How to Test Designers

[tomrippity]

My work is hiring dedicated designer for the first time, and as part of the interview process, applicants for all positions are required to take some sort of test. For a developer, it might be creating a form that submit data to a database.

My question: What would be an appropriate test for a designer? There is no "right and wrong" for designers, correct? What can we have them do in a 1 hour time frame to show their competency as a designer, the same way we do for developers?

[spinxwebdesign]

For testing any of the designer, you should have to give some work to them as piratical test as well as before taking a practical test ask them verbally how making that task. If they are experienced people, also ask them to show their portfolios or competed project's link which element will also help to test designers.

[tomrippity]

Our interview for developers includes a test which requires them to setup IIS on a machine, an access database, and a form that submits data to that database.

Has anyone seen something of the same nature for designers? Asking them to do some quick design? Maybe over the course of a couple of hours? Or is that impractical for designers? Should we instead ask them questions about design and leave it at that?

Our problem is that design is so subjective, unlike programming which is so black and white.

[steveschmidt85]

i would say you should ask him to produce some demo for your one website various pages like your website, fb page of website, any other you feel. As i experienced some even though produce good design for one website they can keep variation in that if you ask them to reproduce something different for same version(my personal exp)

[betty]

Instead of giving a test, why not give the designer a trial run? After you've found someone with a good portfolio and good references, hire the designer to do a project (hire, as in pay them). If they are not currently employed elsewhere, hire them to work at your office for a few days or a week on a freelance basis. You'll learn a lot more about each other if the designer is working freelance for you for a week than any "test" would show.

If you must give a test, keep in short (30 minutes), and do it as part of the interview.

[gregdowen]

Instead of giving a test, why not give the designer a trial run? After you've found someone with a good portfolio and good references, hire the designer to do a project (hire, as in pay them). If they are not currently employed elsewhere, hire them to work at your office for a few days or a week on a freelance basis. You'll learn a lot more about each other if the designer is working freelance for you for a week than any "test" would show.

If you must give a test, keep in short (30 minutes), and do it as part of the interview.

I agree with this completely. If someone has a good portfolio, give them a shot. As a designer and developer I have been on the receiving end of this many times, and have had to pass on jobs that require tests.