How to approach a white board exercise
Whiteboard exercises are a common and valuable component of design interviews and collaborative work sessions. Whether you’re a job applicant showcasing your skills or a team member collaborating on a project, mastering the whiteboard is essential for conveying ideas effectively and problem-solving collaboratively. Here are some strategies to approach a whiteboard exercise with confidence.
1. Understand the Problem
Begin by fully understanding the problem or task presented. Ask clarifying questions to gather all necessary information, identify key objectives, constraints, and requirements. Take notes on the whiteboard to organize your thoughts and visualize the problem space.
Some common questions I ask during this phase include:
What stage is the product in?
What are the constraints?
Who are the users?
What are the current solutions/ways in which it is being currently solved ?
2. Plan Your Approach
Outline a structure for tackling the problem. Break down complex tasks into manageable steps. This is a short but crucial step and I start this by creating areas on the white board for each step.
Some common sections include:
Context, Personas, Problem Statement, Key Features, User Scenarios/Flows, Wireframes
3. Communicate the Process
Clearly articulate your thought process, rationale behind design decisions, and assumptions to the audience. Use labels, annotations, and arrows on the whiteboard to explain concepts, user flows, and interactions effectively.
4. Wireframing
Use the whiteboard to sketch the low-fidility wireframes to visualize your solutions. Communicate as you go trough it and don’t forget to explore multiple possibilities.
5. Iterate and Refine
Be open to feedback and iterations during the exercise. Use the whiteboard as a dynamic tool for refining and improving your ideas based on input from the interviewers or new insights that emerge during the process.
Here are some additional points to keep in mind throughout the white boarding process:
1. Manage Time Effectively: Keep track of time and allocate sufficient time for each phase of the exercise.
2. Collaboration and Brainstorm: If the exercise involves a group or team, use the whiteboard as a collaborative space for collective problem-solving and ideation.
3. Active Listening: During the sessions, practice active listening by attentively considering others’ viewpoints, asking clarifying questions, and incorporating constructive feedback.
4. Reflect and Learn: Take time to reflect on your performance, strengths, areas for improvement, and lessons learned. Seek feedback whenever possible to gain insights and refine your approach for future exercises.
Conclusion
By following these strategies and approaching whiteboard exercises with preparation, clarity, collaboration, and a growth mindset, you can effectively showcase your design skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication prowess in interviews and collaborative settings. Embrace the whiteboard as a powerful tool for visual thinking, ideation, and collaborative problem-solving, and leverage it to demonstrate your expertise and creativity in design exercises.
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