Evaluating App Design: A Framework for Product Management Interviews

This guide provides a structured framework for evaluating app design using five core principles: Innovation, Understandability, Aesthetics, Honesty, and Utility. This framework is particularly useful for product management interviews, where candidates are often asked to assess an app’s design and its effectiveness.

Selecting a Framework

To effectively assess an app design, we can employ a structured approach that examines each principle separately while considering the app’s overall experience. The pillars of this evaluation are:

• Innovation: Does the app bring new value to the market?
• Understandability: Is the app’s purpose and use clear to the target user?
• Aesthetics: Does the visual design align with the app’s brand and purpose?
• Honesty: Does the app accurately represent its capabilities and benefits?
• Utility: Does the app fulfill a real user need or solve a problem?

Step-by-Step Guide

With our principles laid out, let’s explore each one with questions that guide our analysis and hypothetical examples to illustrate.

1. Innovation

Questions:

• What new value does the app bring to the market?
• Is the app introducing novel features or technologies?

Example:

A new finance app might use AI to provide personalized budgeting advice, which could be seen as innovative in a saturated market.

2. Understandability

Questions:

• Is the app’s purpose and use clear to the target user?
• Are instructions and navigation intuitive?

Example:

If a fitness app uses icons without text, this could confuse users rather than guide them.

3. Aesthetics

Questions:

• Does the visual design align with the app’s brand and purpose?
• Is it visually pleasing?

Example:

An aesthetically pleasing app might use consistent and harmonious color schemes and typography that enhances readability.

4. Honesty

Questions:

• Does the app accurately represent its capabilities and benefits without exaggerating?

Example:

A photo editing app should not claim to perform professional-level retouching if it only offers basic filters.

5. Utility

Questions:

• Does the app fulfill a real user need or solve a problem?

Example:

A useful app might allow users to track their water intake easily, contributing to better hydration habits.

Fact Checks

As a candidate without inside data, use logical approximations. If discussing an app’s innovation, you might reference known technologies and market trends to make educated guesses about its potential impact.

Communication Tips

When presenting your evaluation, start with a brief summary of the app and its intended user base. Then, proceed through the five principles, providing evidence for your assessment. Be sure to speak clearly, with a structured flow, and acknowledge any assumptions you’re making.

Conclusion

Applying the five design principles to evaluate an app requires a structured approach that fairly assesses how well the app meets these essential criteria. Innovation, understandability, aesthetics, honesty, and utility work in concert to create products that users will appreciate and adopt. Remember to practice this framework to sharpen your evaluative skills and communicate effectively in your product management interviews.