design visual communicationcolor gradingdavinci resolvemotion graphicspremiere pro
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Portfolio
35% weight
Ask for a reel plus links to full cuts: YouTube long form, brand spots, documentary, social verticals. Check runtimes, view counts, retention data, and what they personally edited versus directed.
Evidence to listen for
Work exists and can be looked at, not just described
States what they made versus what the team or a template made
Shows range rather than one repeated style
Can walk through a piece from brief to final
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No portfolio, or work that is unattributable or clearly templated.
2
Needs Improvement
Thin portfolio; unclear what they personally made.
3
Satisfactory
Real work with adequate range; contribution mostly clear.
4
Very Good
Strong varied portfolio with clear personal ownership.
5
Excellent
Shows finished pieces across formats, names their exact contribution, and cites retention curves or client results tied to specific cuts.
02
Evaluation factor
Craft and rationale
25% weight
Probe editing craft: pacing decisions, J and L cuts, multicam sync, color grading in Resolve, audio sweetening, and proxy workflows for 4K or RAW footage.
Evidence to listen for
Explains why a layout, type choice, or colour decision serves the brief
Knows typography and hierarchy as craft, not decoration
Works to a brand system without either breaking it or hiding behind it
Names the tools they are genuinely fast in
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot explain any decision; work is arbitrary.
2
Needs Improvement
Talks in taste terms only; no link between choice and brief.
3
Satisfactory
Sound craft with some ability to justify decisions.
4
Very Good
Articulate about why each choice serves the brief.
5
Excellent
Explains cut-by-cut reasoning, names node trees or LUT choices, and handles round-tripping between Premiere, After Effects, and Resolve fluently.
03
Evaluation factor
Feedback and iteration
25% weight
Test how they absorb notes: Frame.io comment rounds, client change requests late in the timeline, and how many revision cycles a typical project took.
Evidence to listen for
Takes critique without treating it as an attack
Distinguishes a subjective preference from a real problem, and says so politely
Iterates fast rather than defending version one
Delivers files correctly and on time
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Defensive about critique; will not revise.
2
Needs Improvement
Accepts feedback passively; iterations do not improve the work.
3
Satisfactory
Revises willingly; struggles to push back on weak feedback.
4
Very Good
Iterates quickly and can argue for the work when the feedback is wrong.
5
Excellent
Describes managing versioned cuts, pushing back with evidence on notes that hurt pacing, and closing rounds without rework spirals.
04
Evaluation factor
Working with the brief
15% weight
Look for brief interrogation: platform aspect ratios, runtime caps, brand tone, subtitle and accessibility requirements, and delivery specs like codec, bitrate, and loudness targets.
Evidence to listen for
Asks about audience and goal before opening the design tool
Works with marketing, product, or clients rather than in isolation
Flags an impossible brief early
Hands over files and assets others can actually use
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Designs in isolation; ignores the brief's purpose.
2
Needs Improvement
Starts designing before understanding the goal.
3
Satisfactory
Asks the right questions when prompted.
4
Very Good
Interrogates the brief up front and hands over cleanly.
5
Excellent
Clarifies deliverables upfront, hits LUFS and codec specs without reminders, and adapts a master cut into platform-specific versions independently.
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