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 is assessing your ability to handle conflicts or disagreements professionally, especially when they arise from subjective opinions rather than objective criteria. It evaluates your communication skills, diplomacy, and ability to defend your design choices while being open to feedback. The interviewer wants to see how you manage relationships with senior team members and balance creative integrity with collaborative flexibility.

Answer

Situation: In a previous role as a UX Designer, I completed a project for a new website layout that had been approved through several rounds of review and user testing. However, after the final presentation, the design manager requested changes to the color scheme based on their personal preference for a more vibrant aesthetic.

Task: My task was to address the manager's request while ensuring that the design remained user-focused and aligned with the brand’s guidelines, which were more muted and sophisticated.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the design manager to discuss their feedback. During the meeting, I listened actively to understand their perspective and acknowledged their vision. I then explained the rationale for the current color scheme, supported by data from user testing and alignment with brand identity. To find a middle ground, I proposed conducting a quick A/B test to compare user responses to the original design and a modified version reflecting their preference.

Result: The A/B test revealed that users found the original design more appealing and aligned with their expectations of the brand. I presented these findings to the manager, who agreed to retain the initial design. This approach not only preserved the design's integrity but also reinforced a data-driven decision-making process and maintained a positive working relationship with the manager.