How to Test eCommerce Email Designers (Step by Step)

Hiring an email designer shouldn't feel like gambling.

Portfolios look great. Everyone interviews well. But the only way to know if someone can actually do the job is to give them real work.

Here's the exact test task we use. Copy it, add your brand, and run it.

Why This Test Task Works

80% of this test is what your email designer will do daily: design emails that convert, optimize for mobile, and explain their thinking.

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‍It tests what matters:

• Can they design emails that drive action?
• Do they think mobile-first?
• Can they explain decisions clearly?
   

It filters out the wrong people fast.

If someone can't deliver 1-2 email designs in 48 hours, they won't keep up with your email calendar. 

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What to Look For in Submissions

Good signs:

• Offer is clear at first glance
• CTAs stand out and are easy to tap on mobile
• Clean at 360px width with legible fonts
• Smart A/B test ideas (subject lines, hero images, CTA copy)
• Short, specific rationale with examples

Red flags:

• Pretty designs that bury the CTA
• Desktop-only layouts
• Made-up colors that ignore your brand
• Vague explanations like "looks professional"

Want This Done for You?

‍‍Zabota will source candidates, run this test task, and put 2-3 pre-vetted email designers on your calendar in days.

You interview finalists. You own the hire. We carry the risk with a 90-day replacement guarantee.