Screening checklist
UX Designer Screening Checklist
Screen UX designer candidates with this detailed checklist covering portfolio review, design thinking, usability testing skills, and evaluation rubrics.
The short answer
Screening UX Designer candidates well means fixing the pass criteria before the first résumé is opened. The checklist below covers résumé triage, a short phone screen with model answers, a technical check with passing criteria, and the deal-breakers that end a conversation early.
- Must have: Strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design thinking and iterative design process
- Must have: Proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and creating design systems
- Must have: Experience conducting and synthesizing user research into actionable design decisions
- Deal-breaker: Portfolio lacks evidence of user research or iterative design process
Cohesyve scores every applicant against a role-specific assessment. Ten candidates free, no card.
UX designers shape how users experience your product, making them critical to customer satisfaction and retention. Screening for this role requires evaluating design skills, user empathy, and the ability to collaborate with product and engineering teams. This checklist provides a structured approach to identifying designers who create intuitive, impactful experiences.
Résumé screening
- Degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or equivalent practical experience
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end UX design process from research through high-fidelity prototypes
- Minimum two years of professional UX design experience in a product or agency setting
- Proficiency in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD
- Experience conducting user research including interviews, usability tests, and surveys
- Understanding of accessibility standards and responsive design principles
Must-have qualifications
- Strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design thinking and iterative design process
- Proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and creating design systems
- Experience conducting and synthesizing user research into actionable design decisions
- Ability to collaborate effectively with product managers and engineers
- Knowledge of accessibility standards such as WCAG and inclusive design principles
Phone screen questions
Ask every candidate the same set, in the same order, and note the answer against the model before you form a view.
Walk me through a project in your portfolio that you are most proud of. What was your design process?
A strong answer The candidate should describe the problem, their research approach, key insights, design iterations, usability testing, and final outcomes. They should highlight their specific contributions and demonstrate how user feedback shaped the final design.
How do you handle disagreements with product managers or engineers about design decisions?
A strong answer A strong answer emphasizes collaboration and data. The candidate should describe grounding discussions in user research and business goals, presenting multiple options, and being willing to compromise when evidence supports a different direction.
Describe your approach to conducting usability testing. How do you decide what to test?
A strong answer The candidate should explain identifying key user flows or high-risk assumptions, recruiting representative participants, writing task-based test scripts, observing without leading, and synthesizing findings into design improvements. They should show a pragmatic approach to balancing rigor with speed.
How do you ensure your designs are accessible to users with disabilities?
A strong answer The candidate should reference WCAG guidelines, discuss color contrast ratios, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and alt text. They should demonstrate that accessibility is integrated into their process rather than an afterthought.
How do you stay current with UX design trends and tools?
A strong answer The candidate should mention specific design communities, publications, conferences, or courses. They should demonstrate critical evaluation of trends rather than blindly following them and show how they apply new learnings to their practice.
Cohesyve
Let the screen run itself
Cohesyve puts a UX Designer assessment between the application and the phone screen, so the calls you make are with people who have already cleared the bar above.
Technical screening
| Area | What to test | Passing criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Design Thinking Process | Present a design challenge and ask the candidate to walk through their approach from problem definition to solution ideation in a whiteboard exercise. | The candidate demonstrates a structured approach: empathizing with users, defining the problem clearly, generating multiple solutions, and evaluating options based on user needs and constraints. |
| Wireframing and Prototyping | Ask the candidate to create wireframes for a given user flow using their preferred design tool within a timed session. | Wireframes are clear, logically structured, and demonstrate understanding of interaction patterns and user expectations. The candidate explains design rationale and considers edge cases. |
| Visual Design and Design Systems | Review the candidate portfolio for visual design quality, consistency, and design system thinking. Ask them to explain a design system they created or contributed to. | The candidate demonstrates strong visual design skills, consistent use of typography, spacing, and color, and understanding of component-based design system principles. |
| User Research Skills | Provide a product scenario and ask the candidate to outline a user research plan including methods, participant recruitment, and analysis approach. | The candidate selects appropriate research methods for the given context, demonstrates understanding of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and explains how findings would inform design decisions. |
Fit and deal-breakers
Good signs
- Shows genuine empathy for end users and advocates for their needs in design decisions
- Demonstrates openness to feedback and iterates on designs without being defensive
- Collaborates enthusiastically with product, engineering, and other stakeholders
- Balances design idealism with practical constraints like timeline and technical feasibility
- Contributes to a positive team culture and shares knowledge with peers
Deal-breakers
- Portfolio lacks evidence of user research or iterative design process
- Cannot explain the rationale behind design decisions beyond aesthetics
- Shows rigidity and unwillingness to adapt designs based on user feedback or constraints
- Demonstrates poor communication skills or inability to present work to stakeholders
Scoring rubric
Design Skills
35%- Creates intuitive and visually polished user interfaces
- Demonstrates strong command of wireframing, prototyping, and design tools
- Applies design system thinking and maintains consistency across products
User Research and Empathy
25%- Conducts effective user research using appropriate methods for the context
- Synthesizes research findings into actionable design insights
- Advocates for user needs while balancing business and technical constraints
Collaboration and Communication
20%- Presents design work clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
- Collaborates effectively with product managers and engineers throughout the process
- Handles design critiques constructively and incorporates feedback
Cultural Fit and Growth
20%- Aligns with the team design philosophy and company values
- Shows commitment to professional development and learning new tools or methods
- Contributes positively to team culture and mentors less experienced designers
Common questions
How much weight should we give to a UX designer portfolio versus interview performance?
The portfolio is the single most important screening artifact for UX designers as it demonstrates actual design capability and process. However, the interview reveals communication skills, collaboration style, and design thinking in real time. Weight the portfolio at roughly sixty percent and interview performance at forty percent.
Should we require UX designers to complete a design challenge?
A short, focused design challenge of two to four hours can provide valuable insight into a candidate process and problem-solving ability. Avoid excessively long assignments that disrespect candidate time. Always provide clear context and evaluate the process as much as the output.
Is it important for UX designers to know how to code?
Coding skills are a bonus but not essential. What matters is that the designer understands front-end constraints and capabilities so they can design feasible solutions and communicate effectively with developers. Focus on design skills and collaboration ability first.
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