What is an example of a poorly designed product? Why and how would you improve it?

This question is assessing your understanding of product design, user experience, and your problem-solving skills. It wants you to provide an example of a product you believe has been poorly designed and discuss the reasons why you think it is poorly designed. Also, you are expected to propose ways to improve this product that could make it better or resolve its issues.

To answer this question effectively, consider the following points:

1. Choose a product that is widely known. This will help the interviewer understand your example better.
2. Detail out what makes the product a poorly designed one. It could be issues with usability, user experience, aesthetics or functional performance.
3. Suggest feasible improvements. Use your knowledge and skills in product design to propose changes that can address the problems you highlighted.
4. Try to have an empathetic approach towards users while answering this. User-centered design is crucial in product design.

A poorly designed product that comes to mind is the standard QWERTY keyboard. While it is widely accepted and used, the product was originally designed to slow down users, to prevent mechanical typewriters from jamming up. In our modern world with digital applications, this is no longer a concern, yet we still use a layout designed for the constraints of the 1870s.

To improve this design, a more efficient keyboard layout could be implemented, such as the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard. This keyboard layout places all the vowels and the most commonly used consonants under the strongest fingers, and also places the most commonly used keys on the 'home' row where the fingers naturally rest, resulting in faster typing speed and less strain to the fingers.

An example of a poorly designed product is the TV remote control, especially ones with an abundance of buttons. Many people find these difficult to use as there are too many options, most of which are seldom used. Also, the buttons are usually small with tiny labels which are hard to read particularly for elderly users or those with impaired vision.

To improve this, a new remote control could be designed with fewer, larger buttons. Frequent commands like volume and channel selection would be prioritized while less frequently used commands could be integrated into an on-screen menu. Furthermore, using different shapes and colors for different types of buttons can provide guidance to users, improving their user experience. For elderly users, voice activation or touch screen technology could be considered to simplify usage further.