Unfortunately; I have little knowledge about interview pattern (because I never faced design interviews anytime before), but the following topics/tips might help you face the interview; especially meant for M.Des. These are some tips that I gave as reply to comments by Nainika and Vaibhavi in Preferred Institutions for M.Des post as well as a request from my friend Gunjan Sobhani. Thanks to them - for initiating and making me write this post. Hope this will help you all; at least to an extent.
Interview Tips
Passion for Design
First of all you should be in a position to clearly communicate/explain your passion towards design. Yes, it's true that interview panel firstly check your interest for that stream or overall design. So, its advisable to make a detailed/clear list of the following :
- Your interest rate
- Why you are opting design as career ?
- Is that suited for you ? (by explaining your previous design works)
- As a designer, What you can contribute ?
- Any of your future plans
- Why did you choose that specific design stream/institute
Make a detailed list of the above topics and write in a paper. Revise the same many times, preferably in front of a mirror; in order to boost your confidence as well as for firm speech.
Portfolio
Major part of the interview questions were expected from your own portfolio. So, it's better if you prepare well on "HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR PORTFOLIO" prepare a list of things to be covered in your explanation and revise the same many times. Anyway; your portfolio itself should explain everything about you and your talent ! Make the following check list -
- Design/Concept to be explained - what is your concept ?, how it works ? and what is the need for that ?
- Features of your concept - what all can your proposed design do ?
- Uniqueness of your concept - Any separate identity ?
- How it acts as an alternative to the present design (if any) - by comparing and bringing any difference with similar product
- Preferred Materials and process employed (if possible to make it better)
Prepare your portfolio
- Self explainable
- visible and clear
- Design - eye catching layout and ease of accessibility
Design Ability
- Next; they may check your design ability, so like you prepared for CEED, please do the same preparation (an overview) of the topics. I also expect some General awareness questions. I even heard that they will ask some simple aptitude questions
- They may give a design question (or) creative exercise (or) any story writing , so be prepared for it.
- You are also advised to get prepared for some hands-on exercises.
Communication
Nothing much to discuss about it. Everyone knows how important communication is during an interview. Let me tell you one thing - frankly, while I was in final year B.Tech, I got rejected twice during campus placements (in-spite of being one among the toppers of our university !), the reason is obvious, I was good at technical knowledge but poor at explaining the same in front of someone. Seems like, many people face the same issue. Well, communication doesn't mean speaking fluently but it mean how we express our thoughts/ideas.
Your views/ideas should be easily understandable by the other speaker (interviewer in this case). The above exercise 'stand in front of a mirror and practice answering/explaining to self'' is an important tool for improving communication skills very quickly (for people like me) as well as to boost your confidence level. Make the habit of 'being friendly while at interview', feel like they are your friends or colleagues to erase your inner fear.
General behavior
Other than the above, please prepare just like you prepare for any other interviews (software and core company interviews) like explanation about yourself, your passions/interests, aims, strengths and so on.
Finally I would like you to make an overview of
- Color patterns, know about famous designs and designers
- Sketching (esp. making of strips, stick figures)
- Short and quick story making as well as writing
- A list of things to be explained
- Practicing in front of a mirror (i'm repeating this again and again to make you aware of its importance)
These are just my views. Hope this helps at least a bit, that's why I shared here.
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