What is a Whiteboard Challenge?
A whiteboard challenge is a structured design exercise where you tackle a real-world design problem with specific constraints. Unlike traditional portfolio projects, whiteboard challenges mimic the problem-solving process you'll encounter in actual design roles and job interviews.
Key Characteristics
Whiteboard challenges are typically:
- Time-boxed: Usually completed in 20-60 minutes, creating realistic pressure similar to interviews
- Specific but open-ended: Clear enough to understand the scope, but flexible enough to demonstrate your thinking
- Context-rich: Include details about the user, business, and constraints to guide your approach
- Evaluative: Focused on your process, communication, and problem-solving approach, not just the final design
Why They Matter
Whiteboard challenges are an effective way to:
- Demonstrate your design thinking process
- Show how you handle ambiguity and make decisions under pressure
- Practice articulating your design reasoning
- Develop confidence in real-world design scenarios
- Build skills that transfer across different design domains
The Three Core Aspects
1. Understanding the Problem
Before jumping to solutions, successful designers spend time understanding the problem space. This includes asking clarifying questions, identifying constraints, and defining the actual user need.
2. Developing Your Approach
With a clear understanding of the problem, you can develop a thoughtful approach. This might involve sketching, wireframing, or discussing your mental model of the solution.
3. Communicating Your Thinking
Perhaps the most important aspect is being able to articulate your reasoning. Interviewers care as much about how you think as they do about what you produce.
Getting Started
Whether you're preparing for interviews, training as a team, or looking to improve your design skills, whiteboard challenges provide a structured way to practice. Use Whiteboard Dojo to explore diverse challenges and refine your approach across different domains and difficulty levels.