Solving Product Design Exercises

What's "Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers" about?

• Purpose of the book: The book by Artiom Dashinsky is designed to help designers prepare for product design exercises, which are often part of job interviews in tech companies.
• Focus on skills gap: It addresses the skills gap in design education, particularly in understanding how design impacts business and solving business problems.
• Framework and exercises: The book provides a structured framework for solving design exercises and includes practical examples and exercises to practice.

Why should I read "Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers"?

• Interview preparation: It is particularly useful for those preparing for product design, UX, and UI/UX design interviews.
• Skill development: The book helps in developing product thinking and understanding the role of design in business contexts.
• Career advancement: It offers insights for entry-level to senior designers on how to progress in their careers and improve their portfolios.

What are the key takeaways of "Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers"?

• Design beyond aesthetics: Successful designers understand the business impact of design, not just its visual aspects.
• Structured approach: The book emphasizes a structured approach to solving design exercises, focusing on understanding goals, audience, and context.
• Practical exercises: It includes real-world exercises and solutions to help designers practice and improve their skills.

What is a design exercise according to Artiom Dashinsky?

• Definition: A design exercise is a challenge given to candidates during interviews to solve a product design problem and explain their decisions.
• Types: There are live whiteboarding, on-site, and take-home exercises, each testing different skills.
• Purpose: These exercises evaluate a designer's problem-solving process, product thinking, and ability to communicate their ideas.

How does Artiom Dashinsky suggest solving a product design exercise?

• Framework: Dashinsky provides a seven-step framework: Understand your goal, Define the audience, Understand the context and needs, List ideas, Prioritize and choose an idea, Solve, and Measure success.
• Process over solution: Emphasizes following a process rather than jumping straight to a solution to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the problem.
• Critical thinking: Encourages asking questions, making assumptions, and being critical about solutions to demonstrate thoroughness.

What is the "5W1H" technique mentioned in the book?

• Information gathering: The 5W1H technique involves answering six questions: Why, Who, When, Where, What, and How.
• Application in design: It is used to structure the approach to solving design exercises, ensuring all aspects of the problem are considered.
• Adaptability: While based on journalism and research methods, it is adapted for product design to help designers think holistically.

What are some common design exercises included in the book?

• Examples: Designing a kiosk interface, a self-publishing platform for Amazon, a dashboard for freelancers, and improving the ATM experience.
• Variety of challenges: Exercises cover different aspects of design, from interface design to solving business problems.
• Practice opportunities: These exercises provide opportunities for designers to practice and refine their skills in a structured manner.

How does the book address the "Dribbblisation of Design"?

• Visual obsession: The book critiques the focus on visual aesthetics over functionality, a trend exacerbated by platforms like Dribbble.
• Business impact: Emphasizes the importance of understanding how design can solve business problems and not just create appealing visuals.
• Skill development: Encourages designers to develop skills beyond aesthetics, such as product thinking and business strategy.

What advice does Artiom Dashinsky give for presenting a design solution?

• Comprehensive presentation: Include all steps of the framework in the presentation to demonstrate the thought process.
• Clarity and confidence: Be clear about the "why" behind design decisions and be prepared to discuss pros and cons.
• Engagement: Use storytelling and visual aids to engage the audience and clearly communicate the solution.

What are some key interviews included in the book?

• Industry insights: Interviews with design leaders like Bobby Ghoshal, Justin Maxwell, and Helen Tran provide insights into the design industry.
• Career advice: Topics include the importance of business awareness, skills for aspiring founders, and overlooked skills in design.
• Practical tips: Interviews offer practical advice for designers looking to advance their careers or transition into leadership roles.

What are the best quotes from "Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers" and what do they mean?

• Design's business role: "Design isn’t just about beauty; it’s about market relevance and meaningful results." This highlights the importance of design in achieving business goals.
• Product thinking: "Strong product thinking means that you understand what a good outcome is and how to design an experience that would lead to those good outcomes." Emphasizes the need for designers to think beyond visuals.
• Process importance: "The single most important thing you should remember while solving exercises is to follow a process." Stresses the value of a structured approach in design.

How can "Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers" help business leaders?

• Hiring insights: Provides guidance on how to interview and evaluate design candidates effectively.
• Understanding design's value: Helps business leaders understand the mindset of successful designers and the role of design in achieving business objectives.
• Defining roles: Offers insights into defining the design role within an organization to maximize its impact.