Havenly Designer Interview Questions
& Process

Havenly uses a digital case study for their second-tier interviews. It's self-paced within 5 business days of receiving the invite. The case study involves designing a room for a celebrity, including furniture/decor sourcing (within a budget), a styling rationale, a floorplan, and a moodboard. There's also a 30-second software-based explanation of your choices, which is very limited. I was rejected after submitting, with feedback citing my Photoshop board skills and product choices weren't proficient enough. They mentioned a 90-day waiting period before reapplying. I understand my style isn't for everyone. My main gripes are: Havenly doesn't disclose pay upfront; it seems to be mostly commission on their furniture sales, which is misleading and wasted my time. I suspect I was denied partly because I only sourced a few items from their brands. The "client" is vague, lacking usual client preferences or practical use requirements. The 5-day submission window could also be tough during busy periods.

First, we'll chat about you, your experience, skills, and how you communicate. Then, you'll get a study task to complete within 5 business days. Finally, we'll go over terms & conditions and how the company works, including commissions.

This seemed like a great chance to get more client-facing experience beyond a standard 9-5. But, the job posting doesn't match the reality. The project timelines are too tight, even for experienced designers, and the pay is really low. They expect senior-level work for less than minimum wage, which is crazy. The interview itself feels like a scam; they make you do a project for free without giving you all the details about the role or how you'll be paid. It's clear this company is run by people who don't really know the design industry and don't care much about their employees.