CIW User Interface Designer Interview Questions

The CIW User Interface Designer course is the second installment in a four-course series on the web and mobile design. To pass the interview, you need to prove your expertise in building the strategies and tactics for designing user interfaces, with particular emphasis on creating interfaces for mobile devices. Further, you must have the knowledge of applying essential usability concepts, including clarity, ease of use, simplicity, and detectability. A thorough understanding of more advanced topics such as information architecture (IA), human-computer interaction (HCI), and responsive design will serve as the icing on the cake.

You can go through our CIW User Interface Designer online tutorial to revise your concepts and learn the various preparatory resources available for strengthening your expertise, along with numerous Free Practice Tests.

Every interview is different. The questions you are asked in the CIW User Interface Designer interview will depend on the type of job you’re interviewing for, the employer’s needs, and your skills and experience as they relate to the role. While there is no way to prepare for every possible question, there are several that stand out as popular interview questions. So here is a list of top CIW User Interface Designer Interview Questions. Let’s get started right away!

1. What are the four types of user interfaces?

Command Line Interface.
Menu-driven Interface.
Graphical User Interface.
Touchscreen Graphical User Interface.

2. What is the user interface of a Web browser?

A browser user interface (BUI) is an alternative way to interact with remote applications via controls presented within a web browser. This is in contrast to providing controls via a separate application with a graphical user interface (GUI) or command-line interface (CLI).

3. What according to you is the future of web technology?

PWA (Progressive Web Apps), SPA (Single Page Apps), serverless architecture, and Motion UI will continue to be crucial web trends in the years to come. General technologies such as AI, voice search, Blockchain, and IoT are also important for web developers.

4. Could you explain what is web project management?

Web project managers lead the development of web products from conception through deployment. They collaborate with stakeholders to define the scope of web-based projects and oversee teams in the creation of these products. They then prepare reports that detail project status.

5. What is meant by the term collaborative web?

Typically, a collaborative website enables users to give input, access documents on a shared computer, or collaborate in other ways using the Internet.

6. What should be in a web design portfolio?

Homepage/main landing page.
About page.
Work/portfolio page.
Services.
Contact page.

7. What are the functional specifications of a website?

A Functional Specification for a website would be similar to the blueprint for a building. It specifies the functions that a system must perform, and is important for both end users and web developers.

8. What are the things you should consider when selecting a web server to host your website?

server reliability, uptime scores, and security.
customer service.
availability of site backups.
registration and maintenance costs.
ability to add domains.
account limitations.
e-commerce and email options.

9. What are the legal and ethical issues for a website?

Copyright concerns.
Domain name concerns.
Trademark concerns.
Defamation.
Linking and framing.

10. How would you define a user-centered web design?

User-centered design is a process in which designers focus on the needs of their users to create highly usable and accessible products. User-centered designers involve users throughout the design process, using a variety of research and design techniques.

11. What are the three principles of user-centered design?

A clear understanding of user and task requirements
Incorporating user feedback to define requirements and design
Early and active involvement of the user to evaluate the design of the product.

12. What are the eight important principles of web design?

Visual Hierarchy
Divine Proportions
Hick’s Law
Fitt’s Law
Rule of Thirds
Gestalt Design Laws
White space and clean design
Occam’s Razor

13. What do you understand by the term persona in usability testing?

Personas are representations of your key audience segments, based on qualitative and some quantitative user research and web analytics. Use personas to create reliable and realistic representations of your customers.

14. Which are the principles of UI design?

Place users in control of the interface
Make it comfortable to interact with a product
Reduce cognitive load
Make user interfaces consistent.

15. Are prototypes of wireframes and mockups the same?

When used properly, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes can help developers design products that are easy for users to understand. The problem is that many people use the terms interchangeably, when in fact they are all different and used at separate stages of the design process.

16. Could you explain are wireframes UI or UX?

Wireframing is a crucial step of the UI/UX design process because it helps establish a framework for the eventual final product. A good wireframe at the very beginning of the design process can have a significant effect on the usability and efficiency of the final product.

17. Why as per you is website navigation important?

A website’s navigation is essential to ensuring that visitors can search the site in a way that lets them find what they need quickly. Good navigation will keep visitors on your site longer, increasing their confidence in the site and its offerings.

18. Could you explain what is secondary navigation?

Secondary navigation, such as sidebars and footers, is used in conjunction with primary navigation to provide additional links to content that is less important than the primary pages but should be easily accessible from any location on the site.

19. Can you tell me about the benefits of prototyping?

Early discovery of design problems.
Estimation of production costs, manufacturing time, and material requirements.
Select machinery required for production.
Testing to determine fit and durability.
Receive feedback from customers and end-users.
Identify improvements.

20. How would you differentiate between GET and POST?

The HTTP protocol uses both the GET and POST methods to transfer data from client to server, but the main difference between the two is that GET adds request parameters in URL strings while POST adds them in message bodies. This makes POST a more secure way of transferring data.

21. Which is more secure get or POST?

Due to the fact that sent data is part of the URL, GET is less secure than POST. Because POST does not keep track of its parameters in the browser history nor in the server logs, it is a little safer than GET.

22. How would you describe a user interface library?

UI component libraries are sets of ready-made UI elements (such as buttons, inputs, dialogs, and so on) that can be used to create simple or complex layouts. These building blocks can be arranged in many different ways to achieve unique effects.

23. What are Web development tools? Could you explain them?

Web development tools allow developers to develop for the Web using a variety of web technologies, including HTML, CSS, DOM, JavaScript, and other components handled by the web browser. The ever-increasing demand for web browsers has led to popular browsers including more features geared toward developers.

24. What are front-end web development tools?

A Front End Web Development Tool is a software application that allows web developers to create attractive website layouts. It accelerates the web development process by providing a drag-and-drop interface and built-in features to build a pleasant website layout.

25. What is the difference between SEO and content writing?

Content writers who will write for SEO (if you are seeking one) are different from those who will write for general audiences without making it spammy, in order to improve your search engine rankings legitimately.

26. Does mobile-friendliness matter for SEO?

Mobile-friendliness matters for search engine optimization (SEO). As a result, websites that are mobile-friendly will outrank non-mobile-friendly sites in mobile search results. Google and Bing both consider mobile-friendliness to be a ranking signal in their search algorithms. Sites that are designed for mobile devices are more likely to outrank those that are not.

27. Why is mobile optimization important for SEO?

Mobile search is a great opportunity for local businesses. People who are looking for a specific business might perform a search query on the go, when they’re physically near the business. These people want to buy, and they’re more likely to make a purchase if they find your website while doing a mobile search.

28. Can you explain to me why is mobile compatibility so important?

As more people use their phones to access the internet, it is crucial for e-commerce stores to have good mobile compatibility. Developing your store can be a lengthy and detailed process, so it’s important to take into account how mobile-friendly a site will be before beginning construction.

29. What is metadata in SEO?

Search engine metadata refers to invisible HTML elements that directly communicate and clarify information on retailers’ websites to search engines, playing a decisive role in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

30. Does metadata improve SEO?

Meta tags are invisible tools that search engines use to determine what your content is about. A well-written meta description makes it easier for search engines to determine what your web page is about and thus helps you rank higher in their results.