Graphic designer and creative interviews test both design thinking and tool skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, Figma, CorelDRAW, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects and Blender. Expect questions on design principles, file formats and print, your portfolio and process, then brand systems, feedback and deadlines for senior roles.
31 questions · Updated
Fundamentals, definitions and simple scenarios. Good for freshers and warm-ups.
Raster images, edited in Photoshop, are made of pixels, so they lose quality when enlarged; they suit photos.
Vector graphics, made in Illustrator or CorelDRAW, are built from mathematical paths, so they scale to any size without losing quality; they suit logos, icons and illustrations.
A logo should always be delivered as a vector (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF) along with PNG exports.
RGB (red, green, blue) is an additive colour model used for screens.
CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is a subtractive model used for printing.
Designs for print should be set up in CMYK from the start, because some bright RGB colours cannot be printed and will look duller.
Brand colours are often also specified in Pantone for consistent printing.
Common principles are hierarchy (guiding the eye to what matters most first), contrast, alignment, balance, proximity (grouping related items), repetition for consistency, and white space.
Typography and colour support these principles.
A good design is not just attractive; it communicates its message clearly to the intended audience.
Photoshop for photo editing, retouching and compositing; Illustrator or CorelDRAW for logos, icons and vector illustration; InDesign for multi-page layouts such as brochures, magazines and books; Figma for UI design and prototypes; Canva for quick social media and marketing designs from templates; Premiere Pro for video editing; After Effects for motion graphics; and Blender for 3D.
Kerning adjusts the space between two specific letters, such as in "AV", so they look evenly spaced, which is especially important in logos and headlines.
Tracking adjusts spacing evenly across a whole word or block of text.
Leading is the vertical space between lines of text.
Good spacing makes text more readable and professional.
Colour theory explains how colours relate and combine.
The colour wheel shows primary, secondary and tertiary colours, and harmonies include complementary (opposite colours for contrast), analogous (neighbouring colours for harmony), triadic and monochromatic schemes.
Colours also carry meaning and emotion, which varies by culture, and enough contrast is needed for readability.
The rule of thirds places key elements along a three-by-three grid, grids keep layouts aligned and consistent, visual hierarchy guides the eye to the most important element first, balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, white space gives room to breathe, and leading lines and contrast direct attention. Strong composition makes a design clear at a glance.
PPI (pixels per inch) describes the resolution of a digital image or screen.
DPI (dots per inch) describes the number of ink dots a printer puts on paper, though the terms are often used interchangeably.
For print, images should be about 300 PPI at the final printed size; for screens, what matters is the pixel dimensions, such as 1080 by 1080 for an Instagram post.
Working files: PSD (Photoshop), AI (Illustrator), INDD (InDesign), CDR (CorelDRAW) and Figma files. Delivery formats: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency, SVG for scalable web graphics and icons, PDF for print and documents, EPS for some printers, GIF and MP4 for animation, and WebP for efficient web images.
Brand guidelines document how a brand should be presented: logo versions, clear space, minimum size and misuse examples, colour palette with codes for print and screen, typography, imagery and illustration style, iconography, tone of voice, and examples of applications such as social posts, stationery and packaging. They keep work consistent across designers and agencies.
Applied problems, trade-offs and questions about your own projects.
I set the document to the final size in CMYK at 300 DPI, add bleed (usually 3 mm) and keep important content inside the safe margin.
I use high-resolution images, convert text to outlines or embed fonts, check that blacks and Pantone colours are set correctly, and export a print-ready PDF (for example PDF/X-1a) with crop marks.
I ask the printer for their specifications and check a proof before the full run.
I start with the brief: the goal, audience, message, deliverables and deadline.
I research the brand, competitors and references, then sketch rough ideas and create a mood board.
I develop two or three concepts digitally, present them with the reasoning behind each, collect feedback, refine the chosen direction and deliver final files in every format needed.
I listen without getting defensive and ask questions to understand the real concern, because "I don't like it" often means something specific, such as the colours not feeling like the brand.
I link my design choices back to the brief and the audience, offer options, and agree clear changes.
Agreeing the number of revision rounds at the start keeps the project under control.
Layers keep each element separate so it can be edited independently.
A layer mask hides parts of a layer non-destructively: black hides and white shows, so you can always restore what was hidden.
Smart objects keep the original image data, so you can resize or filter them without losing quality.
Adjustment layers change colour and tone without altering the pixels.
Together they let you edit without destroying the original.
Grab attention in the first second with a strong visual or hook, keep one clear message with little text, use the brand's look so posts are recognisable, design for each platform's format and safe zones, make text readable on small screens, add a clear call to action, and test variations. Engagement, saves, shares and click-through rates show what works.
Wordmarks use the brand name in distinctive type (such as Google), lettermarks use initials (such as IBM), pictorial marks use a recognisable icon (such as Apple), abstract marks use a unique shape (such as Nike), mascots use a character (such as the Amul girl), emblems put text inside a symbol or badge, and combination marks pair a symbol with text. The choice depends on the brand name, audience and uses.
Packaging must attract attention on a crowded shelf, communicate the brand and product clearly within seconds, and include mandatory information such as ingredients, MRP, net quantity, manufacturer details, FSSAI licence for food, barcodes and recycling information. Designers work with dielines from the printer, consider materials and finishes, and check how the pack looks in 3D and on the shelf.
Use InDesign or a similar layout tool with master pages, a consistent grid, margins and bleed, paragraph and character styles for typography, a clear visual hierarchy, and images placed at the right resolution. Plan the page count in multiples of four for printing, consider the reading flow across spreads, and export a print-ready PDF with crop marks and bleed.
Good motion uses easing so movements accelerate and slow naturally, timing that matches the message and music, anticipation and follow-through, consistent direction and speed, and transitions that connect scenes logically.
Animation should support the message, not distract, and text must stay on screen long enough to read.
Brand-consistent motion builds recognition.
A good brief states the objective, audience, key message, deliverables and sizes, mandatory elements, tone, references, budget and deadline. I clarify anything missing before starting, confirm my understanding back to the client or copywriter, check designs against the brief at each stage, and use it to keep feedback focused on goals rather than personal taste.
Show designs in context with realistic mock-ups, such as a logo on a shopfront or a social post on a phone, explain the thinking behind each concept and how it meets the brief, present a small number of strong options rather than many weak ones, and guide feedback with questions about goals. Following up with a written summary of agreed changes avoids confusion.
System design, deep internals, leadership and tough follow-ups.
I learn the company's values, audience, positioning and competitors through a discovery session.
Then I develop a logo with variations (primary, icon and monochrome), a colour palette, typography, imagery style and tone of voice.
I test the identity on real applications such as social posts, packaging and the website, and document everything in brand guidelines so other designers can apply it consistently.
I list all projects with deadlines, estimate the effort and prioritise by urgency and impact, discussing trade-offs with my manager when everything cannot fit.
I reuse templates, components and asset libraries so I do not start from zero, block focused time for design work and batch revisions.
If a deadline is at risk I say so early rather than delivering rushed work at the last minute.
A focused selection of 6 to 10 of the best projects, chosen for the jobs I want, rather than everything I have made.
Each case study explains the problem, my role, the process and sketches, the final design and the result, ideally with a number such as a higher click-through rate.
It should be easy to browse on Behance, Dribbble or a personal site and show range without losing a clear style.
I organise footage into bins, build a rough cut to the script or music, then refine timing and pacing.
I correct and grade colour with Lumetri, clean audio, add music and subtitles, and keep titles consistent with the brand.
Animated logos, lower thirds and motion graphics are built in After Effects and brought in with Dynamic Link.
I export for each platform's aspect ratio and specifications, such as 9:16 for Reels and 16:9 for YouTube.
Ensure strong colour contrast (at least 4.5:1 for body text), never use colour as the only way to convey information, use readable font sizes and clear typography, keep layouts simple with clear hierarchy, add alt text and captions where digital, avoid flashing animations, and make documents and websites work with screen readers. Accessible design reaches more people and is often legally required.
Options include hourly rates, project-based pricing and value-based pricing, where the price reflects the value to the client's business, such as a brand identity for a funded company.
Consider time, experience, usage rights, revisions, complexity and market rates.
Use written quotes or contracts with scope, revision limits, timelines and payment terms, and take an advance before starting.
Use AI for brainstorming, mood boards, quick variations, background extension and repetitive tasks, but review results carefully for quality, accuracy and odd details, keep the final work original and on brand, respect copyright and client confidentiality (do not upload confidential material to tools without permission), follow client policies, and disclose AI use where required.
Define brand foundations (logo use, colours, typography, grids and imagery), build reusable templates and components for common needs such as social posts, ads, presentations and emails in tools such as Figma and Canva, document rules and examples, organise shared asset libraries, and set a process for requests and updates. It speeds up production and keeps every campaign consistent.
Agree at the start who gives feedback and who makes the final decision, collect feedback in one place with one consolidated set of changes per round, link feedback to the brief and objectives, resolve conflicting comments with the decision maker, limit revision rounds in the agreement, and document approvals before moving to the next stage.
Connect design to business goals and measure results such as click-through and conversion rates for ads and landing pages, engagement and follower growth on social media, sales uplift after packaging changes, brand recognition in surveys, reduced support queries after clearer communication, and time saved through templates. A/B tests show the effect of specific design changes.