Before sketching a single wireframe, clarify the business context and goals. Who is the target user? What is the specific problem? Instead of making assumptions, ask clarifying questions out loud (even in a solo practice session) to narrow the scope. This is the foundation of the CIRCLES method.
Visualize the solution through user flows, wireframes, or task lists.
Ask about the business goal (e.g., engagement, retention, revenue).
Focus on the shift toward autonomous vehicles and smart cities. Clarify if the meter interacts with human drivers or self-driving car operating systems. Suggest a zero-UI approach where the car automatically negotiates payment with the city infrastructure via blockchain or digital wallets, eliminating physical kiosks entirely.
Finding an open spot takes too long; paying at a physical meter is inconvenient in bad weather; tracking remaining time causes anxiety. Before sketching a single wireframe, clarify the business
List the specific frustrations the user faces in their current journey. R - Recommend Solutions
The physical toll of sitting all day creates a low-energy loop, making activation energy for a workout incredibly high. Step 4: Ideate Solutions
This tests your ability to optimize an existing product flow and reduce user churn.
Peer-to-peer marketplace model, focus on physical item exchange. User Segmentation & Pain Points Instead of making assumptions, ask clarifying questions out
You will often generate more ideas than you can execute. Use a simple **Impact vs. Effort matrix**. Which feature will solve the biggest pain point with the least development time? This step is crucial for showing product sense and resource management.
A connected smart-desk accessory that transforms active work tasks into kinetic energy tracking, syncing with an immersive home gym portal. Step 5: Prioritization & Deep Dive
Generate 3–5 distinct feature ideas that directly solve the prioritized pain point.
Product design exercises—often called "design challenges" or "whiteboarding sessions"—are a critical component of hiring processes for product designers, UX designers, and product managers at top tech companies. Ask about the business goal (e
Landing a role as a product designer requires passing the product design exercise. This interview stage evaluates your critical thinking, user empathy, and problem-solving skills under time constraints.
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Map out the current user journey and identify where the friction lies. What frustrates the user today? Where do they abandon the current workflow? Why haven't existing market solutions solved this problem? 4. Ideate Innovative Solutions