Product Design Intern - job 2 of 2

As a Product Design Intern at Addepar, you will collaborate with product managers, engineers, and designers throughout the entire design process. You will conduct user research using both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand user needs, simplify complex problems, and provide high-quality design results. You'll also advocate for user-centered design principles and work with the User Interface team to align your designs with our global access standards.

To qualify for the Product Design Intern position at Addepar, you must be currently enrolled in a university in the US or Canada and plan to return to school after the internship. A background in human-centered design or a related field is essential, and experience using Figma is preferred. Candidates should also showcase a portfolio that demonstrates their user research practices and user-centered designs.

As a Product Design Intern at Addepar, you will engage in projects that focus on crafting intuitive digital experiences for wealth managers. These projects will give you the opportunity to contribute to user research, design processes, and to actively participate in the presentation of your final results to cross-functional teams, providing valuable insights into real-world product design.

Addepar's internship program is designed to foster professional growth through mentorship, structured onboarding, and hands-on experience. Interns receive guidance from dedicated managers and have the chance to participate in engaging company events and activities. You'll also gain practical skills during your twelve-week internship, culminating in a final presentation to showcase your work.

The pay range for the Product Design Intern position at Addepar varies based on location, skills, and experience. For this role, the current range is USD $31 - $48 per hour, with further details about specific salary ranges shared by recruiters during the hiring process. Keep in mind that this reflects base pay and does not include bonuses, equity, or other benefits.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you prioritized user needs in your design process. Discuss your approaches to research, usability testing, and how these experiences inform your design decisions, demonstrating your understanding of human-centered design principles.

Share your strategies for effective collaboration, such as open communication, seeking feedback, and valuing diverse opinions. Provide examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams to successfully deliver a project and ensure all voices are heard during the design process.

Mention your experience with design tools, particularly Figma, and provide examples of how you utilized these tools to create user-friendly designs. Discuss specific projects where your proficiency in these tools helped overcome challenges.

Explain your methodology for gathering and analyzing user feedback, such as surveys or usability testing. Highlight how you translate that feedback into actionable design changes and emphasize the importance of iteration in achieving a successful user experience.

Discuss your experience with design systems and how they help maintain consistency and coherence across products. Emphasize their role in improving efficiency and collaboration within teams, leading to an enhanced user experience.

Share a case study of a project where you faced a complex design challenge. Discuss your problem-solving approach, the steps you took to simplify the design, and the positive impact your solution had on users.

Articulate the importance of empathy in understanding user needs and creating relatable designs. Provide examples of how empathy influenced your design decisions and improved user satisfaction in your projects.

Discuss the various resources you rely on, such as design blogs, workshops, events, or online courses, to keep your skills sharp and to inspire your work. Mention any communities or networks you engage with to exchange ideas and knowledge.

Be specific about a challenge you faced, whether it was related to technical limitations, feedback from stakeholders, or user testing. Explain your approach to addressing the challenge and the successful outcome that resulted from your efforts.

Express your enthusiasm for the internship by discussing Addepar's mission, values, and culture. Connect your academic background, design philosophy, and career aspirations to how this internship aligns with your goals and what you hope to achieve during your time at Addepar.