You want to create a UX design portfolio that stands out. How can you showcase your work in the best way?

Ditch the boring stuff! Showcase your most impressive projects - the ones that make you stand out and prove your skills. Pick projects that match your career goals, and don't just tell, show! Walk the reader through your process and the awesome results you achieved. Let your unique personality add a sparkle to your work and make it truly memorable. Happy Designing :)

Think of your portfolio as your greatest hits album. You want every track (project) to showcase your versatility, skill, and the unique flavor you bring to the table. It's not about quantity; it's about striking those chords that resonate most with where you want your career to go.

Mock up the projects you want to be working on. A project that matches the industry and fields you want to be designing on. Tailor your portfolio to that field design aspects and develop a consistent design throughout. Best projects stand out but don't forget about breaking confidentiality agreements.

In my experience, crafting a standout UX design portfolio involves several key steps. Begin by curating your best work, showcasing diverse projects that highlight your skills. Each project should tell a compelling story, detailing the problem, your approach, and solutions. Emphasize your UX design process, including research methods and usability testing. Quantify results to add credibility. Ensure a visually appealing presentation, optimized for mobile viewing, and incorporate personal projects alongside client work. Provide context for each project and utilize interactive elements to engage viewers. Regularly update your portfolio to reflect your latest work.

To create a standout UX design portfolio: Highlight impact: Showcase projects with measurable outcomes, emphasizing problem-solving skills. Visual storytelling: Use case studies to narrate the design process, including research, ideation, and iterations. Variety: Demonstrate expertise across different platforms, industries, and design methodologies. Interactive prototypes: Include clickable prototypes to showcase usability and interaction design skills. Testimonials: Feature client or user testimonials to validate the impact of your work. Personal touch: Infuse personality into your portfolio to convey passion and authenticity.

Every project is a journey. Start from the challenge, through the adventure of solving it, to the triumph of the outcome. Make it a story that not only shows off the final product but also the thought process, hurdles, and learning along the way. Let your passion and personality shine through here.

My opinion is that the amount of information needed in a design portfolio depends on the type of position or service the designer is targeting. In my view, the focal point of project pages should be the design itself, with text being secondary. Most recruiters won’t delve into lengthy texts detailing the entire process, research, challenges, personas, and results. They’re generally interested in seeing the design upfront, and often a brief overview of the project will suffice. However, for roles focused on strategy, management, or large-scale projects, there’s greater importance placed on information about the process, research, strategy, etc.

it's essential to highlight your role and contribution in each project. Recruiters and clients often want to know specifically what your responsibilities were, what tasks you completed, and what deliverables you produced. Be sure to clearly specify your individual contributions and how you collaborated with team members or stakeholders. Use action verbs such as designed, conducted, analyzed, created, or implemented to describe your work effectively. If you worked on team projects, articulate what you accomplished individually versus what you achieved as part of the team. This level of detail provides insight into your expertise and showcases your unique value as a UX designer.

Be clear about where you fit into the puzzle of each project. It's like highlighting your solo in a band performance—make sure people know which part was all you. If you were part of a team, it's like showing how you played in harmony but also had moments where you led the melody.

Here's where you list your musical instruments, so to speak. What tools do you wield with confidence, and what skills make you a maestro? This is also a great spot to humbly brag about any awards or recognitions you've earned—it's like showing off your gold records.

When designing your portfolio do not be afraid to list multiple prototyping software. This will show versatility in your process and open the door for jobs in which you have to adapt to a tool that the company has vetted. However, when applying directly to a job, adapt your resume to the software that is listed in the job description. When limited to a one-page resume, choose your top 5-7 in varying skill sets.

Your portfolio is like your stage. It needs to be set up so that anyone, anywhere, can get the best view of your performance, regardless of whether they're in the front row or the balcony. Make sure it's easy for anyone to navigate and enjoy, whether they're on a phone, tablet, or desktop.

Begin with a clean, accessible layout that lets your work shine, using high-quality images and concise, impactful descriptions. You should own your domain and have it navigate to a website or a Figma prototype link with your portfolio. Be cognizant of the AA standards for accessibility with a clear contrast between fonts and background colors. Optimize your portfolio for online viewing by ensuring it's responsive and loads quickly across devices. Use a simple navigation structure and categorize your work clearly to allow viewers to find relevant projects easily. Incorporate SEO best practices with appropriate keywords to help your portfolio be more discoverable.

Think of feedback like an encore. It's an opportunity to go back, refine your performance based on the audience's reaction, and make it even better. Don't shy away from constructive criticism—it's invaluable for growth. Keep tweaking your portfolio; it's a living document that evolves as you do.

While showcasing your projects and skills is crucial, don't forget to inject your personality and passion into your portfolio. Let your unique voice shine through by sharing anecdotes, insights, or personal experiences related to each project. Explain why you're passionate about UX design and what drives you to create exceptional user experiences. By adding a personal touch, you not only make your portfolio more memorable but also demonstrate your authenticity and enthusiasm for your craft. Don't be afraid to let your personality sparkle in your portfolio, it might just be the factor that sets you apart from the rest.

It is common for companies to have you sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement regarding the projects and deliverables you are working on. This can impact years of work you cannot show on your profile. You can password-protect design files in Figma so if you own any designs on your personal (not professional) account, you can send that direct link to recruiters. At least going this route you do not publicly violate those agreements on your portfolio.