Interview Process for Product Designer, Platform at Blend

I recently interviewed for the Product Designer, Platform role at Blend and would like to share a detailed breakdown of the interview process, questions asked, and some tips for preparation based on my experience. Blend is a leading fintech company that focuses on simplifying the consumer lending process, so the role requires a deep understanding of product design, user experience, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Blend for the Product Designer, Platform role is thorough and focuses on assessing both your design skills and ability to collaborate with teams. The entire process typically spans several rounds:

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1. Initial HR Screening

• Format: 30-minute phone call with an HR representative.
• Focus: This round is mainly focused on your background, motivation for applying, and cultural fit with the company.

Typical Questions:

• “Tell me about yourself and your design journey.”
• “Why are you interested in working at Blend?”
• “What attracted you to the Product Designer, Platform role specifically?”
• “What are your salary expectations?”

Tip: Be prepared to discuss your portfolio and how your experience aligns with Blend’s mission and the platform team’s goals.

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2. Portfolio Review

• Format: Video call with the hiring manager or senior designer.
• Focus: In this round, you’ll walk through your portfolio, highlighting projects that demonstrate your range in both interaction design and visual design. They’ll be particularly interested in seeing how you handle complex design problems, your design thinking process, and your ability to iterate based on feedback.

Questions You Might Encounter:

• “Can you walk me through a project where you had to collaborate closely with engineering?”
• “What was your design process for this particular project?”
• “Tell us about a time when you received critical feedback on your design. How did you handle it?”
• “How do you ensure that your designs are both user-centered and aligned with business objectives?”

Tip: Focus on projects that show your experience designing complex systems or workflows, as Blend is building a platform with low-code/no-code tools for financial institutions. The team will want to see that you can handle the intricacies of product design in an evolving platform.

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3. Design Challenge

• Format: Take-home or live exercise (usually 1-2 hours).
• Focus: This stage assesses your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work through ambiguity. You will likely be given a design challenge related to Blend’s platform or financial products. For example, you might be asked to design a new feature for Blend’s low-code platform or suggest ways to improve an existing workflow.

Common Exercise Example:

• “Design a feature that allows users to customize their workflows within a low-code/no-code platform. How would you approach the user interface and user experience?”
• “Given the current MVP of our platform, how would you design a scalable, intuitive feature that enhances customer satisfaction?”

Tip: Focus on creating clear, intuitive designs that cater to a variety of user needs. Showcase your ability to balance functionality and user experience, especially since this role involves building scalable solutions for clients in the financial sector. Also, think about modularity in your designs—how they can grow and adapt over time.

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4. Behavioral Interview

• Format: Video interview with multiple team members (e.g., product manager, designer, and engineer).
• Focus: This round assesses how well you work with cross-functional teams and how you handle real-world design challenges. You’ll be asked to demonstrate your teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Typical Questions:

• “Describe a time when you had to collaborate with engineers to implement a design. How did you ensure the design was successfully implemented?”
• “Tell us about a project where you had to iterate on your design after user feedback. What changes did you make, and why?”
• “How do you prioritize design tasks when working with multiple teams or stakeholders?”
• “Tell us about a time when you had to balance competing priorities in a project.”

Tip: Blend values collaboration, so make sure to emphasize your experience working closely with engineering and product teams. They’ll want to know that you can not only design solutions but also advocate for those solutions in a collaborative environment.

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5. Final Interview (Culture Fit and Technical Deep Dive)

• Format: One-on-one or panel interview with senior leadership or a combination of cross-functional team members.
• Focus: This round dives deeper into your design philosophy, your understanding of product design, and your ability to navigate ambiguity. You’ll also be asked about your approach to working in a fast-paced, startup-like environment.

Questions You Might Encounter:

• “How do you handle ambiguity in the early stages of a project?”
• “Tell us about a project where you had to define the design direction with limited information. How did you move forward?”
• “What design tools and processes do you typically use, and why?”
• “How do you incorporate user feedback into your design process?”
• “What is your approach to scaling designs across different products and platforms?”

Tip: For this round, it’s crucial to align your answers with Blend’s mission and design principles. Be prepared to discuss how you design with scalability in mind, especially since Blend’s platform is evolving to support a variety of financial products.

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6. Offer and Negotiation

If you make it through all the rounds, you’ll receive an offer. This typically involves a conversation about compensation, benefits, and finalizing the details of the role. Blend is known for offering competitive salaries, equity, and great benefits.

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Skills and Qualities Blend Looks for:

• Design Thinking and Problem-Solving: Ability to navigate ambiguous problems, propose clear design solutions, and iterate based on feedback.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong communication and teamwork skills, especially working with engineering and product teams.
• User-Centered Design: A deep understanding of user needs and how to translate those into effective design solutions.
• Adaptability: Since Blend’s platform is continuously evolving, candidates must show flexibility in handling change and iterating on designs quickly.
• Technical Familiarity: Understanding of designing for low-code/no-code platforms is a plus, as the role involves creating modular and scalable designs for Blend’s products.

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Final Tips for Preparation:

• Study Blend’s Platform: Understand Blend’s business model, products, and user base. Focus on the platform team’s goals of building scalable, modular solutions for financial institutions.
• Portfolio: Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights both the process and outcome of your design projects. Show your problem-solving skills, not just the final design.
• Prepare for Collaboration Questions: Blend values collaboration, so be prepared to talk about how you’ve worked with engineers and product managers to ship designs successfully.
• Think About Scalability: Since this role involves building a platform, be sure to emphasize your ability to design solutions that scale, both in terms of functionality and user experience.