The company contacted me directly through a referral.
After a first pleasant call interview directly with they asked for a design challenge to see my design capabilities. It did not just present a design problem with a specific set of requirements, it asked the candidate to design not one but, several solutions for a real project on the company. This was a red flag to me but despite misgivings about how much time it would take, finally, I decided to go through with it and give a try.
It took considerable time just to familiarize myself with the current state of their products that address the needs of users. Once I had identified many interesting, potentially useful opportunities, I produced a complete document exposing my design process. After received, they said that "I was one of the top candidates", and that she will discuss with HR about the position approval (?).
I received a couple weeks later a call from HR asking me general questions. But nothing related to the design challenge, it seemed this person didn't know about me. The disorganized way to proceed with the interview was another red flag.
What I expected next, was the opportunity to sit down with her or other designers, answer questions, listen to their perspectives and discuss ways in which the solution could be improved. In such a meeting we would get a sense of what it would be like to work together.
Instead, after writing several emails to follow up my application without any response, and waiting for 2 months, I recently heard from another contact that they already had hired a designer. They didn't bother to send the classic email telling that "they are not moving forward" after so much work. Disappointing company.