IDEO Researcher Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 6 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at IDEO.
IDEO
Design Researcher
Mid Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Recruiter call Presentation Onsite
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Presentation
It was a three-stage interview process. The first interview was with two design researchers where they gave me a research scenario and asked me to explain how I would design the research, throwing in some obstacles to see how I'd handle them. Next, I had a conversation about salary with HR. Finally, there was a three-hour marathon session. It started with a presentation of a research plan I had to create the previous week, and then I had to lead a brainstorm on design directions. The remaining two hours consisted of two separate interviews with other members of the research team, directors, and people from other roles in the studio.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- What's a dream project you'd love to do at IDEO?
- How would you approach designing research for a given scenario?
- How would you respond to obstacles introduced in a research scenario?
IDEO
Design Researcher
Senior Difficult Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
It was a 2 round process. Round 1 was a phone screen with an HR person, they were super nice and we had a good chat. They let me know what to expect for the rest of the interview process. Round 2 was a portfolio review via video with 2 people from IDEO. I had very little time to prep for the presentation, only 1-2 days, though they did offer another date it sounded uncertain. This short prep time made the process feel challenging. I didn't make it to round 3 which would have been an in-person interview. I was really impressed with how friendly everyone was, how they only called me with important info, and that they actually gave me feedback on why I wasn't selected. It made me want to work there even more!
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What makes you want to join IDEO?
- Can you describe how your research findings could influence design, especially in cases where the research didn't directly lead to design decisions?
IDEO
User Experience Researcher
Senior Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I sent in my cover letter, resume, and a referral. An internal recruiter reached out for a 30-min video screener, which felt a bit odd since I live close by. We set a time and they told me who I'd be meeting with. I was initially excited to meet one of them based on their work, but they couldn't make it. So, it ended up being just one interviewer. She was in a very echoey, white room, and I could hardly see her. She seemed distracted and unhappy, looking at my CV at first. No small talk, straight into questions. It was hard to connect on a personal level, and I felt thrown off. I could tell it wasn't going well after a few questions. At the end, I asked about fit, and she said no, because I hadn't used the specific techniques she expected. I used similar concepts but not the exact IDEO terms. Maybe it lacked the depth she wanted, but I don't think the gap was that huge. Given my background in design thinking and consulting, I feel we should have had at least another round.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What strategies would you use to encourage a team facing a difficult problem to come up with innovative solutions?
IDEO Researcher Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from IDEO interview reports.
“What would be your approach to designing a baby crib?”
Read reports →“Can you describe how your research findings could influence design, especially in cases where the research didn't directly lead to design decisions?”
Read reports →“Regarding the research plan I presented, how would you incorporate the client and stakeholders into the research process?”
Read reports →“What strategies would you use to encourage a team facing a difficult problem to come up with innovative solutions?”
Read reports →“How would you lead a brainstorm on design directions?”
Read report →“What's a dream project you'd love to do at IDEO?”
Read report →“What was your approach to designing the research plan for the homework?”
Read report →“How would you approach designing research for a given scenario?”
Read report →“Can you tell me about a project where research was a major component?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 6 IDEO interview reports.