Product, marketing and design
A spoken first round can’t judge a portfolio, but it can tell you whether the person behind it has a process, takes feedback well and can explain their choices. Review the work separately, then use this round to hear the thinking.
Designers explain decisions best in conversation, and AI-led follow-ups ask why they made each choice.
What to screen for
The questions
Ask them in order. Listen for specifics: what happened, what they did, how it ended.
Strong answer
Explains the problem, audience and constraints, the directions they explored, why they chose the final one, and what changed in review.
Weak answer
Describes only the result, like “I made it look clean.”
Strong answer
Looked for the problem behind the comment, proposed an option that solved it, and explained their reasoning without getting defensive.
Weak answer
“Clients don’t understand design”, or changed everything without question.
Strong answer
Finds room within the type scale, grid and imagery rules, and knows when and how to propose a change to the guidelines.
Weak answer
Breaks the rules without asking, or produces something generic.
Strong answer
Asks questions to find the real concern, such as weak hierarchy, low contrast or an unclear message, then shows options.
Weak answer
Makes everything bigger and brighter.
Strong answer
Picks a specific piece and talks about type, layout, color and restraint in terms of how they serve its purpose.
Weak answer
“I like minimal design”, with no example.
Strong answer
Mentions named layers, specs, export sizes, color profiles, bleed or components, depending on where it’s going.
Weak answer
Sends the working file and waits for questions.
Strong answer
Prioritized the core piece, reused existing templates or systems, and told the team early what would wait.
Weak answer
Worked through the night with no trade-offs, or missed the deadline without warning.
Strong answer
Separates their own contribution clearly from the art director, copywriter or wider team.
Weak answer
Stays vague, or claims all of a team project.
Before the interview
Quick facts to read alongside the interview. They aren’t scored.
Listen for
Avoid
Use this in LessRounds
Paste the questions into a scripted interview, add the scorecard skills, and share one link. Every graphic designer candidate gets the same questions, and you get a score for each skill with the quote behind it.
No. It tells you how a designer thinks, takes feedback and handles constraints. Collect the portfolio as an upload with the interview, review it separately, and say up front that a portfolio walkthrough or a small paid task comes in a later round.
Only after the first round, and keep it small. A short, paid task based on a realistic brief tells you more than a long unpaid one, and strong candidates are more likely to do it.
Start with 10 free interviews a month. No card, no sales call.