Product design question
Design a computer keyboard.
- Product design
- Easy
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What this question tests
Tests scoped product design for a mature hardware product, requiring the candidate to pick one segment rather than a generic all-purpose keyboard.
How to approach it
- Narrow scope: pick one segment, like remote knowledge workers who switch frequently between a laptop and external monitor setup.
- Identify pain points: cable clutter, inconsistent typing feel across a laptop and external keyboard, and no easy way to switch between multiple connected devices.
- Design a compact wireless keyboard with instant multi-device Bluetooth switching, a consistent low-profile key feel, and a built-in USB-C charging dock that doubles as a laptop stand riser.
- Prioritize multi-device switching first, since that's the most common daily friction for someone working across a laptop and a desktop monitor setup.
- Define success as daily active switching-feature usage and reduced returns due to typing-feel dissatisfaction.
What a strong answer includes
- Picks one real, specific segment, multi-device remote workers, instead of designing a generic keyboard for everyone.
- Names a concrete, testable feature, instant device switching, as the clear top priority with a stated reason.
- Ties success to actual behavior, feature usage, not just sales volume.
Common mistakes
- Designing a generic keyboard with a long feature list and no prioritized segment or top pain point.
- Ignoring typing-feel consistency, a common and real complaint driving keyboard returns.
Likely follow-up questions
- How would you price this against premium competitors like Logitech's MX Keys?
- How would you validate the ergonomic choices before manufacturing at scale?
More product design questions
- Design a TV for a car.Google · Product design · Hard
- Design a refrigerator for the blind.Google · Product design · Hard
- How do you design a camera for the elderly?Google · Product design · Medium
- Redesign Twitter for eCommerce.Shopify · Product design · Hard
- How would you go about designing a new location sharing app for Google?Google · Product design · Medium
- How would you improve Google Home?Google · Product design · Easy
More questions from Google
Learn the skill behind it
Chapters of the AI PM course that teach what this question tests.
- Chapter 4: Discovery and strategy for AI products
- Chapter 7: AI UX and human oversight: design for a system that is wrong sometimes
- Chapter 14: Get the job: the AI PM interview loop