As a UX team manager and recruiter, I will be reviewing a Google Certification Course case study from Kevin, a self-taught UX designer based in Illinois. He decided to enroll in the Google UX Design Certificate Program in hopes of enhancing the limited amount of UX knowledge he already had. He studied Creative Technologies, which is an interdisciplinary major that covers several topics such as motion graphics, interactivity, and web design.
I will approach the UX portfolio the same way we normally do when hiring for a entry level designer.
Let’s get into it.
In conclusion
The Google Course definitely seems to give students a good basic UX education framework to help them build a portfolio. This case study was decent but incomplete which introduces doubt in a recruiter’s mind. There are certain sections that needed more information and some that did not make sense.
Takeaways:
Have descriptive project headings so that recruiters know which one may be relevant to them.
Always have a good summary of the problem, designer project role, project type, and when the project was done.
For any UX method used, detail why the method was picked, what the deliverables were, and how this influenced the next steps.
Show iterations, sketches, wireframes alongside sitemaps and user flows.
Detail how testing is conducted, how the feedback was incorporated and if the final design was retested
Today, I will visually take you through how recruiters evaluate a portfolio case study. This a portfolio review of Bre Huang’s internship case study titled Uber Scooters Platform. I chose this case study because despite being an entry level project, it is presented really well. Bre is a product designer, illustrator, and animator based in San Francisco and working at Uber Design.
Let dive in.
Conclusion: I would bring in Bre for a design interview. From this case study alone, Bre Huang’s strengths lie in the graphical and user interface side of things. And that’s not a bad thing as their passion visibly lie there. Despite having done usability testing there was no section dedicated to it nor the iteration based on user feedback. There is a lot more focus on icons and illustrations. A UI role would definitely be better suited but they may be trying to move in UX so I would not mark the application down based on that..
Key takeaways: – Have a good summary for recruiters who do not have much time – Avoid text heavy sections. They will not be read fully. – Show sketches, photos, rough wireframes if you have them – Present screens in a coherent manner through use numbers, annotations, and use of arrows – Include relevant projects in the portfolio for recruiters to make an informed decision
The short answer is no. You are never too old to make a career change. The real issue has nothing to do with age. It’s a self-esteem issue rooted in lack of belief that you could successfully transition from a role in which you have invested so much, to start on one that is completely new. In this article, we will explore how to overcome several limiting beliefs that are stopping you from embarking on an exciting career change. In addition, I will share inspiring testimonials and advice from designers who have started their journeys after the age of 30.
But first, let’s begin with the most common limiting beliefs.
I am too old to become a UX designer
You are not hired based on age but on your ability to solve problems and bring value to an organization. The design market (recruiters and employers included) responds primarily to your creative skills (hence the need for a strong portfolio of work) and your soft skills. While ageism can be a factor in some industries, many design companies actively work to address age bias legally and create more inclusive work environments. Other more critical hiring factors like personality, values, and talent will prevent you from being hired.
I am inexperiencedand not good enough
You might be at an advantage compared to new graduates applying to the same role as you are technically not starting from zero. You may have already acquired valuable skills in your previous roles like project management, teamwork, and client communication. Individuals with job maturity, diverse perspectives, and experiences are always sought after. As a design lead, I intentionally build diverse teams so that we can generate a larger pool of ideas from our different backgrounds.
Was doing your degree a waste of time? UX-related degrees you might already have
Completing a degree can be so hard. It’s been years of blood, sweat and tears in trying to finish your degree. Towards the end, you may have had a quarter mid-life crisis along with a few mental breakdowns since you never really had a passion for that degree. Having heard about UX design, it may … Continue reading
Having related degrees and working in related fields also can work out in your favor. People with backgrounds in fields like architecture, graphic design, web development, psychology, or marketing may find it easier to transition. The research or design process in these fields usually overlap making easier to adjust to a new field like UX. I personally had worked as a software developer, graphic designer, teacher and website developer before specializing in UX design. I have found that I frequently draw from these past roles in my current job. All your experiences matter.
Pro tip: Having related degrees and working in related fields also can work out in your favor. People with backgrounds in fields like architecture, graphic design, web development, psychology, or marketing may actually find it easier to transition.
I am too scared to fail
In life, you do not succeed at everything you do. So why are we scared of failing if we constantly encounter failure in life? Even kids know that is normal to fail at something new and unperturbed they try again until they get it. As adults, we care way too much about what people think about us when we fail and also when we succeed. We need to redefine failure as a stepping stone to success. There is no need to fear failure as it helps you grow and allows you to get closer to your goals.
I don’t know how to design
You do not necessarily need to know how to design. The UX field encompasses various roles, each with specific responsibilities and areas of focus. UX Designers tend to focus on the overall experience users have when interacting with a product. They conduct user research, create personas, design wireframes and prototypes, and test designs to ensure they meet user needs. UX Researchers gather and analyze data about users and their needs. They use various methods such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, and field studies to inform the design process.
UX Strategists develop long-term strategies to enhance user experience. They align UX goals with business objectives, ensuring that design decisions contribute to the overall success of the product. UX Engineers bridge the gap between design and development. They translate design concepts into interactive, front-end code, ensuring that the final product aligns with the design vision.
UX copywriter specializes in crafting words for user interfaces to guide and enhance the user experience. They focus on making interfaces clear, concise, and easy to understand, ensuring users can accomplish tasks efficiently. Essentially, they write the text that appears on screens, buttons, and other interface elements to facilitate seamless interaction with a product or service
UX Role
What they mainly do
UX Designer
Focus on the overall experience users have when interacting with a product
UX Researcher
Gather and analyze data about users and their needs
UX Strategists
Develop long-term strategies to enhance user experience
UX Engineers
Translate design concepts into interactive front-end code.
UX Copywriter
Focus on making interfaces clear, concise, and easy to understand, ensuring users can accomplish tasks efficiently
UX Analyst
Analyze user behavior, conduct user testing, and collaborate with designers and developers to make recommendations on how to create a more intuitive and efficient user experience.
You need to look at your past experiences, passion, and skills to evaluate which role you would feel most comfortable transitioning to.
I am too late to join UX
The demand for skilled UX designers is still high, and this trend is likely to continue in the future as new technologies and interfaces emerge. There are always going to be badly designed experiences that need improving. Companies across various industries are recognizing the importance of good design in creating user-friendly products and services, which creates opportunities for individuals looking to enter this field.
I am not sure if UX is right for me
You can evaluate if UX is right for you before you fully invest time in expensive courses and job searching. Carefully evaluate why you want to change careers. Is it out of desperation or do you have a genuine interest in UX work? How can you find this out? Learn about what a UX designer does on a day-to-day basis.
Pro tip: Reach out to two or three UX designer for a chat about what they do, what they love about their job, and what they do not like about their job. Is it what you see yourself doing day in and day out for the next couple of years?
Try to do a practice project to get a feel for the on-the-job mechanics of tackling design problems. And if you are still unsure, I have a list of the most common traits that successful UX designers have that you can measure yourself against. Take a short course in UX to upskill yourself. What these exercises should expose is whether you have the right passion to not only do the job but to be really good at it.
Looking to break into UX? Top 8 UX Design courses UX pros wish they had taken
Transitioning into the UX design industry from a different field can seem like a daunting task considering the amount of varied information one finds on the Internet. What should you know, what should you be able to do and should you go back to school to start a new degree/course? Obviously, getting some training is … Continue reading
What Senior Designers have to say
Here are a couple of quotes from Senior designers who have started late in their career and employers who have hired older designers coming from a different field.
“Just last week, one of my graduates turned 40 and landed a 6-figure job. That’s 4 weeks after graduating from a part-time course, in the middle of a global pandemic. And he isn’t the only one. I had many students over the age of 40, some over 50, and they are all happily employed ad UX or Product designers (or managers). Age won’t stop you from getting a great career in UX. If you love it, if you really “get it”, you’ll be fine :)” – Vera, UX & Product Design Lead
“I was 35 when I got my first UX position. Granted, I went back to school when I was 32.
Going back to school in my 30’s was… punishing. I couldn’t pull all-nighters at the drop of a hat anymore. Not just because my body didn’t want to, but because I had other demands on my time that meant I couldn’t just sleep it off a couple days later. If I stayed up late studying, that meant lost sleep— because the kids were going to make enough noise to wake me up at 6am regardless of whether they meant to or not. Attending mid-day study groups was impossible— I had work to do, and it needed my prime thinking-time.
The stresses on my marriage were pretty intense— our budget was severely cut back when I went back for my engineering degrees, and my wife had to not only pick up the slack around the house, but work around the reduced income. All the while, she felt like she couldn’t bother me because I needed to focus on work and studying. It hurt her that even when we got away to the beach for a weekend, I sat on my laptop working on research and assignments.
Don’t misunderstand— it has turned out to be well worth it. We knew it would be hard going into those 3 years, but weighed the cost and committed to it. However, it was orders of magnitude more difficult than if we hadn’t had kids or even if I had been single.
Now, it’s sometimes hard to get positions because I’m older than people with similar levels of experience. I’ve been fortunate enough that I found places where I played my previous career and experiences into things they found valuable, but my offer rate is substantially lower than it would be if I were younger. I cost more because I’m older and have a family. (I’m worth more, too, but it takes more effort to convince employers of that).
If you want to do it, then go for it. You can do it. Just realize that it’s going to be harder for you to get momentum than someone ten years younger than you that is competing for the same position. Just remember:
YOU choose who you want to be.“ – Don Church, UX Designer
“No, it’s definitely not too late.”No, it’s definitely not too late. In my agency, the design team consists of professionals of different ages, which is great. We regularly receive resumes from guys aged 30+ who are at the start of a career.” – Vladislav, Founder & CEO
“Hell yes. Your life experience and maturity is something that will set you apart from the “pack.” As long as you’re open minded, lead with inquiry, question everything, and are not an asshole, the world of UI design is your oyster. Don’t let those 20 somethings with their flashy portfolios get you down… they haven’t seen half the world you have ;)” – Joe Preston, Vice President of Design at Intuit
“I started a career in UX in my mid 30s, after working as a piano teacher for 15 years. I had very little experience and no training in anything design related, but I don’t feel my age has held me back (albeit it I did have to hustle for a good couple of years before finding any success).” – Luke Razzle, Designer
“I’m well over 40 and work as a UX designer – but then I don’t consider myself working in ‘tech’ or IT or anything technical. Sure I architect and design websites and apps but I view it as problem solving, about building the right thing. This allows the real techies to build things right. I tend to work client side and find it not an issue being my age – although I don’t quite look my years. The biggest thing I find is the expectation to manage, which I can do, but rather be doing as that’s what I’ve been focused on since 1995.
The thing that will hold you back is your lack of experience. UX design is a deep subject that goes in many different directions. Past experience is vital as boot camps and course like General Assembly tend to get things only half right most of the time. They also believe too much of the hype around lean and agile without providing why it’s only part of the story and often is only really suited for young fizzy startups. In summary – the age is not a problem, your previous experience may well be. If you’ve been a designer or a developers you’ll have many old habits to unlearn, for example.” – Stewart Dean, London based UXer
In conclusion
To round off this article there are a few thoughts I want to leave you with. Commit to taking action towards transitioning to UX and intentionally sharing it with others for them to hold you accountable. It’s very easy to procrastinate and get overwhelmed with all the articles leading to you feeling despondent and discouraged. Secondly, dedicate time to your current schedule to gain progress toward achieving your goal. Create a timetable on your calendar of when you will be studying, upskilling, and networking. If you are married communicate your dream with your partner and map out a plan that works for your family. Have a deadline for your milestones.
And lastly, pay the cost. This might mean investing a vast amount of time and resources into your journey and in some cases, you may need to take an expensive course or pay for design software. Have the end goal in mind.
It’s never too late to pursue a new career path that excites you and aligns with your interests and skills. If UX design is something you’re passionate about, don’t let your age hold you back. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow in this field!
If you are already a UX designer let us know at what age you started.
What to do next?
A great place to start is to quickly evaluate if UX design would really be a good fit for you by reading this article:
Is UX design a good fit for you? 8 personality traits you must have.
People who succeed in a UX design role have two things in common. Firstly, they enjoy what they do. Secondly, their personality fits the work they do daily. Too many articles on how to get started in UX design, dive straight into the courses that must be taken and the skills that must be acquired. … Continue reading
Today’s design brief is a redesign of an existing platform namely Spotify’s music app.
This is the seventh design brief or practice project for UI and UX designers looking to build a portfolio of credible work. Each detailed client brief is time-boxed, detailed, and crafted realistically enough to give you a hands-on experience of doing a real project. The design brief is meant to help you create realistic work you can add to your portfolio and test if design really is for you.
Designing an app is unique in that there are particular guidelines and best practices already outlined for Android and IOS that are different in some way to web patterns. This challenges the designer to be able to understand how platform constraints affect design.
As is usually the case, I have included the following with each design brief:
Timeline(For this to be realistic each brief has a timeline that is as close to real-world work as possible)
Objectives(What is REQUIRED by the client. This part usually trips designers up as they go off designing what is not required)
Platform(Where your designs will live. Understanding these platforms will give a well-considered solution)
Target audience (Users always come first and the design must accommodate the target audience’s pain points)
References(If you are not sure where to start, clients normally give a set of examples or references they like. The closer the design solution is to the references, the fewer revisions a designer will have to do)
Deliverables(Most importantly how the solution should be delivered. These represent what a well-detailed portfolio case study looks like so hit it out of the park)
Recruiter advice(Portfolio advice from creative directors, CEOs and leading design creatives from the biggest companies)
This will help you build your case study much faster as the project objectives and such are provided.
Let’s begin
Client:Spotify
Timeline 1–2 weeks. The project is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Objectives
Our goal is to redesign the Spotify music app to provide a richer and more personalized music streaming experience for users. The app should allow users to onboard, discover new music, create playlists, and easily access their favorite songs. “By 2026, the music streaming market is projected to reach $76.9 billion globally.” – Allied Market Research.berg
Success Metrics to Consider:
User engagement metrics, such as the number of songs listened to and playlists created User signups and ratings Conversion rate for concert ticket purchases through the app Number of app downloads and active users
Target audience
Marcus Lee, 35 | Musician NEEDS Likes to create and share his own music with others. He wants a platform that allows him to easily collaborate with other artists, share his work, and get feedback from the community. Finds it challenging to get his music noticed in the crowded music industry and struggles to find a platform that caters specifically to independent artists like him.
Sophia Patel, 23 | Music Enthusiast NEEDS Enjoys discovering new artists and attending live concerts. She also likes to create playlists for different moods and occasions. Finds it frustrating when she cannot easily find new music recommendations or when she has to switch between multiple apps to listen to different genres.
Sandra Jenkins, 28 | Fitness Enthusiast NEEDS
Enjoys working out and needs music to keep her motivated during her exercise routine. She wants a platform that allows her to easily create workout playlists and discover new music that fits her workout style. Finds it frustrating when the music app doesn’t provide enough variety in workout music or when the app doesn’t have features that help her track her fitness goals.
Requirements
Please test our existing app with users to understand how the current functionality could be improved. Address their biggest pain point.
User-friendly interface that allows for easy navigation
Ability to personalize music recommendations based on user preferences
Option to create and save playlists
Feature for offline listening as a stronger offering
Integration with social media platforms for easy sharing
Ability to purchase concert tickets through the app
Platform
The app should be compatible with either iOS or Android devices. Pay attention to IOS and Android guidelines.
References that our company would like the app to follow in terms of structure and layout. It will be your job to replicate something close to these examples but add your creative flair to it.
Youtube Music Apple Music Pandora
Deliverables
• Onboarding screens – These screens will introduce the app to new users and explain how to use it. They might include a welcome message, an explanation of the app’s features, and instructions on how to create an account. • Homepage – displays recommended music based on user preferences, popular playlists, and trending songs. • Search – allows users to search for songs, artists, and playlists. • Playlist – allows users to create and save their own playlists. • Player – displays the current song playing, lyrics, and options for sharing or adding to a playlist. • Settings – allows users to personalize their music preferences, including genre and artist preferences.
Testing and Results section
Show your wireframes to 5 people and ask them using your designs what they think about them, what they would improve, and an overall rating.
Take their feedback, iterate the designs, and have a final round of testing with 5 users. See that you improve your overall rating. If not go back to the drawing board and change your designs and retest.
What to do next
Download a portfolio project PDF of this design project and all the other existing design projects to do in your own time.
This article is for aspiring designers who are still creating a strong introduction to their UX or UI portfolio. You may be struggling with how to summarize who you are and what your skills are on your resume, LinkedIn profile, personal portfolio website or even your social media page.
In this article I am going to share with you 50 examples of proven design portfolio introductions from designer hires from Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Apple, Spotify, Airbnb, and Amazon. Alot of these examples are from portfolio websites and resumes and we will dissect when to use one. I am also going to explain why it is important to have a great portfolio introduction and the basic structure of one.
Why is it important to have a strong design portfolio introduction?
Firstly, this is definitely what a recruiter is going to read and evaluate first as a potential indicator to whether they should hire you. A portfolio introduction that is vague or incorrect about the person or their skills raises red flags and doubt in the recruiter’s mind from the start and sets the tone for the rest of the interaction with your work. A bad first impression could ultimately hurt your chances of landing a dream job.
Secondly, as a designer you need to be able to sell your skills, your passion and your personality well enough for a potential recruiter to buy into you. People see selling as a bad word but it ultimately makes life easier if you know how to do it. When it relates to your design career you will be ask to not only sell or persuade people on your skills, your ideas and leadership. Look at your portfolio introduction as a concise but holistic statement that you want the marketplace to know about you.
Side note: Obviously portfolio introductions are one part of building a strong first impression with recruits. If you want to learn about enhancing your case studies as well, read this article.
I have grouped the examples into three types of design portfolio introductions based on length. Which one to use depends on the platform that the introduction will be on. In certain cases like a resume, it needs to be brief but on your personal website or LinkedIn profile you can stretch it out abit more.
Basic structure of a good portfolio introduction
The key elements of this type of design portfolio introduction answers the following questions: – Who are you – What you do – Where you work – Which city you are from – What you are passionate about
There are no hard or fast rules to how to structure your personal portfolio introduction but addressing 2 to 3 of these questions will go a long way. As you will see in the following examples, answering those questions creates a strong first impression for your work.
Let’s get started.
1. Short and punchy intro (6 to 15 words)
Josh Mateo, Spotify Senior Product Designer at Spotify in New York
Josh Mateo
Will Chan, Facebook Product Designer at Facebook.
Vera Chen, Facebook Hello, I’m Vera Chen. I create Better Experiences for Users/ People
Hiroo Aoyama, Facebook I’m Hiroo, a product designer. Incoming Product Design Intern at Facebook.
Shelby Lindblad , Facebook Multi-disciplinary designer in Oakland, CA
Jason Yuan, Apple Graphic and User Experience designer currently based in Providence.
Sanat Rath, Google Hi, I’m Sanat. I make word processors delightful at Google Docs.
Sophie Gardner, Google Product designer, formerly at Google and Palantir.
Wei Huang, Google I’m Wei, a User Experience designer at Google
Tiffany Wu, Google Hi! I’m Tiffany Wu, a designer passionate about bridging gaps between people and their goals.
Simon Pan, Amazon Simon Pan is a Product Designer based in San Francisco.
Christopher Michon, Amazon Christopher Michon is an Art Director who is designing & illustrating in Seattle.
Tobias Ahlin, Spotify I design, tinker & teach.
Hold Breton, Spotify A product designer who values durability, transparency & cadence.
2. Meaty intro (18 to 31 words)
John West, Uber Hello, I’m John. I’m a Designer in San Francisco & I do UI, UX, branding, animation, packaging and print.
Xiaoxue Zhang , Uber Currently working at Uber, focusing on Machine Learning and Design System. Previously working as a front-end developer at Tencent for 3 years.
Bre Huang, Uber I’m Pre, a process-driven product designer and illustrator on a quest to make smart, friendly and impactful experiences for people. Joining Uber Feb 19.
Xiaoxue Zhang , Uber Currently working at Uber, focusing on Machine Learning and Design System. Previously working as a front-end developer at Tencent for 3 years.
Cas Lemmens, Apple I’m Cas Lemmens. I design systems. I work as a Human Interface Designer at Apple. Previously Spotify and Hyper Island.
Hailey Cook, Apple I’m a mission driven designer looking for new opportunities in San Francisco. Check out my work and say hello!
Jesse Chase, Airbnb Jesse chase is a product designer in san Francisco, currently Sr. Experience Designer at Airbnb.
Keith Ahn, Airbnb Hi, I’m a designer based in San Francisco. I’m currently a Product Designer at Airbnb. Former Product Designer at Venmo.
Ismael Barry, Airbnb Product Designer passionate about serving people by solving for their needs and understanding the gravity of those decisions as they Impact our world.
Moneta Ho Kushner, Google I am creative director and designer from Seattle, passionate about building digital experiences that improve customers’ lives.
Alex Lakas
Alex Lakas, Google I’m Alex, a product designer at Google. Over a decade of experience focusing on desktop, mobile, social gaming, e-commerce, & early stage product design.
Rahul Jain, Google I’m a Product designer focused on creating design concepts and experiences that empowers people and solve real-world problems.
Carson Young, Google Hi! I’m Carson, a digital product designer. Former UX Design Intern at Google. Student at York Sheridan Design.
Abbey Lee, Amazon Hey Hey, I’m Abbey I’m a visual problem solver and user experience designer who has a passion from motion, visual design, human-centred goodness and the outcome.
Angela Bang, Amazon Meet Angela. Living and working in the intersection of design and tech — still wants to be an astronaut when grown up.
Brian Lee, Spotify My name is Brian. I am a digital product designer, born in Singapore, based in Stockholm, Sweden. I currently work at Spotify, with a focus on growth and activation.
Tal Midyan, Spotify Tal is a multidisciplinary designer and creative based in nYC. Currently working at Spotify as Senior Art Director. Here is a collection of projects for different artists and brands.
Andres Arbelaez, Spotify Hey! I’m Andres. Incoming Product Designer at Facebook and CoLab Fellow at IDEO. I study Human-Centered Product Design at the University of Maryland.
Amruta Buge, Spotify Amruta is an Interaction Designer at Google interested in crafting effective design solutions to create meaningful user experiences.
Mohit Gupta, Facebook A product designer with a focus in user experience, visual and interaction design. Previously at Facebook and Universe. Currently looking for full-time opportunities.
Hailey Cook, Apple I’m a mission driven designer looking for new opportunities in San Francisco. Check out my work and say hello!
Kathleen Warner, Facebook Oh hello there, I’m Kathleen. I’m a product designer who sometimes jumps into frontend. Currently on News Feed at facebook.
Julia Liang , Apple I’m glad you’re here! I’m a designer, artist, and activewear enthusiast based in Berkeley. Thank you for taking the time to view my work!
Netta Marshall, Airbnb Hello stranger, I’m Netta, a digital designer living in San Francisco. Let’s take a look at what I’ve been creating.
Sally Chan, Spotify Hello! I’m a designer at the intersection of physical and digital products and services. I do that by making connections out of seemingly disparate ideas to create something meaningful for people.
3. Detailed but relevant intro (34 to 70 words)
Andre Salver, Facebook I’m a strategy-minded product designer, passionate about designing for emerging technologies, developing wide applications for those technologies and bringing them to market. Also a recent graduate of MHCI+D and Product Designer at Facebook.
Nisa Andrews, Uber I’m an independent decentralised apps designer and product designer at Uber. I’m passionate about solving problems for humans, particularly where physical and digital worlds meet. Peep my work below or learn more about me.
Ben Minard, Apple My name is Ben Minard and I am a UI/UX designer at Apple Inc, in Cupertino, California. I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Graphic Design. Feel free to drop me an email at khdfkd@gmail.com and check out my work on Dribbble.
Craig Dehner
Craig Dehner, Apple I’m Craig Dehner, and I help companies enhance their mobile experience through smart UI design and motion. Between working on the Human Interface team at Apple, to cutting edge startups like Airbnb and Lyft, the interfaces I’ve worked on have reached millions.
Eric Lobdell, Airbnb Bay Area designer passionate about problem solving exposing and building consumer facing products. Currently designing a new typeface, hand-lettering, and collecting vinyl, I’ve poured my heart into many startups and worked at a handful of great companies: Google, MLB, Opera and #M. You can find more of my work on Dribbble. If you’ve got an exciting challenge and you’d like to work together, let’s talk.
Kaiwei Wang, Google As a designer, I try my best to make sure the design decisions are the results of a human-centred process. I keep learning new tools and trends while telling myself — the user gives the most valuable insights and the team is my strongest backbone.
Kevin Chang, Google Hey, I’m Kevin I’m a product designer & engineer with skills and experiences that allow me to take ideas from concept to mock to prototype to production.
Formerly AR & VR at Google Daydream, design at Google Lens, product at BayRu. Computer Science and creative writing at Stanford University.
Yuan Gu, Amazon Hello, I am Yuan
I am currently a UX Designer at Amazon. I have worked on a variety of projects on different platforms including but not limited to iOS, Android, Windows, etc. The best part of my job is to work the design magic around customer’s needs and seeking the balance between usability and aesthetics. This is a showcase of the projects I’ve worked on and hope you will enjoy it.
Samuel Hoang, Amazon I am a product designer crafting the future of user experiences for consumer devices and services. This is my portfolio of publicly released work. Many of my current and past projects cannot be included here due to Non-Disclosure Agreements.
Conclusions and takeaways
Feel free to try different portfolio intros. Don’t feel boxed into one format but try what suits you at that point in time. To conclude your design portfolio introduction should answer the following questions: – Who are you – What you do – Where you work – Which city you are from – What you are passionate about
What to do next
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This article is for those of you who are struggling to making any meaningful progress towards the goal of getting your first UX role. I recently had a student reach out to me to help them figure out why their portfolio was not getting them interviews and what it would take to land just a junior UX role or even an internship.
After doing a short UX course and crafting a website portfolio of projects, you may still have not gotten any responses for the UX positions you applied for. You haven’t really had anyone to guide you as to what exactly you should be doing, or where to go from here and you starting feel pretty down about the whole thing. You put a lot of effort in the classes and designs and its frustrating to think it may all have been a waste of time.
I have fortunately been through the same experience while transitioning from a totally different field but more importantly, managed to overcome those challenges to the point of being head hunted for my first two UX roles. In addition, as a UX team manager who goes through a ton of UX portfolio applications so I am able to shed some light of why certain candidates get the call for an interview and others just don’t make the cut.
Let get started with a blunt but necessary truth you might not want to hear.
Your UX portfolio work is currently not good enough.
It is imperative to understand that you are in competition with a multitude of other designers for the design roles that you are applying to and very few actually get called back for an interview. Your portfolio application is that first critical touch point that a recruiter will have with your credentials and your skills. You can not afford for the quality of your portfolio work to be ordinary or you will be passed over.
One of my core responsibilities as a team manager is hiring capable designers that will be a good fit for what we need in the team and the business as a whole. In a day, I can look at close to 30 to 40 applications and spend roughly 2 to 4 minutes on each one. This means your portfolio has to present your best and most relevant work right from the start.
But what is good enough work? Let’s get into detail about common mistakes and fixes that I regularly encounter.
1. Half baked UX case studies
A bad case study for Cafe Lulu
I find that too many times, applicants will submit a UX portfolio with case studies that have 3 or 4 screens and no other detail. Don’t be lazy when creating UX case studies. You have put in so much time and effort into learning about the design field, joining groups, watching videos on UX, doing UX courses then you fail at the last hurdle because you put a small amount of effort into actually crafting proper portfolio case studies.
UX portfolios are different in that we are assessing your skills against what is typically expected in a UX role. Research analysis, testing, wireframing, data metrics and presentation. Design screens alone will not tell us much about all these skills and we will go someone else who shows these attributes more prominently in their UX portfolio.
If you need a reference, I have written an article a successful structure for UX case studies complete with examples. Even if you are starting out as a graduate, transitioning from a different field or applying for a junior role, this will give you strong starting point.
In case you don’t read the article the key 8 point template structure is as follows. The article goes into much more detail with examples.
Project Title & Subtitle (A headline and subtitle that indicates the name and goal of the project)
Client/Company/Project type
Project date (When did you work on the project)
Your role (What you were responsible for on the project)
Project Summary/About this Project (An overview that summarizes the project, goal and results)
The challenge (What specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points that the project solves. Were there any technical constraints or business KPIs you had to keep in mind? Who are you users and what are their specific needs)
Solution (What method/process were used to solve specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points? How did features address the objectives?)
Without these case study sections in your portfolio, there are too many questions left unanswered about the project work and you skills which in turn sows doubt into a recruiter’s mind about shortlisting your application.
2. Put your best work first
Highlight your best work
This is a simple one but it is surprising how many people do not do this. If you have 4 good case studies in your portfolio, put your best ones right at the top of your portfolio. As a recruiter, I should not have to look for them. Again as I have said previously, and maybe that needs to be reiterated:
Recruiters do not have time to go through your entire portfolio
The first 2 to 3 case studies in your UX portfolio are most likely to be reviewed so make sure they are your best.
What does best work mean? It means work that is relevant to the company you are applying for and has enough depth structure wise to showcase your skills. For digital agencies, showcase web projects. For mobile app companies, showcase mobile app case studies, even if they are conceptual. That shows relevancy to the work that the company does, otherwise a recruiter has to make a judgement call on how your skills could apply to their business. Other portfolios that are better aligned with what the company does, will more likely get a call back.
3. Make the recruiter’s job as easy as possible
As designers we tend to forget the objective of a portfolio. A portfolio is meant to showcase your skills to a prospective employer or client about your skills.
The recruiters are ultimately your real audience not other designers.
So we have to cater to their needs as much as possible.
Make that recruiter happy
Use a platform or format that will be easy for them to go through the work. Whether its hosted on design sites like Dribbble.com or Behance.net, complied in a PDF document, make sure the recruiter can easily open the file format on their machine. Export work as PNGs/JPGs and don’t assume a recruiter has the program you used to create the work.
If you are hosting your portfolio on a website, make sure that the site is up and does not have usability issues when navigating your work. Nothing worse than opening a link that leads to a 404 error page.
Provide the correct contact details and ensure links to the external sites that you worked on, work. Otherwise take screenshots of the final implementation and present those as opposed to a site which might be down.
4. The company/role might not be for you
With the individual that reached out to me for help with their portfolio, we soon discovered after a series of conversations that they were applying to the wrong companies. We had to take a step back from the applications and portfolio creation to honestly evaluate if they were passionate about the field.
The truth is your passion for a field does come through the work you present in a portfolio.
If it’s all over the place and no attention to detail has been displayed, it’s clear to the recruiter that you might not have the right attitude to the work and potentially to your future role.
We eventually figured out that they would rather be doing a role that involved video game UX. That gave us a end goal to aim for and dictated everything else, the type of case studies to create, the companies to apply to, the role to apply for and the designers to network with.
5. Test your portfolio
This last point is pretty straight forward but it will require you to be vulnerable and humble enough to ask for help. Being a UX candidate I actually expect you to test your portfolio with other people. It’s what you will be doing on the job on a weekly and potentially daily basis. At least get their honest opinion on whether they would hire you and if there are any glaring mistakes in the portfolio. This is challenging to do but let’s consider the alternative.
If you prematurely send out your portfolio to really good companies and you don’t make it in, there may be a company policy in place the prevents you from applying again until a certain time period has elapsed.
This could be as long six months. And if you are email blasting your portfolio to every potential position available, you may be potentially shooting yourself in the foot.
My advice is to apply to a couple of similar positions (2 or 3) and get feedback from those applications. Then use this feedback to revise your portfolio to match the needs of the next company you are applying to. This way you can iteratively create a better portfolio every time you apply.
What to do next
Hopefully the points in this article have been helpful in identifying where you need to improve and if you are terribly overwhelmed give me shout and let’s see where I can help.
This is the sixth design portfolio project for UI and UX designers looking to build a portfolio of credible work. A detailed client brief that is time-boxed, detailed, and crafted realistically enough to give you a hands-on experience of doing a real project. Each portfolio project is meant to help you create realistic work you can add to your portfolio and test if design really is for you.
Today I have a saucy one for you, excuse the pun. A UX/UI project for beginners on designing a food app.
We all have at some point felt too busy (lazy) to cook and reached out for our phones to order some delicious food. The convenience of ordering food is undeniable and such a ubiquitous reflex that we do not even think about it. I personally enjoy cooking for the family but there are times when I cannot due to the kids, an event or work.
Designing an app is unique in that there are particular guidelines and best practices already outlined for Android and IOS that are different in some way to web patterns. This challenges the designer to be able to understand how platforms constraints affect design.
As is usually the case, I have included the following with each design brief:
Timeline(For this to be realistic each brief has a timeline that is as close to real-world work as possible)
Objectives(What is REQUIRED by the client. This part usually trips designers up as they go off designing what is not required)
Platform(Where your designs will live. Understanding these platforms will give a well-considered solution)
Target audience (Users always come first and the design must accommodate the target audience’s pain points)
References(If you are not sure where to start, clients normally give a set of examples or references they like. The closer the design solution is to the references, the fewer revisions a designer will have to do)
Deliverables(Most importantly how the solution should be delivered. These represent what a well-detailed portfolio case study looks like so hit it out of the park)
Recruiter advice(Portfolio advice from creative directors, CEOs and leading design creatives from the biggest companies)
Let’s begin.
UX UI Design Portfolio Project 6: Designing an Food App
Client OhSoYum
Timeline 1–2 weeks. The project is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Objectives
We are looking to create a food delivery app that will allow users to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered to their doorstep. The app will need to be user-friendly, visually appealing and efficient. “Online food delivery has become a $200 billion global industry, yet there is still plenty of room for growth as people increasingly opt for the convenience of delivery.” – Bloomberg
Success Metrics to Consider: User acquisition and retention rate Order volume and revenue growth User engagement and time spent on the app Positive reviews and ratings
Target Audience
Marcus Lee, 32 | Busy Professional NEEDS Does not have the time to cook and prefer to order food online for convenience. They prioritize quick and reliable delivery and are willing to pay more for premium services. Health conscious and wants to eat healthy meals. She also has a tight budget and wants affordable options.
Sophia Patel, 37 | Health-Conscious Eater NEEDS College student who prioritizes healthy eating and has specific dietary restrictions. Always looking for options that fit their lifestyle and are willing to pay more for high-quality, healthy food. On a tight budget and wants affordable options
Sandra Jenkins, 35 | Budget-Conscious NEEDS Has two kids and a busy job. She needs an app that offers healthy options for her family as well as quick and convenient delivery options on a limited budget. Wants to feed her family healthy meals but doesn’t have the time or energy to cook after a long day at work.
Requirements
The app should allow users to browse and order from a variety of restaurants in their area.
Users should be able to customize their orders, including special instructions and dietary restrictions.
The app should provide real-time updates on the status of their order, including estimated delivery time.
Payment options should be secure and user-friendly.
The app should have a feature for users to leave reviews and ratings of restaurants and drivers.
Platform
The app should be compatible with either iOS or Android devices. Pay attention to IOS and Android guidelines.
References that our company would like the app to follow in terms of structure and layout. It will be your job to replicate something close to these examples but add your creative flair to it.
• Onboarding screens – These screens will introduce the app to new users and explain how to use it. They might include a welcome message, an explanation of the app’s features, and instructions on how to create an account.
• Home screen – This is the main screen of the app that users will see when they open it. It might include a search bar, categories for different types of food, and a list of popular restaurants.
• Restaurant details screen – When a user selects a restaurant, they will be taken to a screen with more information about that restaurant. This might include the menu, photos of the food, and reviews from other users.
• Ordering screen – This screen will allow users to place an order from the restaurant they’ve selected. It might include options for customization, like choosing toppings or specifying dietary restrictions.
• Payment screen – After a user has placed an order, they will need to enter payment information. This screen might include options for different payment methods, like credit card or PayPal.
• Order tracking screen – Once an order has been placed, users will want to know when it will be delivered. This screen might include real-time updates on the status of the order, like when it’s being prepared, when it’s out for delivery, and when it’s been delivered.
• Profile screen – This screen will allow users to manage their account information, like their name, address, and payment methods. It might also include options for viewing past orders and saving favorite restaurants.
Testing and Results section
Show your wireframes to 5 people and ask them using your designs what they think about them, what they would improve, and an overall rating.
Take their feedback, iterate the designs, and have a final round of testing with 5 users. See that you improve your overall rating. If not go back to the drawing board and change your designs and retest.
Advice from recruiters
I want to see case studies that demonstrate a deep understanding of user needs, a creative approach to problem-solving, and a passion for delivering exceptional user experiences.
John Smith, Senior Product Designer at Doordash
I’m looking for designers who can demonstrate how they’ve solved complex problems in simple and elegant ways. I want to see how you can take a user-centered approach and turn that into a product that’s both delightful and effective.
Haraldur Thorleifsson, Head of Design at Uber
Show me how you’ve used data and research to inform your design decisions and how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver successful products. Don’t just showcase the final design, but also the process and the challenges you faced along the way.
Jane Doe, Senior UX Designer at Grubhub
Your portfolio should showcase your ability to think critically about design problems, communicate your ideas clearly, and collaborate effectively with others. It’s not just about pretty visuals, but about the insights and rationale behind your design decisions.
Kim Williams, Director of UX Design at Amazon
I love to see designers who can showcase a process, not just the end product. How did you get there? What were the decisions and tradeoffs you made along the way? How did you incorporate feedback and iterate? All of this tells me a lot about how you approach design problems and how you work with cross-functional teams.
Julie Zhuo, VP of Product Design at Facebook
What to do next
Download a portfolio project PDF of this design project and all the other existing design projects to review in your own time.
This is the fifth design portfolio project for UI and UX designers looking to build a portfolio of credible work. A detailed client brief that is time-boxed, detailed, and crafted realistically enough to give you a hands-on experience of doing a real project. Each portfolio project is meant to help you create realistic work you can add to your portfolio and test if design really is for you.
You may be wondering how should you organize a large amount of project information in a case study so that it isn’t overwhelming to recruiters? What information is vital to include in a portfolio case study? Or maybe you are just struggling to bringing together your wireframes, strategies and sections into a clean, attractive narrative. Don’t worry this article is for you.
I recently shared a UX case study example in the previous article that described how to use the free UX Portfolio Case Study template to rapidly create comprehensive case study for your design portfolios from scratch.
The free UX Portfolio Case Study template is based on over 60 portfolios of successful design hires from Facebook, Amazon, Uber, Twitter, Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Dropbox and the insights of top design recruiters from around the world.
What you are going to learn
Today I want to walk you through another UX case study example on how you can use the UX Portfolio Case Study template from scratch, to create a UX case study for your UX portfolio. We will walk through the creation of each section, step by step so that you can replicate the process for your cases studies.
The project
The UX portfolio project I will use is one I did as a Senior UX Designer at a digital marketing agency. The brief was to completely redesign a responsive web platform for one of the leading investment firms in South Africa, Alexander Forbes. I worked with a project manager, a UI designer, a back-end developer and a front-end developer.
Final design
I did the work some time ago so the challenge becomes trying to remember what I did and collecting enough content for a solid case study. This is where the template comes in handy.
The secret sauce: The core idea is to try to separate your case study creation process into a writing component and designing component so that you can tackle each one without getting stuck or overwhelmed.
The template ensures that your case study has a good project narrative and understandable structure.
This also allows you to plan more effectively what design artifacts you will need in your case study. It’s a system by which you can then rapidly roll out multiple case studies without forgetting anything that’s relevant to a recruiter or client.
In case you did not read the previous article, the UX Portfolio Case Study template has 8 critical sections that recruiters are looking for.
UX Portfolio Case Study template sections
1. Project Title & Subtitle
A headline and subtitle that indicates the name and goal of the project
2. Client/Company/Project type
Who was the project for
3. Project date
When did you work on the project
4. Your role
What you were responsible for on the project
5. Project Summary/About this Project
An overview that summarizes the project, goal and results
6. The challenge
What specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points that the project solves. Were there any technical constraints or business KPIs you had to keep in mind? Who are you users and what are their specific needs
7. Solution
What method/process were used to solve specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points? How did features address the objectives?
Making it as concise and easy as possible to digest
Now writing and condensing long texts for these sections can be very challenging. I have included how long each section should be so that you have a guide to your writing length. Let’s walk through each section of the UX Portfolio Case Study template and fill it in.
UX Case Study Example 2
1. Project Title & Subtitle
Length: Project Title (1 line) & Subtitle (1–2 lines)
This one is pretty straightforward. I used the name we had for the project at the agency. I generally like to use the client’s brand name as it is recognizable to recruiters and brief enough to fit any case study cover. I also added a sub-title to further explain what was built for the client and give more context around the project title.
2. Client/Company/Project type
Length:1 line
Unless stated in the title, this helps build more context to who the project was for. This was a commercial project for a client so I wrote the name of the client’s brand.
3. Project date/duration
Length:1 line
When or how long the project was helps the recruiter establish whether this is your most recent work and most importantly, to gauge where your skill level is. Always try to put up work that is recent because it’s an accurate reflection of your skills. This one was a bit of an old one that I had not drafted a case study for.
4. Your role
Length:1–2 lines
This is a section to state everything you did and were responsible for. Recruiters are looking to accurately assess your skills in the context of the entire project’s execution. I state that I was the Senior UX Designer on the project then briefly note down all the activities I did for the project over the course of several months. If you worked with someone on the project make sure to state it.
5. Project Summary
Length: 1–2 paragraphs
This is a critical section for any reader who does not have a lot of time to read through the entire case study but wants a brief summary of the project, goals, and results. They may be going through a stack of applications and only have a few minutes to scan over one or two projects in your portfolio.
I have kept my summary to three long sentences. The first is the context of the brand. The second touches on the challenge and problem we were attempting to solve. And the last sentence describes the platform this is being built for.
6. The Challenge/Problem
Length: 2–3 paragraphs
This section specifically looks at the problems the project is trying to address. While keeping this paragraph concise I dive into the details of the problem that the client and their user were experiencing. If you are struggling with this part, take a look at your client’s original project brief. The problem you set out to solve will be stated under objectives.
7. The Solution
Length: As long as needed
This is the longest and more time consuming section to fill in depending on how long ago the project was and how fresh in your mind it still is. For this section I outlined the design process steps and methods followed during the project. I wrote down the high level project steps but at this point I am already thinking of the the relevant design artifacts recruiters might want to see. Everything that I produced from sketches to visual mockups to prototypes.
8. Results
Length: 1 paragraph
The critical last section concludes the case study by outlining any project success metrics that were achieved. I was fortunate that we wanted to report back to the client how well the site had performed so this information was dug up from the Google Analytics tracking. In most cases clients are happy with just a launch and its really up to you to follow up and get the project impact.
Okay, now that we have filled in our UX Portfolio Case Study template we can move on to getting our design artifacts together. I am happy with the content I put down and importantly, I have not missed any section.
Putting it together
This part is really up to you and how you tackle it is going to depend on where you are going to host your UX case study. If you have a portfolio site you can put the text we just typed down on a page and fill in the gaps with images and project artifacts.
I have a Behance account where I house my projects and merely need to upload images and write the text in, then publish the portfolio. Taking it a step further I integrate the text and imagery in Sketch/Photoshop than just purely uploading the project’s web screenshots.
If you would like to use my Behance layout your can check out my portfolio kit with pre-made, fully customizable professional artboards for every section of a portfolio.
Key things that I always like to include in my case studies to make them more interactive and engaging:
Brand imagery to create a more immersive narrative
A prototype/GIF of the final solution
UX Case Study Folder structure
I like to create a folder structure for housing everything I will need as follows.
Client brief (Optional)
Website screenshots (Screenshots of the final website)
Behance submission (Final design exports for Behance upload)
Wireframe screenshots (Wireframe and UI designs exports in here)
Here are some of the final case study design screens with the text we filled out in the UX Portfolio Case Study template.
The intro has most of our UX case study sections covered in one go. Super important for recruiters without a lot of time.
The About and challenge sections come directly after that.
Then we can dive into the work. Here is a tiny bit of the Solution section showcasing a wireframe and UI design.
And lastly the results to round off the case study.
Here is the link to my portfolio and the full project.
What to do next
If you really enjoy this article and would like to get down to work, download my UX Portfolio Case Study template for free. Its included with the Design Portfolio Layout Guide, which includes 20 online case studies and example scripts for each case study section.
How to fill in the UX Portfolio Case Study template from scratch and I will use an example UX case study from my portfolio.Read more
UX Portfolio Case Study template (plus examples from successful hires)
Your portfolio is the most critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to selling your design skills to recruiters and clients. It’s the single most vital component of any design career move you will ever make. A UX case study is a detailed but summarized presentation of a design project, its goals and objectives, […]Read more
How to fill in the UX Portfolio Case Study template from scratch and I will use an example UX case study from my portfolio.
In my last article, I shared the free UX Portfolio Case Study templatethat I developed based on over 60 portfolios of successful design hires from Facebook, Amazon, Uber, Twitter, Apple, Google, LinkedIn, Dropbox and the insights of top design recruiters.
We explored what recruiters look for in UX job applications/portfolios and then dived into successfully structuring any UX case study, even conceptual projects.
What you are going to learn
Today I wanted to go a step further and walk you through how to fill in the UX Portfolio Case Study template from scratch and I will use an example UX case study from my portfolio.
UX Case Study example
The core idea is to try to break down your case study creation process into a writing component and designing component so that you can tackle each one without getting stuck or overwhelmed.
ux case study example
The template ensures that your case study has a good narrative and understandable structure.
This also allows you to plan more effectively what design artifacts you will need in your case study. It’s a system by which you can then rapidly roll out multiple case studies without forgetting anything that’s relevant to a recruiter or client.
The UX Portfolio Case Study template has 8 critical sections that recruiters are looking for.
UX Portfolio Case Study template sections
1. Project Title & Subtitle
A headline and subtitle that indicates the name and goal of the project
2. Client/Company/Project type
Who was the project for
3. Project date
When did you work on the project
4. Your role
What you were responsible for on the project
5. Project Summary/About this Project
An overview that summarizes the project, goal and results
6. The challenge
What specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points that the project solves. Were there any technical constraints or business KPIs you had to keep in mind? Who are you users and what are their specific needs
7. Solution
What method/process were used to solve specific problem, user needs, business requirements and/or pain points? How did features address the objectives?
The UX portfolio project I will use is one I did as a Senior Designer at a digital marketing agency. The brief was to create a responsive website/microsite for an annual financial publication for an Asset Management company.
Now let’s walk through each section of the UX Portfolio Case Study template and fill it in.
1. Project Title & Subtitle
Length: Project Title (1 line) & Subtitle (1–2 lines)
This one is pretty simple. I used the name we had for the project at the agency. It’s brief enough to fit any case study cover but does show the brand name, and the nature of the product, a journal. I added a sub-title to further explain what the heading means, and give more context around the project title.
2. Client/Company/Project type
Length:1 line
Unless stated in the title, this helps build more background to who the project was for. This was a commercial project for a client so I wrote the name of the client’s brand.
3. Project date/duration
Length:1 line
When or how long the project was helps the recruiter establish whether this is your most recent work and most importantly, to gauge where your skill level is. Always try to put up work that is recent because it’s an accurate reflection of your skills. This one was a bit of an old one that I had not drafted a case study for.
4. Your role
Length:1–2 lines
This is a section to state everything you did and were responsible for. Recruiters are looking to accurately assess your skills in the context of the entire project’s execution. I state that I was the Senior UX Designer on the project then note down all the activities I did on a high level, for the project over the course of several months.
5. Project Summary
Length: 1–2 paragraphs
This is a critical section for any reader who does not have a lot of time to read through the entire case study but wants a brief summary of the project, goals, and results. They may be going through a stack of applications and only have a few minutes to scan over one or two projects in your portfolio.
I have kept my summary to three long sentences. The first is the context of the brand. The second touches on the challenge and problem we were attempting to solve. And the last sentence addresses how we would know we had done a good job.
6. The Challenge/Problem
Length: 2–3 paragraphs
This section specifically looks at the problems the project is trying to address. While keeping this paragraph concise I dive into the details of the problem that the client and their user were experiencing.
7. The Solution
Length: As long as needed
This is the longest and more time consuming section to fill in depending on how long ago the project was and how fresh in your mind it still is. For this section I outlined the design process steps and methods followed during the project. I wrote down the high level project steps but at this point I am already thinking of the the relevant design artifacts recruiters might want to see. Everything that I produced from sketches to visual mockups to prototypes.
8. Results
Length: 1 paragraph
The critical last section concludes the case study by outlining any project success metrics that were achieved. I was fortunate that we wanted to report back to the client how well the site had performed so this information was dug up from the Google Analytics tracking. In most cases clients are happy with just a launch and its really up to you to follow up and get the project impact.
Okay, now that we have filled in our UX Portfolio Case Study template we can move on to getting our design artifacts together. I am happy with the content I put down and importantly, I have not missed any section.
Putting it together
This part is really up to you and how you tackle it, is going to depend on where you are going to host your UX case study. If you have a portfolio site you can use the template content on a site page and fill in the gaps with images and project artifacts.
I have a Behance account where I house my projects and merely need to upload images and write the text in, then publish the portfolio. Taking it a step further I integrate the text and imagery in Sketch/Photoshop then just upload the images.
How to enhance your UX Case Study
Key things that I always like to include in my case studies to make them more interactive and engaging:
A video or gif of the final product
A prototype
Brand imagery to create immersive narrative
UX Case Study Folder structure
I like to create a folder structure for housing everything I will need as follows.
RAW ( I collate screenshots of the final project, UI designs and wireframe exports in here)
Images (Relevant visual imagery that can be interlaced between project sections)
Videos (Optional. In most cases there won’t be one)
Behance submission (Final design exports for Behance upload)
Here are some of the final design screens with the text we filled out in the UX Portfolio Case Study template. Go to this link to view the full case study.
The intro has most of our UX case study sections covered in one go. Super important for recruiters without a lot of time.
The About and challenge sections come directly after that.
Then we can dive into the work. Here is a tiny bit of the Solution section showcasing a wireframe and UI design.
And lastly the results to round off the case study.
Here is the link to my portfolio and other UX case studies.
If you would like to get down to work, download my UX Portfolio Case Study template for free. Its included with the Design Portfolio Layout Guide, which including 20 online case studies and example scripts for each case study section.
You may be wondering how should you organize a large amount of project information in a case study so that it isn’t overwhelming to recruiters? What information is vital to include in a portfolio case study? Or maybe you are just struggling to bringing together your wireframes, strategies and sections into a clean, attractive narrative…Read more
UX Portfolio Case Study template (plus examples from successful hires)
Your portfolio is the most critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to selling your design skills to recruiters and clients. It’s the single most vital component of any design career move you will ever make. A UX case study is a detailed but summarized presentation of a design project, its goals and objectives, […]Read more
