Gradient (NY) interview questions

You meet someone from their team and you walk through your resume, work experience and work samples. Unfortunately they seemed like they only want to see real work experience, even for an internship role

The interview was initially respectful and focused on my creative background—there was interest in how my skills could contribute to their team. I appreciated the directness and the space given to speak about my experiences and goals. However, a major red flag came after the interview: I was sent a design prompt that referenced a real brand, aligned with a real event, and asked for vendor-ready files. It didn't feel hypothetical—it felt like unpaid commercial work. While they later claimed it was "fabricated," the use of real assets and real deadlines felt misleading and deeply concerning. I ultimately declined to proceed with the process due to ethical concerns. Creative labor deserves clear boundaries, and unfortunately, this crossed a line.