Egor Krasnoperov · July 14, 2025 · 5 min read
Why Your Self-Introduction Matters in a Design Interview
Let's be real. Most designers introduce themselves with basic facts:
"I worked at Company X. I launched a mobile app. I built a design system. I improved retention."
It sounds fine, but it's usually forgettable.
Why?
Because it feels generic. There's no connection between the company's actual pain points and your specific experience. When you hear ten introductions like this in a row, they all start to blend together.
Sometimes, though, a candidate stands out, and it's not always because their portfolio is stronger. Usually, it's because they understand what the company needs right now. That's the secret to a memorable self-introduction in any UX interview.
"I worked at Company X. I launched a mobile app. I built a design system. I improved retention."
It sounds fine, but it's usually forgettable.
Why?
Because it feels generic. There's no connection between the company's actual pain points and your specific experience. When you hear ten introductions like this in a row, they all start to blend together.
Sometimes, though, a candidate stands out, and it's not always because their portfolio is stronger. Usually, it's because they understand what the company needs right now. That's the secret to a memorable self-introduction in any UX interview.
For the past eight years, I've been on the other side of the table as a hiring manager for design roles in both startups and large organizations. Here's something I keep noticing: most designers underestimate the power of a strong self-introduction in UX or product design interviews.
I'll be honest: I struggled with this too. You build great things, master your craft, maybe even lead teams. You might think, "That's enough, right?" But here's what I've learned: how you tell your story matters just as much as what you've accomplished. Your self-introduction is your first impression, and it's often what hiring managers actually remember long after the interviews are over.
I'll be honest: I struggled with this too. You build great things, master your craft, maybe even lead teams. You might think, "That's enough, right?" But here's what I've learned: how you tell your story matters just as much as what you've accomplished. Your self-introduction is your first impression, and it's often what hiring managers actually remember long after the interviews are over.
How to Talk About Your Experience in a Design Interview, So They Remember You
Start With the Company's Pain Points, Not Just Job Requirements
Before any design interview, don't stop at the "requirements" section in the job posting. Look deeper into the business problems described in "What you'll do" or "Your impact."
This is where you'll find valuable clues:
Every phrase like "from scratch," "optimize," or "take to the next level" is a signal. These represent the pain points that matter most to them.
Here's my advice: don't just match your skills to the job description. Identify these pain points and connect them directly to your experience.
This is where you'll find valuable clues:
- "Increase user retention" Their product is losing users, and they need fresh engagement strategies;
- "Create a design system from scratch" They're struggling with consistency and need someone to bring order;
- "Optimize onboarding" Users are dropping off early, and they need to understand why.
Every phrase like "from scratch," "optimize," or "take to the next level" is a signal. These represent the pain points that matter most to them.
Here's my advice: don't just match your skills to the job description. Identify these pain points and connect them directly to your experience.
How to Weave Pain Points Into Your Self-Introduction
The self-introductions that stick with me are always rooted in real company challenges. Great designers take those pain points and craft a short, specific story around them.
You don't need to fabricate anything, just be authentic and focus your introduction on the problems you're best equipped to solve.
For example, if the job posting emphasizes "retention" and "onboarding," and you've improved onboarding flows before, you might say:
"I noticed you're focused on improving user retention and onboarding. In my last project, we were losing users right after sign-up. I redesigned the onboarding flow, conducted user interviews, and tested several approaches. As a result, our Day 1 retention improved by 30%. I'm excited to bring that experience here because I see a similar challenge with your product."
It's simple, concrete, and directly connects your story to what the company actually needs.
You don't need to fabricate anything, just be authentic and focus your introduction on the problems you're best equipped to solve.
For example, if the job posting emphasizes "retention" and "onboarding," and you've improved onboarding flows before, you might say:
"I noticed you're focused on improving user retention and onboarding. In my last project, we were losing users right after sign-up. I redesigned the onboarding flow, conducted user interviews, and tested several approaches. As a result, our Day 1 retention improved by 30%. I'm excited to bring that experience here because I see a similar challenge with your product."
It's simple, concrete, and directly connects your story to what the company actually needs.
Bring Visuals, Even on Zoom
Many designers think talking alone is sufficient, but even a brief slide deck (just five to ten slides) can make a significant difference.
Visuals help you organize your thoughts and make your key achievements memorable. They also give hiring managers a visual anchor for your story. Your slides don't need to be elaborate; screenshots or simple charts work perfectly.
A few tips from my experience:
Sometimes, a quick screen-share is all you need to make your self-introduction more memorable than most video calls.
Visuals help you organize your thoughts and make your key achievements memorable. They also give hiring managers a visual anchor for your story. Your slides don't need to be elaborate; screenshots or simple charts work perfectly.
A few tips from my experience:
- Keep slides clean and minimal (this isn't a full portfolio review);
- Aim for a 3 to 5 minute self-introduction to capture attention without overwhelming;
- Let the conversation flow naturally afterward; the slides simply help your story land effectively.
Sometimes, a quick screen-share is all you need to make your self-introduction more memorable than most video calls.
Honest Advice: You Are More Than a List of Projects
You're not just your resume or a collection of case studies. A strong self-introduction demonstrates your value, your thinking process, and how you solve business problems, not just how well you match a checklist.
Be genuine. Share real stories, including mistakes and lessons learned. Show what drives you and connect your experience to the company's specific needs.
If you take time to reflect and practice, you're already ahead of most candidates.
The best stories are always the ones that connect to real business needs. That's what makes you stand out and stay memorable in design interviews.
Be genuine. Share real stories, including mistakes and lessons learned. Show what drives you and connect your experience to the company's specific needs.
If you take time to reflect and practice, you're already ahead of most candidates.
The best stories are always the ones that connect to real business needs. That's what makes you stand out and stay memorable in design interviews.
Practice Makes All the Difference
Nobody is born a natural storyteller. The best self-introductions I've seen are always practiced, never improvised.
Record yourself and watch it back. Check your timing and ensure your main points come across clearly. Practice with a friend or use tools like AI interview simulators. Platforms like Mockin can be particularly helpful for this. I'm especially fond of focused practice formats that force you to be clear and direct about your design experience.
Record yourself and watch it back. Check your timing and ensure your main points come across clearly. Practice with a friend or use tools like AI interview simulators. Platforms like Mockin can be particularly helpful for this. I'm especially fond of focused practice formats that force you to be clear and direct about your design experience.
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