I’ve interviewed with 15 companies in two months and presented my case studies to all of them. Airtable’s panel was, by far, the rudest and coldest—which genuinely surprised me and reflected poorly on their culture. The interview included 10+ people, including the design director. There was no warm greeting, no enthusiasm, and no attempt to make the environment welcoming. It immediately felt tense and unnecessarily intimidating. I delivered my presentation confidently. Typically, hiring managers express some appreciation or acknowledgment after a 40-minute case study. Instead, the design director’s only response was, “Well, that was a lot…” in a noticeably negative tone. Even if the work didn’t resonate with them, a basic level of professionalism and gratitude is standard. Throughout the Q&A, one panelist repeatedly made unpleasant faces at my responses—something I’ve never experienced in any interview. Regardless of whether they liked an answer, it’s unprofessional to react that way on camera. The worst moment came at the end. I had planned 20 minutes for questions on both sides, but the team used 18 minutes asking me theirs. At that 18 mins mark, the director asked the room if there are anymore questions. When I raised my hand to ask my questions, the design director looked directly at me and said, “I was talking to my team.” It was dismissive and frankly baffling. They ultimately allowed me to ask one rushed question in the final minute, which felt like a formality rather than genuine engagement. They ended the call without thanking me for my time. Out of all the panels I’ve met with—including multiple at FAANG—Airtable’s was the only one that felt cold, discourteous, and uninterested in creating a respectful, two-way conversation. Designers interviewing here should be aware of the culture this interaction reflects.