Recruiters Use Take‑Home Projects Less; Collaborative 'Design Sprints' Replace Them

Tech · 4 min read

Take‑home projects have long been criticized for unpaid labor and lack of context. In 2026, many companies shifted to collaborative design sprints or on‑the‑clock pairing sessions that allow candidates to demonstrate communication, iteration, and collaboration skills in real time.

These sessions shorten hiring timelines and surface how designers work with product and engineering partners. They also reduce the likelihood that candidates spend many unpaid hours on speculative work. Recruiters report higher candidate satisfaction and clearer cultural fit assessments.

If you're interviewing, prepare to engage in a 60–180 minute sprint where process and articulation matter as much as end deliverables. Employers increasingly share sprint prompts in advance and compensate candidates for multi‑hour evaluations.