How would you handle a situation where a design manager or director requested an aesthetic change to a finished design based solely on their personal preferences, rather than any design or usability concerns?

Question Analysis

This question assesses your ability to handle feedback and requests for changes from higher-ups, specifically when such feedback is based on personal preference rather than objective criteria. The interviewer wants to understand how you balance maintaining design integrity and user-centered design principles with the need to accommodate the preferences of senior team members. This scenario tests several skills, including communication, negotiation, and professionalism.

Answer

Situation: In a previous project, I was responsible for the final design of a new marketing brochure. After presenting the finished design to the team, the design director requested changes to the color scheme based solely on personal preference, without considering its impact on the overall design consistency and brand guidelines.

Task: My task was to address the director's request while ensuring that the final design still aligned with our brand standards and served its purpose effectively.

Action: I took the following steps:

• Acknowledged the Feedback: I thanked the director for their input, showing appreciation for their engagement with the project.
• Clarified the Rationale: I asked if there were any specific reasons beyond personal preference that prompted the request, which helped me understand if there were underlying concerns.
• Presented Design Principles: I explained how the current design choices were aligned with our brand guidelines and supported user engagement objectives.
• Suggested Compromise: I proposed a few alternative color schemes that incorporated the director's preferences while maintaining design integrity. I offered to create mock-ups to demonstrate how these changes could be integrated effectively.

Result: The director appreciated the effort to accommodate their preferences and acknowledged the importance of adhering to brand guidelines. We agreed on a slight modification that enhanced the design without compromising its original intent, leading to a successful project launch.

By addressing personal preferences diplomatically while upholding design principles, I was able to satisfy the director's request and maintain the integrity of the design.