Using Case Studies In An Online Portfolio

🔥 During design interviews, presenting your case study can feel like a make-or-break moment. However, many designers can benefit from strengthening one essential skill: clearly communicating the impact of their work. In my latest video, I worked with Joshua McKenzie, a Senior Product Designer, to critique his case study presentation and help him elevate it to interview-ready status. The goal? Craft a compelling story that showcases his skills, approach, and outcomes 🏆. In this critique, we cover: - How to structure your case study for clarity and engagement. - The importance of pairing visuals with a strong narrative. - Why you need two versions of your case study: one to send, one to present. - How to effectively integrate data and metrics into your story. - Common presentation pitfalls (and how to avoid them). 👀 Watch the full critique and take your portfolio to the next level: https://lnkd.in/gcjxD7VJ Some key takeaways: - Structure matters: Start with a clear business problem and user challenge, then walk through your process step by step, ending with measurable outcomes. - Visuals over words: Avoid text-heavy slides—let your work speak for itself while you guide the story. - Tailor for the audience: Use a concise, visual version of your case study for live presentations and a more detailed, written version if sending out. - Leverage data: Metrics and insights show your impact and differentiate your thinking and work from others. - Practice storytelling: Your ability to communicate your work is just as important as the work itself. ✨ If you're preparing for design interviews or looking to refine your case study game, this video is packed with actionable advice to help you stand out! 💥

Want to build a UX portfolio that actually gets you interviews? It starts with a strong case study. I created this simple outline for one of my mentorship clients, but it was too good not to share. If you’re a UX or product designer on the job hunt, this can help you tell your story clearly, show your impact, and stand out from the crowd. Here’s the case study formula I recommend (plus a few tips to make yours even stronger): 🔹 Background/Context: What was the project about? What was your role? Timeline? 👉 Tip: Keep this to 3–4 sentences. Add a visual of the final product. 🔹 The Problem: What problem were you solving, and why did it matter? 👉 Tip: 1–2 clear sentences. Bonus points for "before" screenshots or user quotes. 🔹 Discovery: How did you get up to speed? 👉 Tip: Share your research highlights and key findings. Show evidence of collaboration with your team and stakeholders. 🔹 Design & Iteration: How did you approach the design? 👉 Tip: Include early sketches, whiteboard sessions, and messy Figma explorations — it shows your thought process. 🔹 Testing (+ more iteration): Who did you share your designs with, and what did you learn? 👉 Tip: Summarize the feedback you got and how you incorporated it. 🔹 Impact/Outcomes: What happened because of your work? 👉 Tip: Even if the product didn’t ship, focus on what you learned, how you moved it forward, and what impact you had. A few key reminders: MAKE IT SCANNABLE. Use visuals, headings, and type hierarchy to guide people through. Tell a story. Move through your project step by step so it’s easy to follow. Be selective. You don’t need to show everything you did — just enough to show the problem, your thinking, and the outcome. Hope this helps someone out there polishing their portfolio! If you want the full template (including extra tips), feel free to DM me — happy to share. 🚀 [EDIT:] I'm so glad y'all are loving this! if we're not connected, please include a note in your connection request so I can send the full template your way. Cheers! #uxdesign #productdesign #portfolio #uxcareer

Stop treating design case studies like documentation. Start treating them like movies. The best design case studies I've reviewed follow a visual-first narrative: - Start with the money shot: Show the final product in context, hero images that make an impact - Set the scene: Visual problem statement showing the before state - Build tension: Key challenges visualized through early explorations - Show the journey: Process shots that highlight pivotal decisions - Reveal the payoff: Results and impact through before/after comparisons Keep text minimal. Let visuals do 80% of the storytelling. Your portfolio should feel like a gallery walk, not a reading assignment. For early-career designers: - Document everything while designing - Capture work-in-progress screenshots - Take photos of whiteboard sessions - Record user testing sessions A great case study shows the story of change - from chaos to clarity, from problem to solution. Make that transformation visible.

I’ve reviewed over hundreds of design portfolios between coaching creatives and hiring for creative and marketing teams in my last roles and these two mistakes come up the most: 1. Only linking to the live product: Live links change. Without context, we don’t know what you did. Always include a case study or project breakdown that explains your role, the challenge and your process. 2. Only showing the final piece: a polished design is great but hiring managers want to see how you got there. Your thinking, decisions and collaboration matter just as much as the outcome. Quick fixes: • Add a short intro to each project: your role, the goal and the impact • Show your process: sketches, iterations, what you learned • Don’t rely on live links, give us your version of the story Your portfolio should make it easy to see not just what you made but how you think.