Decode Product Design Questions

7-Step Framework to Impress Interviewers with Your User-Centric Thinking, Problem-Solving Skills, and Innovation Prowess

4 min read2 days ago

How to Answer Product Design Questions

Start by emphasizing the significance of product design questions in PM interviews. These questions assess a candidate’s innovation, problem-solving skills, and user-centric thinking.

Types of Product Design Questions

Design a Product: Design an app for job-seekers.
Improve a Product: Enhance the Headspace app.
Design for a Specific Audience: A vending machine for the blind.
Moonshots: Design with infinite resources.

The goal is to create a feasible product that solves a problem effectively.

The 7-Step Framework

Step 1: Clarify and Get Context

Begin with clarifying ambiguities and understanding the problem space.

Step 2: Define Users

Segment the audience and focus on a specific group, highlighting the importance of understanding the target users.

Step 3: Identify Pain Points

Identify user goals and the obstacles preventing them from achieving those goals.

Step 4: Brainstorm Solutions

Generate a range of solutions, advocating for creativity and critical evaluation.

Step 5: Define a Product Vision

Articulate a compelling product vision, emphasizing the emotional connection with users.

Step 6: Prioritize Features

Focus on feature prioritization that aligns with the product vision and offers significant user benefits.

Step 7: Evaluate and Recap

Reflect on the solution, discussing feasibility, risks, and future exploration.

Designing a Better Gym Experience

Assumption Clarification: We’re targeting improvements for a generic commercial gym, focusing on enhancing the experience to address the needs of various user segments, particularly absent members.
User Definition: We’ve identified four user segments: Pros, Novices, Classes-only attendees, and Absent members. The primary focus will be on absent members, as they present a significant opportunity to increase gym utilization and membership value.
Pain Points & Opportunities: Absent members may not be attending due to boredom, busy schedules, traffic, and inconvenient gym locations. These factors create a barrier to consistent gym usage.
Solution Brainstorming: To counter boredom and improve the overall gym experience, we can introduce supportive in-between set activities. This could include a workout logging app, stats tracking, workout journal prompts, and set-specific tips to keep users engaged.
Product Vision: “Transform idle time into prime time.” The vision is to build a gym that turns waiting periods into productive and engaging intervals, enhancing workout focus and effectiveness.
Feature Prioritization: Features that support this vision include:

A workout logging app that entertains and educates during wait times.
Gamification elements that reward users for engaging with the gym ecosystem, even during downtime.
Customized tips and prompts that are relevant to the user’s current workout stage, making the in-between set experience more engaging.

7. Evaluation & Risks: While this approach could greatly enhance engagement, there’s a risk of distraction, particularly in busy gym environments. The design must strike a balance between keeping users engaged and not interfering with the core workout efficiency and safety.

Brainstorming Product Ideas: The Future of Movies & Innovation in Theaters

Big Ideas List

VR/AR: Transforming viewing into interactive experiences.
AI: Customizing content and engaging viewers in the storyline.
Blockchain: Direct creator-to-consumer distribution.
Eco-friendly Theaters: Emphasizing sustainability in operations.

Product Thinking

Goals: Engage viewers, support creators, innovate sustainably.
Users: Enthusiasts, casuals, families, tech fans, creators.
Pain Points: Desire for immersion, convenience, social experiences, and equitable distribution.

Future of Film Consumption

Immersive Reality: Engage with films in VR/AR settings.
Personalization: AI-driven content that adapts to preferences.
Risks: Privacy concerns, technology costs.

Improving Movie Theaters:

Enhanced Experiences: Themed nights, interactive features.
Community: Live events, filmmaker interactions.
Tradeoffs: Integrating new tech while preserving the classic feel.

Future of Movies:

Experiential Storytelling: Films as interactive journeys.
Decentralized Sharing: Peer-to-peer film sharing.
Challenges: Balancing content quality with increased accessibility.

Author: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivam-ross/ | https://twitter.com/BeastofBayArea | https://www.instagram.com/sup.its.shiv/