Fun Questions to Ask Designers

Fun Questions to Ask Designers

Creative and playful questions to explore a designer's process, inspiration, favorite work, and the stories behind their creative decisions.

1

What's a design trend you love, and one you wish would disappear forever?

Invites strong opinions and reveals their taste and aesthetic values.

2

If you could redesign anything in the world, what would it be and why?

Opens space for imagination and shows what they think needs fixing.

3

What's the weirdest design request a client has ever made?

Invites storytelling and bonds over the absurdity of client work.

4

What's your favorite font, and why does it spark joy?

Gets nerdy about typography and reveals their design philosophy.

5

If your design style were a movie genre, what would it be?

Playful analogy that helps them articulate their aesthetic.

6

What's a piece of work you're most proud of that no one ever sees?

Highlights passion projects or hidden gems that didn't make the portfolio.

7

What's the most over-designed thing you've encountered?

Invites critique and shows what they think is excessive or unnecessary.

8

If you weren't a designer, what creative field would you be in?

Explores adjacent passions and how they see their skills translating.

9

What's your go-to creative procrastination activity?

Humanizes the creative process and acknowledges that everyone procrastinates.

10

What's a design decision you made that you'd change if you could go back?

Invites reflection on growth and what they've learned over time.

11

What's the best piece of design advice you've ever received?

Surfaces wisdom and lessons that have shaped their practice.

12

If you could collaborate with any designer, living or dead, who would it be?

Reveals influences and who they admire in the field.

13

What's a color combination that makes you irrationally happy?

Gets specific about aesthetics and what resonates emotionally.

14

What's the most fun project you've ever worked on?

Highlights joy and what kinds of work bring them the most satisfaction.

15

If your design aesthetic were a season, which would it be?

Another playful analogy that helps them describe their style.

16

What's a design tool or software you love, and one you can't stand?

Gets technical and reveals their workflow preferences and frustrations.

17

What's the strangest place you've found inspiration?

Shows that creativity strikes in unexpected moments and places.

18

If you could only use three colors for the rest of your career, what would they be?

Fun constraint that forces them to articulate core palette preferences.

19

What's a design rule you love to break?

Reveals their rebellious streak and where they push boundaries.

20

What's the best compliment you've ever received about your work?

Ends on a positive note and shows what validation means most to them.

Want to learn more?

Talking Design with Designers

How to Engage

Show genuine curiosity about their process, not just the final product.
Ask follow-up questions that dig into the 'why' behind decisions.
Share your own reactions and observations—designers love feedback.
Be respectful of their time and creative energy.

What Not to Say

'Can you make it pop?' without explaining what that means.
'My [relative] does design, so I kind of get it'—no, you don't.
'This should only take you a few minutes, right?'—it won't.
Asking for free work or 'quick favors'—design is labor, not magic.

Learning from Designers

1
Ask to see their design process from concept to final.
2
Request book or resource recommendations to learn more.
3
Attend design talks, exhibitions, or portfolio reviews with them.
4
Follow their work and celebrate their wins publicly.