After investing months of dedicated learning, independent study, or an intensive boot camp, you’ve amassed a collection of some pretty impressive case studies. Each case study tells a story – a story of your creativity, technical expertise, and the unique, innovative approach you bring to your work.
On top of that, you've invested countless hours mastering the skills of a UX/UI designer, pushing yourself to new heights.
But what about your portfolio? Have you given it the same level of attention and refinement? Your portfolio tells recruiters, hey, I am capable of succeeding in this role and will be a great asset to your company.”
You sit down to start working on your portfolio, and suddenly... doubt strikes. How do you distill all that hard work? How do you stand out among the other entry-level designers?
Daunting is an understatement, especially when your social media feed is overflowing with people who clearly have more experience than you.
Don't panic!
Thinking back to when I first started in the industry, I went through the same process of tweaking my portfolio multiple times with guidance from mentors and my own research until I finally landed my first job. And now, here,, fully immersed in my UX career, enjoying all the perks that come with it – making an impact, tackling diverse projects, meeting the high demand in the industry, and having endless opportunities for growth.
An extraordinary portfolio isn't just about showcasing projects, it's about telling your design story – your journey, your unique strengths. Today, I'm walking you through how to craft a portfolio that gets you noticed and lands those emails that say, "We'd love to chat!"
Let's turn your skills into your first UX/UI job with a portfolio that puts you front and center—grab a notepad and dive in!
Your Portfolio: Where Your Superpowers Shine
It's time to think of your portfolio as more than just a collection of finished projects.
It's your ultimate case study – the one that tells potential clients or employers, "This is who I am as a designer, and here's what I can do."
Therefore, you need to put yourself into the content. Make it pop with a bit of personality if you will. After all, these days, employers aren't just employing someone for someone to complete tasks.
They're looking for a new member of their team. Someone to fit their workflows, company culture, and values, while also bringing that spark that will help take the team to the next level.
Therefore, you need to curate your portfolio in a way that shines, both in terms of showcasing your compatibility and value.
But before we get into the finer details, let’s talk essentials.
As a rule of thumb, heres a checklist of what I recommend a UX/UI portfolio contains:
Error: [31m The Parser function of type "checklist" is not defined. Define your custom parser functions as: [34mhttps://github.com/pavittarx/editorjs-html#extend-for-custom-blocks [0mBe sure to curate a collection of your best work that shows off your range and what you're passionate about. And finally, you’re a UX/UI designer, which means the design of your portfolio needs to be something special. The design itself is a chance to show off your skills, so make the most of the canvas in front of you and get creative.
Really take the time to show what you can do. It makes the difference between being a leading candidate and not hearing back at all.
Let Your Insights Tell the Story
You've put in the work – the research, the testing, the analysis. You've uncovered those golden nuggets of insight that shaped your amazing designs.
Now, let's make them shine.
But remember, nobody wants to wade through a massive essay to find the good stuff. Think of your portfolio as a curated art exhibit, not a textbook.
Focus on these key points:
- The "Aha!" Moments: Did your research uncover a surprising user need? Did testing lead to an unexpected breakthrough in your design? Share those!
- The Design Impact: Don't just list insights; show how they transformed your work. That's the magic that impresses potential employers.
- Wins and Highlights: This is your space to brag a little (or a lot 😉)! Maybe you nailed a super-sleek prototyping process, or you designed an incredibly user-friendly system. Celebrate those victories!
Cut the Fluff, Show the Fireworks
Imagine a movie trailer that was half the length of the movie and showcased everything from teasers to how they made the film. You’d be completely bored and there’s nothing left for the imagination to sink its teeth into.
Same logic applies to your portfolio.
Through your content, you want to give a tantalizing taste of the action, not a behind-the-scenes documentary. Potential clients and employers want to see the final, polished product and understand the results of your design process. They don’t need to know everything here and now.
Sure, a quick mention of your research methods or how you arrived at a solution can be helpful. But nobody wants a play-by-play of every brainstorming session or wireframe sketch.
Focus on highlighting the "wow" moments and the impact of your work. That's what will really grab their attention.
Own Your Awesome: It's Not Bragging, It's Branding
As a junior designer, your personal brand is everything. It's how recruiters spot you in a crowded field or other junior designers.
One simple way to start?
Choose a unique font that feels like an extension of you. This adds a touch of personality to your portfolio and starts to define your design style.
Are you formal and professional? Happy-go-lucky? Fun and bubbly? Represent this through your portfolio content. Don't just go for the same font that comes with your template.
But remember, consistency is your friend.
I recommend choosing only two fonts that you always work with to represent yourself - typically broken down into a serif font for headlines and a san serif font for body copy.
Always go for a simple color scheme (that’s accessible; more on that later), and stick with your choice throughout your portfolio for a polished, professional look.
This is your playground to show off a bit, but remember to keep it focused. A playful touch of personality works wonders; a hodgepodge of styles does not. 😉
Accessibility: Where Good Design Meets Great Design
Let's talk accessibility.
It's not just the right thing to do – it's essential for creating truly great UX. Think of it this way: a design might be beautiful, but if a significant chunk of your users can't actually use it, that's a problem.
And this is precisely what you're going to be doing in your career, so use your portfolio itself as a way to showcase your UX/UI skills.
There are easy ways to make your portfolio more accessible:
- Check Your Colors: Use a tool to test your color palette to make sure it's readable for people with color blindness.
- Don't Forget Alt Text: Add those descriptions to your images! Screen readers rely on them to make your work understandable to visually impaired users.
- Think Inclusively: Making your portfolio accessible shows that you're a thoughtful, conscientious designer – qualities that hiring managers love to see.
Using Mentorship to Enhance Your Process
I was blown away to learn that 96% of Fortune 100 companies have active mentoring programs (84% of Fortune 500 companies do). Do you know why?
Because they work.
Instead of struggling to figure out the essentials of how to succeed in UX/UI, getting yourself a mentor can fast-track your knowledge so you’re up to date and on top of the trends, ready to master the current industry and have the time and resources to innovate the future of it.
And that’s what the design industry is all about.
For me, having mentors changed everything. It saved me from having to slowly figure out what everybody else already knows, essentially taking the long route around to the same end result.
That’s also why I actively sought out mentorship myself—to help guide up-and-comers, such as yourself, to breathe new life into the industry without living in the shadow of those already thriving.
I’m returning the favor, and I’m offering that opportunity to you.
Backed by years of experience in UX/UI design and having walked this same path myself, you can check out my full career mentoring opportunities here on Mentorcruise or specifically schedule a portfolio review using my link here.
I’ll help answer any questions you have, assist with creative career problem-solving, break down your portfolio to identify what’s holding you back and what could be improved, and essentially just be here for you with whatever you need to succeed in your career.
Your Portfolio: The Key to Unlocking Your Potential
I like to think of crafting your UX portfolio as an act of self-discovery.
The more you refine it, the clearer your strengths and passions become. By showcasing your skills thoughtfully, balancing style with accessibility, and highlighting what makes you unique, you unlock a powerful tool.
Your portfolio isn't just a collection of projects – it's the story of you as a designer. And that story can land you the exciting interviews and job offers you've worked so hard for.
So, what are you waiting for?
Dive into your portfolio, embrace the process, and let your design journey take flight!