I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Utopia Design
Interview
Be very aware of Utopia Design. I applied with a stated base salary that they initially said they could cover. I completed two highly detailed test projects during the application process. In the end, they offered a compensation structure below my stated ask and presented it in a way that was not fully clear from the beginning. When I suggested a workable freelance arrangement, they ended the process immediately rather than discussing scope or scope-hours alignment. Based on my experience, I would advise candidates to clarify compensation, contract terms, and workload in writing before investing significant time. Public reporting links Utopia Design to Nik Storonsky’s family-office-backed luxury travel venture, which is another reason I expected greater clarity and professionalism in the hiring process.
I applied through a staffing agency. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Utopia Design (Berlin) in Mar 2026
Interview
The hiring process is quite long: HR screening, a technical interview with scenario-based questions, a cost case, and a final interview. Up until the last stage, everything was fairly standard. However, the final interview completely changed my perception.
I found genuinely difficult to understand the questions because of the accent. When I politely mentioned that I was having trouble following, instead of trying to clarify or adjust, the call was ended with no explanation and in a violent way. So weird behavior in a professional environment.
Overall, the experience left a negative impression.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Utopia Design (Porto, Oporto) in Jan 2026
Interview
The interview with HR lasted 30 minutes, and everything went well. The second stage was an interview with a technical specialist, with standard questions about the logic of decision-making in design. However, the interviewer had a very strong accent; I couldn't fully understand him and couldn't communicate normally. The second interview ended because I failed it. If I had, there would have been another test.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Imagine the client has drastically changed the initial data, and the deadline is approaching. What will you do?
