Issue #27: Mastering Take-Home Design Challenges (Without Burning Out)

Ever feel like take-home challenges are just unpaid work disguised as a test of your skills?

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You get a vague prompt, a tight deadline, and never clear success criteria.

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And if you're like most designers, your instinct is to over-deliver (it's something in our blood)

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But the truth is, hiring managers like me aren't looking for a perfect product. Rather, we want to undersatnd how you think.

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Want to spend less time on take-homes and impress hiring managers? Here’s how.

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Don’t Start Designing Right Away

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Resist the urge to jump into Figma.

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First, define the challenge's base constraints. Ask yourself:

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• What problem am I solving?
• Who is the user?
• What business outcome might this support?

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Then jot down a few assumptions and how you’d validate them with real users. You don't actually have to do any user testing; rather, you want to show what steps you would take if this were a real project.

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This shows you're thoughtful, not reactive.

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Design Just Enough to Tell the Story

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You don’t need to build a full product. Instead:

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• Prioritize one core flow
• Limit yourself to maximum 5 key screens
• Show the rationale behind your decisions (this is the most important)

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Pro Tip:

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Frame your challenge like a mini case study:

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​Problem → Opportunity → Solution → Impact

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Include a “What I’d Do Next” Section

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This signals that you understand product development doesn’t stop at screens.

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Even if you don’t have time to do more, describe what you’d do with more time:

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• Further usability testing?
• Investigate edge cases?
• Design for scale?

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This shows maturity and helps hiring managers imagine how you would behave in the role.

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Want help structuring your next take-home?

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In my Level^Up On-Demand Course, I walk through real examples and show you how to:

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• Scope and timebox your challenge
• Align with product goals
• Communicate decisions like a pro

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🎥 Want to see how it works?
Here’s a super short preview from the course (skip to 0:08 for audio):

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This approach works. One student landed 3 final-round interviews in a single week after changing her approach to take-homes.

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👉 Explore the on-demand course + claim launch pricing​

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Launch pricing still live:

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• $49 for the first 49 signups (only 35 remaining)
• $99 for the next 99
• Then back to full price ($249)

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Warmly,

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David Campana
​Founder, Level^Up
​Ex-Apple, WeWork, Verizon | Top 1% Mentor on ADPList

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P.S. In the next issue, I’ll share 3 ways to build a standout UX portfolio, even if you’re short on “real” projects.