Junior Graphic Designer Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Before your Junior Graphic Designer interview, it helps to see the questions from the interviewer's side. We have picked eight from our set of 25 and added the reason each one gets asked.

Eight Junior Graphic Designer interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. Can you walk me through one or two pieces from your portfolio and explain your design decisions?

Why they ask: A portfolio walkthrough is the centrepiece of nearly every junior design interview.

2. What is the difference between Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, and when would you use each?

Why they ask: They need to know you can pick the right tool and understand the basics of the Adobe suite.

3. What resolution and colour mode should a file be for print, and what is bleed?

Why they ask: Basic print preparation errors are common in junior work and cost money.

4. What are the main principles of design, and how do you apply them?

Why they ask: They want to see you understand the theory behind the work you produce.

5. How do you choose and pair typefaces?

Why they ask: Typography is a core skill and a common test of a junior designer's eye.

6. What file formats do you use for logos and images, and when?

Why they ask: Choosing and supplying the correct file type is a daily practical task.

7. You've been given a brief but don't understand what the client wants. What do you do?

Why they ask: Juniors are expected to ask questions rather than guess.

8. Tell me about a time you had to work to a tight deadline on a design project.

Why they ask: They want evidence of time management, even from university or personal projects.

A sample answer to question 1

Can you walk me through one or two pieces from your portfolio and explain your design decisions?

I'd like to talk about my final-year project, a visual identity for a community cycling charity. The brief was my own, so I set objectives: make the charity feel welcoming to beginners and easy to recognise on high-vis kit. I researched similar organisations, interviewed two volunteers and made mood boards before sketching about forty logo ideas on paper. I developed three into Illustrator and chose a simple wheel-and-path mark because it still worked at small sizes and in one colour. I picked a rounded sans-serif typeface for friendliness, and a bright yellow and navy palette that passes WCAG contrast. I then applied it to a leaflet, a website banner and a cycling jersey mock-up. My tutor suggested I test it at tiny sizes, which led me to simplify the logo further. I learnt the value of research and feedback before polishing anything.

Common mistake to avoid: Only describing how it looks; presenting work without saying what you did

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 25 questions are on the Junior Graphic Designer interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.