The interview process began smoothly. I received a quick response after applying and was invited to an interview. After that, I was moved to the next stage and asked to complete a design task. The task was presented as a one-page brief with very minimal detail. It required a significant amount of independent reasoning just to define the problem and scope. The brief mentioned that the focus should be on decision making rather than visual polish, and since it was meant to be a short task taking only a few hours, I prioritised clarity and structure over perfection. Even without a fully developed visual output, I completed and submitted a full solution based on the information provided. I didn’t receive any specific feedback on the work. Later, they replied saying they had decided to shift focus and were now looking for someone more UX/UI oriented. Since both the interview and the task were framed entirely around the Creative Designer role, there wasn’t really any opportunity to demonstrate UX skills. It felt like they didn’t realise UX can’t really be judged in isolation, especially not through a vague one-off task with no surrounding context. Polished UI work also takes time, iteration and feedback. It isn’t something that can be realistically evaluated through a one-day exercise. I fully understand that not every application results in an offer, and hiring priorities can change. However, when candidates are asked to complete a task that involves strategic thinking and time, especially without pay or proper context, it seems reasonable to expect either feedback or at least a process that clearly aligns with the skills being assessed. Otherwise, the task risks becoming a form of unpaid labour that brings limited value to either the candidate or the company.