You’ve come to the last stages of an interview. There’s only one thing left to do: the dreaded take home design assignment.

您已經到達面試的最后階段。 只剩下一件事要做： 可怕的帶回家的設計任務。

This is the hard part of any interview process, but many employers require it for product design roles. The intent behind these assignments is to see how you think and to verify your skills as a designer.

這是任何面試過程中的難點，但許多雇主都要求產品設計角色。 這些任務的目的是了解您的想法并驗證您作為設計師的技能。

To provide context on how to do a take-home assignment, I’m going to break down one that I recently completed.

為了提供有關如何完成實地任務的背景信息，我將分解最近完成的任務。

Spoiler alert: I didn’t get the job.

劇透警報： 我沒有得到這份工作。

They said my presentation was amazing, but a candidate with more relevant and specific experience came through the pipeline and beat me to it.

他們說我的演講很棒，但是有更多相關和特定經驗的候選人通過了渠道，擊敗了我。

That said, I’ve picked up a thing or two about what to do (and what not to do).

就是說，我已經了解了要做什么(不做什么)的一兩件事。

閱讀說明書 (Read the instructions)

This should go without saying, but keep instructions close by. Read them, then read them again. The last thing you want to do is misread something and let that derail your entire presentation before you even start.

這應該不言而喻，但是要緊緊說明。 閱讀它們，然后再次閱讀。 您要做的最后一件事是誤讀某些內容，并在開始之前就使整個演示文稿脫軌。

I kick off the presentation with a recap of the assignment. This provides context for your presentation, and gives insight to others if the PDF gets passed around internally (which it probably will).

我以演講的總結開始演講。 這為您的演示文稿提供了上下文，并且在PDF內部傳遞時(可能會)向其他人提供了見解。

了解問題 (Understand the problem)

To properly design a solution, you need to wrap your head around the problem. Here’s how I like to do this:

要正確設計解決方案，您需要全神貫注地解決問題。 這是我喜歡的方式：

• Write a summary statement

  撰寫總結聲明

• Highlight key issues in the statement

  突出陳述中的關鍵問題

• Create sub points that provide greater clarity

  創建子點以提供更高的清晰度

• Summarize the findings with a TL;DR statement

  用TL; DR語句總結調查結果

Identifying the problem prepares you to dig into solutions without losing focus.

確定問題可以使您在不失去關注的情況下深入研究解決方案。

This shows the interviewer your design approach is measured and thoughtful. You don’t push pixels, you solve problems.

這表明面試官您的設計方法是經過仔細考慮的。 您不推像素，可以解決問題。

找出可行的解決方案 (Identify a viable solution)

With a clear problem you can present a clear solution. Take time. Identify multiple potential solutions. If possible, talk through these solutions with a few people who may use the product or design.

有了明確的問題，您可以提出明確的解決方案。 慢慢來。 確定多種潛在的解決方案。 如果可能，請與可能使用該產品或設計的一些人員討論這些解決方案。

Select a solution, and write it down. I write a high level solution statement followed by a tactical description of the design.

選擇一個解決方案，并寫下來。 我寫了一個高級解決方案聲明，然后是該設計的戰術描述。

By showing the solution and expected results you demonstrate the ability to solve problems while thinking about the customer. This will set you apart.

通過顯示解決方案和預期結果，您可以展示在思考客戶的同時解決問題的能力。 這會讓您與眾不同。

展示如何衡量成功 (Show how you will measure success)

You have a problem and a solution. How will you know if your solution worked? Great designers think about how solutions will be measured. Here’s how I do this:

您有問題和解決方案。 您怎么知道您的解決方案是否有效？ 優秀的設計師考慮如何衡量解決方案。 這是我的操作方式：

• Map success metrics back to parts of your proposed solution

  將成功指標映射回建議的解決方案的各個部分

• Include qualitative and quantitative metrics

  包括定性和定量指標

• Keep it simple

  把事情簡單化

If you aren’t familiar:

如果您不熟悉：

• Qualitative metrics rely on non-numerical data (ex #2 Trust)

  定性指標依賴于非數值數據(例如＃2 Trust)

• Quantitative metrics rely on numerical data (ex #4 Accountability).

  定量指標依賴于數字數據(例如，＃4問責制)。

Don’t go overboard on analytics tracking, etc. However, be ready to talk about how you use data to drive design decisions. Part of this is the tools (Tableau, Google Analytics, etc) the other part is understanding how to collaborate with product managers, data scientists and developers to understand and drive proper decision making.

不要在分析跟蹤等方面投入過多。但是，準備好談論如何使用數據來推動設計決策。 其中一部分是工具(Tableau，Google Analytics(分析)等)，另一部分是了解如何與產品經理，數據科學家和開發人員合作，以了解和推動正確的決策。

記錄您的過程 (Document your process)

Great designers have processes. If you are presenting a product design solution, I recommend that you show (or at least mention) the following:

優秀的設計師具有流程。 如果您要介紹產品設計解決方案，建議您顯示(或至少提及)以下內容：

• Information Architecture

  信息架構

• User Experience

  用戶體驗

• User Interface

  用戶界面

• Design System

  設計系統

• Prototypes

  樣機

If you only show UI and Prototypes, your solution will not seem thought-through, and you will come across as a poor UX designer.

如果僅顯示UI和原型，則您的解決方案似乎不會經過深思熟慮，并且您會遇到一個糟糕的UX設計器。

If you are process-heavy but do not show beautiful design and thoughtful UI, they may question your visual design capabilities.

如果您的工作量很大，但沒有顯示出精美的設計和周到的UI，他們可能會質疑您的視覺設計能力。

Don’t go overboard on process. No one wants a 50-page book on why you built an onboarding flow. Show your work is thoughtful. Demonstrate your ability to excel in every part of the design process.

不要過分著急。 沒有人想要一本長達50頁的書來介紹為什么您要建立入職流程。 表明你的工作是周到的。 證明您在設計過程的每個部分都具有出色的能力。

制作精美的視覺效果 (Make beautiful visuals)

You have thought through everything, now it’s time to start creating the visuals. If you don’t know where to start, use a UI kit.

您已經仔細考慮了所有內容，現在該開始創建視覺效果了。 如果您不知道從哪里開始，請使用UI工具包。

If the assignment is internal facing and not intended to be used widely, it’s okay to use reference illustration or photography work. Give credit where credit is due.

如果作業是面向內部的并且不打算廣泛使用，則可以使用參考插圖或攝影作品。 在信用到期的地方給予信用。

Excellent visual design is a good way to stand out during the design assessment. Make sure you aren’t compromising UX with the visual decisions you make.

出色的視覺設計是在設計評估中脫穎而出的好方法。 確保您所做的視覺決策不會影響UX。

Most companies hiring product designers have design systems. It is quite possible you will never need to flex your visual design muscles on a day-to-day basis. Great visual design still matters. When you need to present work or pitch a new product initiative, the aesthetics have the potential to inspire.

大多數雇用產品設計師的公司都有設計系統。 您很有可能永遠不需要在日常工作中發揮視覺設計的力量。 出色的視覺設計仍然很重要。 當您需要展示作品或提出新產品動議時，美學可能會激發靈感。

超越 (Go above and beyond)

Go beyond the brief. I am not saying you should ignore the instructions that you received. Follow those instructions carefully. At the same time, include something extra to show your passion and skill.

超越簡要。 我并不是說您應該忽略收到的指示。 請仔細按照這些說明進行操作。 同時，添加一些額外的東西來表達您的熱情和技巧。

In the design assignment I have been showing, I included an extra slide for brand identity. This shows my intentionality, visual design skills, and a genuine interest in the presentation I put together.

在我一直展示的設計任務中，我包括了一張額外的幻燈片，以了解品牌形象。 這顯示了我的意圖，視覺設計技巧以及對我整理的演示文稿的真正興趣。

Don’t overdo this. I spent less than 5% of my time on the branding portion.

不要過分。 我在品牌部分上花費的時間不到5％。

您能做的就是最好的 (All you can do is your best)

Remember that the decision is ultimately out of your control. Try your best. If they don’t end up hiring you, here are some potential reasons why:

請記住，該決定最終將超出您的控制范圍。 盡你所能。 如果他們最終不雇用您，則有以下一些潛在原因：

• Someone better came along
  最好有人來
• You’re too UX or UI focused
  您過于注重UX或UI
• Your work was too good (yes this can happen)
  您的工作太好了(是的，可能會發生)
• The business froze hiring
  企業凍結招聘

I’ve failed in many design presentations. When you fail, can feel sorry for yourself or you can learn from your mistakes.

我在許多設計演示中都失敗了。 當您失敗時，可以為自己感到難過，或者您可以從錯誤中學習。

Take the time to feel the sadness and frustration, then dust yourself off and get ready for the next one. It gets better.

花些時間去感受悲傷和沮喪，然后塵埃落定，為下一個做好準備。 它變得更好了。

I’m a multidisciplinary creative currently designing product for Square. To see my product design work, follow me on Dribbble. Have interview experiences to share? Let me know in the responses.

我是一個多學科創意人員，目前正在為Square設計產品。 要查看我的產品設計工作，請在 Dribbble 上關注我 。 有面試經驗可以分享嗎？ 在答復中讓我知道。