"What should I add or change in my design portfolio?"
Is the top question I get asked when I do design portfolio reviews. A design portfolio varies based on so many factors. Whether you’re in product or brand, the type of role: consumer-facing vs. enterprise, and where you are at in your career. Your portfolio is no longer just a collection of your work; it's a testament to your growing expertise, design philosophy, and the unique value you bring.
In addition to understanding a designers goals and what they seek in their next career move, we discuss each of these items to help them land their next design role.
1. Storytelling through projects
Experienced designers know that a portfolio is more than a gallery; it's a narrative. For each project, craft a story that highlights your problem-solving process, your role in the team, and the impact of your work. Show how you've evolved from simply executing tasks to thinking more critically and influencing product, team-specific, and organizational outcomes. One way to transform your projects into captivating stories is to start with Disney Pixar's storytelling framework. For example, if you redesigned a healthcare app, narrate the journey of what key problem you were tasked to solve, why was it a problem and who was affected. Communicate the twists and turns while trying to resolve it - who supported you along the way to learning about new information influencing your next steps. Perhaps you had to unexpected pivot and had to refresh your design system upon learning a brand redesign is in progress. This is the kind of story that brings your work to life.
2. Quality over quantity
Resist the urge to include everything. Curate your portfolio to showcase a diverse range of skills and projects, but focus on the ones where you had significant impact or which align with your career aspirations. Remember, hiring managers spend limited time on each portfolio, so make every project count. I tend to scan 2-3 case studies to get an idea on how designers structure them. If there is a specific item/topic that interests me or I question, I take a note and discuss it them later in the interview process.
3. Showcasing collaboration and leadership
As you advance in your career, your ability to collaborate and lead becomes as important as your design skills. Include projects that demonstrate your teamwork, leadership, and how you've contributed to a positive team dynamic or mentored junior designers.
4. Inclusion of metrics and impact
Designers should understand the importance of data for growth projects. Whether it's an increase in user engagement, conversion rates, or customer satisfaction, numbers can powerfully demonstrate the effectiveness of your work. Did your redesign of an e-commerce checkout process reduce cart abandonment by 20% ? Did you efforts reduce Customer Supports calls by 10%? Such numbers powerfully demonstrate the effectiveness and real-world impact of your designs that businesses pay attention to.
There may be certain circumstances, you may not have any quantitative metrics to show. That's okay, just be sure to articulate how your designs provided impact in other ways. It could be in the form of user feedback and testimonials or if your design involved significant collaboration cross-functionally, highlight how the design facilitated better teamwork or improved cross-functional workflows.
5. Reflecting on failures and learnings
It's not just about showcasing successes. Reflect on projects that didn't go as planned and articulate what you learned from them. This shows how you continuously improve and innovate, seeing challenges not as roadblocks but as stepping stones to better solutions. By openly reflecting on your failures demonstrates authenticity, self-awareness, and resilience – qualities highly valued in all levels of design.
6. Personal branding and design philosophy
Develop a personal branding statement or a design philosophy that threads through your portfolio. This can be a reflection of your design ethos, your approach to problem-solving, or your vision for the future of design. It sets you apart and gives a glimpse into your potential as a leader in the field.
7. Continual updates and reflections
Last but not least, keep your portfolio dynamic. Regularly update it with new projects, learnings, and reflections. Updating it only when you are preparing for a departure will actually make it more harder in the long run. Trust me, it's hard to remember later. This requires self-discipline and shows your commitment to continuous learning and growth. Updating your portfolio every 6-8 months is a good cadence as you launch new projects or have those 'a-ha' moments you want to share. If you don't have the time to make updates as frequently, journal your experiences as you’re doing the work. It’ll help you keep track of data, deliverables, and moments you want to remember later. As you keep your journal, capture key metrics you’ll need to remember to tell the story.
Your portfolio is a powerful tool in your career journey. It's not just a showcase of your past work but a reflection of your growth, your design philosophy, and your potential as a future leader in product design. By incorporating these tips, you can craft a portfolio that not only stands out but also truly represents the depth of your experience and vision as a designer.
