Questions to Ask A Web Designer

For agencies, institutions, small web shops, and others looking to hire a web designer, the process can be a bit esoteric, especially if the persons hiring do not already include a designer. However, many times the right candidate becomes clearly evident based on a strong portfolio and the correct answers to pertinent questions.

What are those questions? They vary, and each interviewer will have their unique set of questions. To spur your thinking and give you some ideas (if you’re in need), I’ve listed some questions below that every good web designer should be able to answer. These are questions I’ve been asked in interviews and ones I’ve asked others.

1. What is your typical process when designing a site from start to finish?
2. What’s your favorite part in the process?
3. What’s the most important part in the process?
4. From where do you draw inspiration?
5. Do you read other designer’s blogs?
6. What’s the most important aspect of a website?
7. How many total hours does it take you to create a full website (smaller site, CMS-based) going through the whole process with a client?
8. What’s your favorite thing about the web right now?

Answers?

So those are the questions, what about the answers? You’re probably expecting this, but I’ll say it anyways, answers will vary. Correct answers will vary. I can give you some warning signs though. If the answers to the questions asked above run along the vein of the answers below I would be wary of hiring the candidate.

1. I usually just start designing right away. (Yikes!)
2. What process?
3. Making sure it looks awesome!
4. I don’t need inspiration.
5. I hate blogs.
6. That it looks awesome!
7. A day.
8. Solitaire.