Preply
Preply
Preply
Ultimate Design Interview Prep Tool
Ultimate Design Interview Prep Tool
Ultimate Design Interview Prep Tool
VoltBike is a leading provider of electric bicycles, designed for both urban commuters and recreational riders. We were tasked with creating a user experience that was intuitive, efficient and enjoyable for riders of all levels.
Type
Type
Product Design
Product Design
Date
Date
May - August, 2024 (14 Weeks)
May - August, 2024
My Role
My Role
UX Researcher, Product Designer
UX Researcher, Product Designer
Team
Team
Victor Ding, Dakota Shao, Rebecca Jin
Victor Ding, Dakota Shao, Rebecca Jin
Objective
Objective
Objective
This project aims to empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews. By addressing challenges such as self-doubt, lack of clarity in articulating strengths, and uncertainty about employers, the tool helps students present themselves effectively and navigate interviews with confidence.
This project aims to empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews. By addressing challenges such as self-doubt, lack of clarity in articulating strengths, and uncertainty about employers, the tool helps students present themselves effectively and navigate interviews with confidence.
This project aims to empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews. By addressing challenges such as self-doubt, lack of clarity in articulating strengths, and uncertainty about employers, the tool helps students present themselves effectively and navigate interviews with confidence.
How might we empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews by helping them accurately identify and articulate their unique strengths?
How might we empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews by helping them accurately identify and articulate their unique strengths?
How might we empower graduating design students to feel more connected, confident, and prepared for job interviews by helping them accurately identify and articulate their unique strengths?
Preliminary Research
Preliminary Research
Preliminary Research
90% of design students are looking for an employment after completing their bachelor degree. (which is 20% higher than non-design students)
90% of design students are looking for an employment after completing their bachelor degree. (which is 20% higher than non-design students)
90% of design students are looking for an employment after completing their bachelor degree. (which is 20% higher than non-design students)
The success rate of job interviews is 20%, meaning that only 1 in 5 candidates are offered a job after an interview.
The success rate of job interviews is 20%, meaning that only 1 in 5 candidates are offered a job after an interview.
The success rate of job interviews is 20%, meaning that only 1 in 5 candidates are offered a job after an interview.
Interview
Interview
Interview
We conducted interviews using tailored questionnaires with professionals across diverse roles, including a CEO, HR manager,
portfolio coach, school CPD advisor, UX designer, and designers from various fields such as Automotive UX and Graduate Industrial Design.
We conducted interviews using tailored questionnaires with professionals across diverse roles, including a CEO, HR manager, portfolio coach, school CPD advisor, UX designer, and designers from various fields such as Automotive UX and Graduate Industrial Design.
We conducted interviews using tailored questionnaires with professionals across diverse roles, including a CEO, HR manager, portfolio coach, school CPD advisor, UX designer, and designers from various fields such as Automotive UX and Graduate Industrial Design.
Insights
Insights
Insights
From the interviews, we discovered…
From the interviews, we discovered…
From the interviews, we discovered…
Online interviews are becoming more common, but they often reduce candidate confidence. Every respondent (100%) agreed that confidence is key to succeed in interviews, but negative experiences with online interviews leads to a lack of connection and reduced confidence.
Online interviews are becoming more common, but they often reduce candidate confidence. Every respondent (100%) agreed that confidence is key to succeed in interviews, but negative experiences with online interviews leads to a lack of connection and reduced confidence.
For interviewees, they will be more expected to describe their works and strengths more efficiently and accurately. However, 90% of students cannot accurately know their strengths. Amy, an employee of CPD, said, "You might not realize things by yourself, but other might notice about you."
For interviewees, they will be more expected to describe their works and strengths more efficiently and accurately. However, 90% of students cannot accurately know their strengths. Amy, an employee of CPD, said, "You might not realize things by yourself, but other might notice about you."
User Type
User Type
User Type
Using a 2×2 persona segmentation matrix, we identified Self-Doubting Perfectionists as our primary user type—
students who prepare meticulously and set high standards, but whose constant self-doubt undermines their confidence in interviews.
Using a 2×2 persona segmentation matrix, we identified Self-Doubting Perfectionists as our primary user type—
students who prepare meticulously and set high standards, but whose constant self-doubt undermines their confidence in interviews.
Using a 2×2 persona segmentation matrix, we identified Self-Doubting Perfectionists as our primary user type—
students who prepare meticulously and set high standards, but whose constant self-doubt undermines their confidence in interviews.
From there, we mapped their specific traits and challenges into design opportunities, which directly informed the key features of our solution.
From there, we mapped their specific traits and challenges into design opportunities, which directly informed the key features of our solution.
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Over-preparation leads to stress and inefficiency.
Over-preparation leads to stress and inefficiency.
Over-preparation leads to stress and inefficiency.
Frequent use of hesitant language (“I think,” “maybe”) undermines confidence.
Frequent use of hesitant language (“I think,” “maybe”) undermines confidence.
Frequent use of hesitant language (“I think,” “maybe”) undermines confidence.
Heavy reliance on non-verbal cues makes online interviews more difficult.
Heavy reliance on non-verbal cues makes online interviews more difficult.
Heavy reliance on non-verbal cues makes online interviews more difficult.
Tendency to over-explain and give lengthy answers.
Tendency to over-explain and give lengthy answers.
Tendency to over-explain and give lengthy answers.
Low self-awareness of personal strengths.
Low self-awareness of personal strengths.
Low self-awareness of personal strengths.
Solutions
Solutions
Offer structured practice modes (one-on-one, panel, unstructured, final interview) so students can prepare with focus rather than endlessly rehearse.
Offer structured practice modes (one-on-one, panel, unstructured, final interview) so students can prepare with focus rather than endlessly rehearse.
Offer structured practice modes (one-on-one, panel, unstructured, final interview) so students can prepare with focus rather than endlessly rehearse.
Provide mock interviews with AI language feedback to encourage more assertive, confident phrasing.
Provide mock interviews with AI language feedback to encourage more assertive, confident phrasing.
Provide mock interviews with AI language feedback to encourage more assertive, confident phrasing.
Integrate video replay and non-verbal communication tutorials so users can recognize and improve body language and eye contact.
Integrate video replay and non-verbal communication tutorials so users can recognize and improve body language and eye contact.
Integrate video replay and non-verbal communication tutorials so users can recognize and improve body language and eye contact.
Introduce timed practice and SMART goal setting to train concise, well-structured responses.
Introduce timed practice and SMART goal setting to train concise, well-structured responses.
Introduce timed practice and SMART goal setting to train concise, well-structured responses.
Enable portfolio upload and automated strength analysis, highlighting key achievements students might not recognize on their own.
Enable portfolio upload and automated strength analysis, highlighting key achievements students might not recognize on their own.
Enable portfolio upload and automated strength analysis, highlighting key achievements students might not recognize on their own.
Testing & Validation
Testing & Validation
Before moving into high-fidelity design, we tested these concepts through paper prototypes. This allowed us to quickly validate key features with users, identify pain points, and refine the experience before building the final solution.
Before moving into high-fidelity design, we tested these concepts through paper prototypes. This allowed us to quickly validate key features with users, identify pain points, and refine the experience before building the final solution.
Final Design
Final Design
Home Page
Home Page
Home Page
The home page acts as a personalized starting point, motivating students to begin their preparation journey while providing quick access to practice and company insights.
The home page acts as a personalized starting point, motivating students to begin their preparation journey while providing quick access to practice and company insights.
Features
Features
Start Practice and Watch Tutorial
Start Practice and Watch Tutorial
Dream company practice cards to simulate interviews with specific employers.
Dream company practice cards to simulate interviews with specific employers.
Performance dashboard with bar and radar charts for detailed skill analysis
Performance dashboard with bar and radar charts for detailed skill analysis
Contact and social links for easy support and community connection
Contact and social links for easy support and community connection
Demo Tutorial
Demo Tutorial
The demo tutorial lowers anxiety for first-time users by offering structured guidance, ensuring users feel supported as they learn key interview skills step by step.”
The demo tutorial lowers anxiety for first-time users by offering structured guidance, ensuring users feel supported as they learn key interview skills step by step.”
Features
Features
Welcome prompt that encourages first-time users to watch the tutorial before practicing.
Welcome prompt that encourages first-time users to watch the tutorial before practicing.
Progress tracking across modules, motivating students to complete learning milestones
Progress tracking across modules, motivating students to complete learning milestones
Course notes paired with video lessons for easy review and reinforcement
Course notes paired with video lessons for easy review and reinforcement
Select Interview Type & Upload Portfolio
Select Interview Type & Upload Portfolio
By allowing students to choose interview types and connect their portfolio, the tool simulates realistic scenarios tailored to their needs.
By allowing students to choose interview types and connect their portfolio, the tool simulates realistic scenarios tailored to their needs.
Features
Features
Options for different interview formats
Options for different interview formats
Portfolio upload and auto-analysis to surface strengths
Portfolio upload and auto-analysis to surface strengths
Role-based interview simulations
Role-based interview simulations
Adaptive practice questions linked to portfolio content
Adaptive practice questions linked to portfolio content
Presentation Points
Presentation Points
This flow helps students structure and rehearse their key points, ensuring they present their strengths clearly and concisely.
This flow helps students structure and rehearse their key points, ensuring they present their strengths clearly and concisely.
Features
Features
Guided prompts for organizing portfolio projects
Guided prompts for organizing portfolio projects
Highlighting key achievements and strengths
Highlighting key achievements and strengths
Timer for practicing concise delivery
Timer for practicing concise delivery
Real-time feedback on clarity and pacing
Real-time feedback on clarity and pacing
Mock Interview
Mock Interview
The mock interview creates a realistic practice environment where students can rehearse, receive feedback, and build confidence before facing actual interviews.
The mock interview creates a realistic practice environment where students can rehearse, receive feedback, and build confidence before facing actual interviews.
Features
Features
Prepare Room screen prompts students to gather design work and mentally get ready for interview simulation
Prepare Room screen prompts students to gather design work and mentally get ready for interview simulation
Mock interview video session with a virtual interviewer to replicate real interview pressure
Mock interview video session with a virtual interviewer to replicate real interview pressure
Automated scoring system with chart visualizations to evaluate key dimensions: pitch and tone, etiquette, active listening, body language, clarity of speech, and confidence
Automated scoring system with chart visualizations to evaluate key dimensions: pitch and tone, etiquette, active listening, body language, clarity of speech, and confidence
Re-record
Re-record
The re-record option gives students the chance to refine their answers, reducing anxiety by turning mistakes into opportunities for improvement.
The re-record option gives students the chance to refine their answers, reducing anxiety by turning mistakes into opportunities for improvement.
Features
Features
Replay with time-stamped highlights to review strong and weak moments during the interview
Replay with time-stamped highlights to review strong and weak moments during the interview
Re-record option that allows students to retry specific answers and track progress over time.
Re-record option that allows students to retry specific answers and track progress over time.
Detailed feedback notes explaining issues with improvement suggestions
Detailed feedback notes explaining issues with improvement suggestions
What I Learned
What I Learned
• The importance of digging deeper in research — I learned that users’ real struggles aren’t always obvious. Many students were actually over-prepared yet under-confident, which shifted the direction of my design.
• How to translate insights into features — I practiced mapping user pain points directly into design opportunities, ensuring every feature served a clear purpose.
• Designing for emotion as well as function — I realized that building confidence and reducing anxiety can be just as impactful as creating efficient workflows.
• The importance of digging deeper in research — I learned that users’ real struggles aren’t always obvious. Many students were actually over-prepared yet under-confident, which shifted the direction of my design.
• How to translate insights into features — I practiced mapping user pain points directly into design opportunities, ensuring every feature served a clear purpose.
• Designing for emotion as well as function — I realized that building confidence and reducing anxiety can be just as impactful as creating efficient workflows.
Copyright @ 2025 Yuki Ni. All rights reserved.