Tell me about a time when users didn't like the UI that an engineer built.

Question Analysis

This question is asking you to describe a past experience where users were dissatisfied with a user interface (UI) that was developed by an engineer. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle situations involving user feedback, collaboration with technical teams, and problem-solving under less-than-ideal conditions. It is a behavioral question, so using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, we launched a new feature in our software product. The development team, led by an engineer, had designed and implemented the UI based on initial specifications without user input.

Task: After the feature was released, we received feedback from users indicating that the UI was not intuitive, leading to lower engagement with the new feature. My task was to address these concerns and improve the user experience.

Action: I organized a series of feedback sessions with a diverse group of users to understand their pain points and gather specific suggestions for improvement. I also collaborated with the engineer to ensure they understood the feedback and the importance of user-centric design principles. Together, we redesigned the UI, focusing on simplifying navigation and enhancing visual clarity. We then implemented a prototype and conducted usability testing to validate the changes.

Result: The revised UI was well-received by users, resulting in a significant increase in feature engagement and user satisfaction. The process also improved the collaboration between the engineering and user experience teams, setting a precedent for involving users early in the design process for future projects.