What components should you include in your UX portfolio?

There are many ways and unique methods that UX designers use to showcase their portfolios. In my opinion, a good UX portfolio should include case studies that demonstrate the entire process of a project, such as research activities, wireframes, prototypes, testing, and results. Additionally, it is crucial to mention your exact role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Since it is a portfolio, you can also provide background details about yourself and your skills, as well as contact information for potential clients or employers.

Before any content, the visual and experience are the first points that impact those who will come to visit your portfolio. Use design methodologies to create consistency and objectivity in your personal brand. Always think about how you would like to position yourself as a designer in the market. Analyze other designers who are references or inspiration for your career. Direct your projects towards the type of job position you desire to get. These points are part of having a strategic view on design from your presentation to the way you work.

The case study should explain the project background and starting point, the challenges you faced, the approach and methodologies to solving them, and the results you achieved including the evidence of your work, like prototypes, user testing, user feedback, and iterations. Portfolios with well-written case studies are more likely to get attention from employers. So, investing time in creating strong case studies can significantly impact your chances of landing a job or freelance projects in the UX field

I guess there is no right and wrong way of presenting case studies. It all drill down to why of everything and how you reached there and what did you learn from the exercise. Sometimes you can write what would you do different if you have to do it today. I usually keep my case studies where one project show scale, one show creative thinking and one my personal favourite.

I think a good UX case study should include 5 main steps: 1. Problem Definition: Describe the project context and challenges faced. 2. Personas and Users: Present detailed user profiles and their needs. 3. Metrics and Objectives: Establish key metrics to measure project success. 4. Design Process: Explain the methodological approach used, from research to evaluation. 5. Learnings and Conclusions: Highlight lessons learned and how they influenced the final design.

Quantity will never surpass quality. When selecting case studies for your portfolio, consider the role you aspire to and how these studies affirm your suitability for it. While you may have only a few case studies, ensure they demonstrate consistency in process and methodology. How to demonstrate this? Showcase your design process, highlight the tools used for crafting user experiences, and openly discuss both mistakes and successes, along with their outcomes. Transparency in your approach enables you to reveal the dedication and effort invested in arriving at solutions presented in your case studies.

If design is not how it looks but how it works, people are not showing how it works enough. Prototyping have been a very important skills amongst the design job. I've been a big advocate on prototyping, especially advance prototyping. Couple of years back it was a pain as tools have limitation and had few options to choose from. Now you have so many tools capable of doing so many things. Pick one and just learn in and out of prototyping. Remember it's all about showing how it's going to work no matter where you've made it.

A comprehensive portfolio should include: 1. Skills: Highlight your expertise, categorized by areas such as teamwork, research, design, and more. 2. Tools: List the software and technologies you're proficient in, including design tools, collaboration platforms, and methodologies like Agile. 3. Techniques: Showcase your knowledge of various UX techniques, such as user interviews, usability testing, wireframing, and prototyping.

Incorporating testimonials and awards into a portfolio is an excellent idea. It's not common to have quotes and testimonials from clients, showcasing their feedback and the skills they value most. Additionally, highlighting recent courses and relevant data can further strengthen credibility. These elements provide tangible evidence of your expertise and the value you bring to projects, enhancing your portfolio's effectiveness in attracting potential clients or employers :)

Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning is invaluable. As a designer hungry for knowledge, your ability to absorb and apply new insights enriches your perspective. Leverage this wealth of knowledge by sharing it openly rather than letting it remain confined in your head. Platforms like Medium offer a fantastic avenue to showcase your expertise and expand your visibility in the market as a trusted authority in your field. Embrace a culture of reading, learning, and sharing. This cycle not only benefits you but also enriches the entire UX design community. Sharing could be the key to unlocking the network you've been seeking.

As a recruiter and an interviewer, I would like to see some out-of-the-box thinking demonstrated by the candidate. For example, most of the candidates use online services like Behance and dribble to present their portfolios that have a standard layout and structure. Many recruiters are often impressed by custom portfolio websites where the candidate has the freedom to present his/her work in more engaging and unique manner.