designer role.
Role level: [junior/mid/senior/lead]
Company type: [tech/agency/startup]
My background: [brief experience]

Generate answers for:
- "Tell me about yourself"
- "Walk me through your design process"
- "Describe a challenging design problem"
- "Conflict with PM/engineer/stakeholder"
- "Design failure and learning"
- "How you handle critical feedback"
- "Why this company/role?"
- "Leadership/mentorship example"

STAR method formatted.

Background: [paste details]

Why this works: Behavioral questions reveal culture fit. STAR method provides clear structure.

9. The Design Process Articulation Practice

Help me articulate my design process clearly.
My current process: [how I work]
Gaps in explanation: [where I struggle]
Interview context: [who I'm explaining to]

Refine process explanation:
- Research phase (methods used)
- Problem definition (synthesis)
- Ideation (how you generate ideas)
- Prototyping (fidelity progression)
- Testing (validation methods)
- Iteration (how you improve)
- Implementation (handoff/collaboration)
- How you adapt process per project

Clear, confident process articulation.

My process: [paste current explanation]

Why this works: Articulating process clearly demonstrates design maturity. Clarity impresses interviewers.

10. The Whiteboard Challenge Practice

Practice whiteboard design challenge.
Challenge: [design X on whiteboard]
Time: [45/60/90 minutes]
Materials: [whiteboard/paper/digital]
Thinking out loud practice: [yes]

Whiteboard strategy:
- Starting strong (clarify problem)
- Organizing space (plan your board)
- Thinking aloud (narrate process)
- Rough sketching (low fidelity fast)
- Iterating visibly (show thinking)
- Handling constraints
- Time management
- Presenting final solution

Whiteboard confidence building.

Challenge: [paste scenario]

Why this works: Whiteboard challenges test process over polish. Practice revealing thinking matters.

11. The Design Decisions Defense Prompt

Practice defending design decisions.
Design decision: [specific choice I made]
Alternative approaches: [other options considered]
Why I chose this: [reasoning]

Prepare to defend:
- User-centered rationale
- Business impact consideration
- Technical feasibility
- Data or research supporting
- Trade-offs acknowledged
- Alternative evaluation
- How you'd measure success
- Confidence without defensiveness

Confident decision defense.

Decision: [paste design choice]

Why this works: Interviewers challenge decisions. Clear rationale shows strategic thinking.

12. The Design Metrics & Impact Discussion

Prepare to discuss design impact and metrics.
Project: [case study]
Metrics tracked: [what was measured]
Results: [outcomes achieved]
My contribution: [your specific impact]

Discuss impact with:
- Baseline before your design
- Metrics improved (quantified)
- How you measured
- Your role in outcome
- Business impact
- User satisfaction improvement
- What you'd measure next time
- Honest attribution

Prove design value.

Project: [paste details]

Why this works: Senior designers connect design to business. Metrics demonstrate real impact.

13. The User Research Discussion Prep

Prepare to discuss user research approach.
Project: [which project]
Research conducted: [methods used]
Key insights: [what you learned]
How research influenced design: [impact]

Discuss research thoroughly:
- Research goals (what you needed to learn)
- Methods chosen (why these methods)
- Participant recruitment
- Key findings (insights discovered)
- How insights shaped design
- Research limitations
- What you'd do differently
- Balancing research with constraints

Research-driven design discussion.

Project: [paste research details]

Why this works: Research skills separate UX from UI designers. Methodology discussion shows rigor.

14. The Collaboration Story Preparation

Prepare collaboration stories for interview.
Team structure: [who you worked with]
Collaboration challenges: [difficulties faced]
How you worked together: [your approach]
Outcome: [results of collaboration]

Collaboration stories about:
- Working with PM (product decisions)
- Working with engineers (technical constraints)
- Working with stakeholders (managing feedback)
- Peer designers (design critiques)
- Resolving conflicts (disagreements)
- Cross-functional leadership
- Building consensus

Team player demonstration.

Experience: [paste collaboration examples]

Why this works: Design is collaborative. Stories showing teamwork reveal culture fit.

15. The Design Tools & Skills Discussion

Prepare to discuss design tools and skills.
Tools I use: [Figma/Sketch/Adobe/etc.]
Proficiency level: [beginner/intermediate/expert]
Other skills: [prototyping/animation/research/etc.]
Learning approach: [how you stay current]

Discuss tools thoughtfully:
- Why you use these tools
- How you leverage advanced features
- Tool limitations understanding
- Willingness to learn new tools
- Process over tools emphasis
- Portfolio showcasing tool skills
- Staying current with design trends

Tools support process.

My toolkit: [paste tools and skills]

Why this works: Tools matter but process matters more. Balance shows tool proficiency without over-dependence.

16. The Design System Knowledge Prep

Prepare to discuss design systems knowledge.
Experience with systems: [if any]
Understanding level: [basic/intermediate/advanced]
Company focus: [if they have known system]

Discuss design systems:
- What design systems are (definition)
- Benefits (consistency, efficiency)
- Components vs patterns
- Building vs using systems
- Your experience with systems
- Scalability considerations
- Documentation importance
- Governance and maintenance

System thinking demonstration.

Experience: [paste design system work]

Why this works: Design systems are standard at scale. Knowledge shows enterprise-ready thinking.

17. The Accessibility Knowledge Discussion

Prepare to discuss accessibility in design.
Accessibility experience: [what you've done]
Knowledge level: [WCAG familiarity]
Integration in process: [how you consider it]

Discuss accessibility thoroughly:
- Why accessibility matters
- WCAG guidelines knowledge
- How you design for accessibility
- Testing methods
- Color contrast considerations
- Screen reader compatibility
- Keyboard navigation
- Inclusive design beyond compliance

Accessibility as core practice.

Experience: [paste accessibility work]

Why this works: Accessibility is legal and ethical imperative. Knowledge shows responsible design.

18. The Design Trend Awareness Discussion

Prepare to discuss current design trends.
Trends you follow: [what's current]
Your opinions: [what you think]
How you stay current: [resources]

Discuss trends intelligently:
- Current trends awareness
- Critical evaluation (not blind following)
- When trends make sense vs don't
- How you balance trends with usability
- Design resources you follow
- Continuous learning approach
- Adapting trends appropriately

Informed but not trend-chasing.

Trends: [paste your observations]

Why this works: Trend awareness shows you're current. Critical thinking shows you're not blindly following.

19. The Portfolio Project Selection Strategy

Help me choose which portfolio projects to present.
All projects: [list all your work]
Company type: [where you're interviewing]
Role focus: [what job emphasizes]
Time available: [presentation length]

Project selection strategy:
- Which projects to lead with (most impressive)
- Project variety (breadth vs depth)
- Relevance to role (match to job)
- Story arc (progression shown)
- Projects to cut (least relevant)
- Order of presentation
- How to position each project

Strategic portfolio curation.

All projects: [paste project list]

Why this works: Strategic selection shows best work. Relevance to role increases impact.

20. The Design Failure Discussion Prep

Prepare to discuss design failure or challenge.
Failure/challenge: [what went wrong]
Context: [why it happened]
Learning: [what you learned]
Growth: [how you improved]

Frame failure positively:
- Honest acknowledgment (own it)
- Context without excuses
- What you learned (specific lessons)
- How you've improved since
- What you'd do differently
- Growth mindset demonstration
- Turning failure into strength

Failure as learning opportunity.

Failure: [paste situation]

Why this works: Failure questions test humility and growth. Owning mistakes shows maturity.

21. The Questions to Ask Interviewer (Designers)

Generate smart questions to ask design interviewer.
Company: [target company]
Role: [position]
Interview stage: [which round]
Interviewer role: [designer/manager/PM]

Design-specific questions showing:
- Design culture curiosity
- Team structure interest
- Design process questions
- Growth opportunities
- Impact and influence
- Tools and resources
- User research support
- Cross-functional collaboration

Thoughtful designer questions.

Context: [paste details]

Why this works: Questions reveal priorities. Designer-specific questions show you understand the craft.

22. The Company-Specific Design Prep

Prepare specifically for [Company Name] design interview.
Company: [target company]
Their products: [what they design]
Design reputation: [known for what]
Your research: [what you learned]

Company-specific prep:
- Product critique (thoughtful analysis)
- Design improvements you'd suggest
- Why you want to work there
- What you admire about their design
- How you fit their culture
- Questions about their process
- Your relevant experience
- Understanding their users

Tailored company preparation.

Company: [paste name]

Why this works: Company-specific prep shows genuine interest. Product knowledge demonstrates passion.

23. The Take-Home Design Challenge Strategy

Strategy for take-home design challenge.
Challenge brief: [what they asked for]
Time allowed: [deadline]
Deliverables: [what to submit]
Company context: [who they are]

Challenge approach:
- Time allocation (research/design/polish)
- What to prioritize (depth vs breadth)
- Presentation format (deck/prototype/both)
- Process documentation
- How much to show vs tell
- Polish level expected
- Assumptions to clarify
- Submission best practices

Maximize take-home impact.

Challenge: [paste brief]

Why this works: Take-home challenges require strategy. Time management determines quality.

24. The Design Portfolio Website Optimization

Optimize my portfolio website for interviews.
Current site: [URL or description]
Projects shown: [what's included]
Site structure: [how it's organized]
Target audience: [who reviews it]

Optimization recommendations:
- First impression (homepage)
- Navigation clarity
- Project presentation
- Case study structure
- Contact information visibility
- Loading speed and performance
- Mobile responsiveness
- Personal branding
- SEO for recruiters
- What to remove/add

Portfolio site excellence.

Site: [paste URL/description]

Why this works: Portfolio site is first impression. Optimization increases interview callbacks.

25. The Post-Interview Follow-Up Strategy

Create post-design-interview follow-up strategy.
Interview details: [who, when, what discussed]
Key topics: [projects discussed]
Concerns addressed: [if any]
Next steps: [what they said]

Follow-up strategy:
- Thank you email (timing and content)
- Reiterating key points
- Addressing any concerns raised
- Sharing additional work (if relevant)
- Expressing continued interest
- Appropriate persistence
- Timeline expectations
- Professional patience

Strategic follow-up.

Interview: [paste details]

Why this works: Follow-up reinforces interest. Strategic communication keeps you top-of-mind.

Designer Interview Preparation Timeline

4-6 Weeks Out:

  • Portfolio audit and improvements

  • Case study rewrites (2-3 priority projects)

  • Design challenge practice (1-2 weekly)

  • Behavioral answer drafting

  • Design critique practice

2-3 Weeks Out:

  • Portfolio presentation practice

  • Mock interviews (with designers)

  • Whiteboard challenge practice

  • Company-specific product research

  • Process articulation refinement

1 Week Out:

  • Final portfolio polish

  • Presentation timing practice

  • Questions to ask preparation

  • Past project review (refresh memory)

  • Mental preparation

Day Before:

  • Portfolio final check (links work)

  • Setup/logistics confirmation

  • Light review only

  • Physical preparation (sleep, outfit)

  • Mental calm

AI Tool Comparison for Design Interview Prep

AI Tool

Strengths

Best For

ChatGPT

Portfolio critique, case study writing, behavioral prep

Portfolio feedback, storytelling, presentation scripts

Claude

Design thinking feedback, nuanced critique, depth

Design process articulation, complex problem analysis

Gemini

Current design trends, company research, visual analysis

Trend discussion, company-specific prep, product research

Grok

Direct feedback, bold critique, efficiency

Quick portfolio review, honest feedback, time-efficient

Perplexity

Design research, best practices, verified info

Design methodology research, accessibility standards, metrics

Common Designer Interview Mistakes

  1. Generic portfolio - Projects look like every other designer

  2. Process unclear - Can't articulate why decisions were made

  3. No metrics - Can't prove impact or success

  4. Defensive about feedback - Can't handle critique gracefully

  5. Tool-focused over process - Emphasize software over thinking

  6. No collaboration stories - Position yourself as solo hero

  7. Unprepared for challenges - Freeze during whiteboard exercise

  8. Poor presentation skills - Ramble or lose audience interest

FAQ

How many projects in portfolio?
3-5 strong case studies showing variety and depth. Quality over quantity.

Should I show visual design or UX process?
Both. Balance beautiful visuals with clear process documentation.

How to handle NDA projects?
Anonymize, get permission, or create spec projects showcasing similar thinking.

What if I don't have metrics?
Estimate impact, use qualitative feedback, show process quality instead.

How long should case studies be?
5-7 minutes to present. Written case study: scrollable but scannable.

Do I need a personal website?
Highly recommended. Behance/Dribbble alone isn't enough for serious roles.

Should I design during interview?
Yes for whiteboard challenges. Focus on process over pixel perfection.

How to stand out from other designers?
Unique perspective, strong storytelling, proven impact, personality in work.

Conclusion

Most designers bomb UX/UI interviews. They present generic portfolios, freeze during challenges, and fail to articulate design thinking clearly. They miss opportunities at top tech companies. Top-performing designers use AI to systematically critique portfolios, practice challenges, and prepare compelling presentations that land offers at Google, Apple, and leading studios.

With these 25 prompts, you can prepare comprehensively for UX/UI designer interviews using ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, or Perplexity.

Stop winging design interviews. Copy these prompts, practice systematically, and land your dream design role.

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