Creating an Online Portfolio

I used to think my portfolio had to impress other designers. So I filled it with sleek mockups, polished animations, and endless case studies. It looked beautiful...But it didn’t land me clients. Why? Because clients don’t hire you for aesthetics. They hire you for outcomes. 🚫 Too many portfolios still look like it’s 2015: → Pretty mockups → Trendy layouts → 10-second Behance loops But here’s the hard truth: Clients don’t care how cool it looks. They care what it does. 💡 Ask yourself: → Does my portfolio solve real business problems? → Am I showing results or just visuals? → Is it written for clients or for other creatives? What actually works in 2025: ✅ Highlight before/after results (data if possible) ✅ Explain your thinking, not just your tools ✅ Tailor your portfolio to your ideal client, not your peers Because great design isn’t just about craft It’s about clarity, strategy, and trust. ✨ Your portfolio shouldn’t be a gallery. It should be a sales tool. One that shows the value you bring, not just the vibe. 💬 Got a portfolio tip that worked for you? Drop it in the comments, let’s help each other grow. 📌 Save this if you’re about to redesign yours. It’s not about looking good. It’s about landing the right kind of work.

Beyond the Brag: Building Your "Impact Portfolio" Before Promo Season Hits It's promo season at Google, and I'm helping colleagues craft their promo packets. This behind-the-scenes look reveals a crucial truth: building your "impact portfolio" before the pressure hits is key. The promo process at Google (and many other companies) involves telling a compelling story of your contributions, backed by evidence, to convince peers you deserve a promotion. It can sometimes feel like bragging. But waiting until promo season to gather evidence is like cramming for a final exam. Instead, let's approach our careers with a continuous "impact portfolio" mindset. ✨ Capture "Impact Moments" Regularly ✨ Don't wait for formal reviews. As you complete projects, launch initiatives, or solve complex problems, document the key details: what you did, the impact it had, and any quantifiable results. Think of it as your own personal "highlight reel." ✨ Reframe "Bragging" as Storytelling ✨ Self-advocacy isn't about showing-off; it's about telling a compelling story of your contributions. Focus on the "why" behind your work and the value it created. ✨ Seek Feedback Beyond Performance Reviews ✨ Proactively ask for feedback throughout the year. Not just on what you did, but on how you did it. This provides valuable insights into your strengths and areas for growth. ✨ Build Your Network ✨ Your network is your extended "impact portfolio." People who have witnessed your contributions firsthand can be powerful advocates. Nurture those relationships. ✨ Quantify Your Impact ✨ Whenever possible, use numbers and data to illustrate your accomplishments. "Increased efficiency by X%," "Saved the team Y hours," "Led to Z revenue." These metrics make your impact tangible. The goal isn't just to ace the promo packet. It's to build a consistent narrative of impact that reflects your growth and value over time. When it comes time to advocate for yourself, you won't be scrambling to remember your accomplishments. You'll have a rich portfolio of evidence, ready to tell your story. If you haven't started building your impact portfolio, there's no better time than now. Your future self will thank you.

Your portfolio might be beautiful, but is it effective? Here’s why design isn’t everything. Want a portfolio that actually lands interviews? Focus on these elements: 1/ Show your process, not just the final product → Hiring managers want to see how you solve real problems. → Break down each project: research, ideation, testing, and iterations. → Clearly explain why you made specific design choices. Takeaway: A strong portfolio highlights your thinking, not just aesthetics. --- 2/ Prioritize results and impact → Describe how your designs improved user experience or metrics. → Include measurable outcomes like increased engagement or reduced errors. → Show how your work supported business goals—this stands out to employers. Takeaway: Numbers and outcomes make your work relevant and memorable. --- 3/ Tailor your portfolio for the role you want → Include projects that showcase skills specific to the job you're applying for. → If applying to different types of roles, consider multiple portfolios. → Adapt each project’s narrative to fit the needs of your target job. Takeaway: A targeted portfolio speaks directly to what hiring managers are looking for. --- TL;DR 1/ Highlight your process, not just the end result. 2/ Focus on impact and measurable outcomes. 3/ Tailor your portfolio to align with the job. Tag someone who’s working on their portfolio! P.S. Ready to land your dream UX job faster? Sign up for my newsletter through the link in my bio and learn how to get interviews without the stress of endless applications.

If your entire job search strategy is filling out applications, uploading your resume, and then waiting… you’re missing the bigger picture. I can only speak for the software job market, which is an absolute mess for job seekers. Qualified candidates are everywhere, and you must take extra steps to stand out. Marketing yourself to a hiring manager is not a sin. Yes, some companies should change their hiring practices. Yes, I've made a ton of mistakes when hiring people. Just this last week, I accidentally ghosted someone when I had a last-minute family event jump on the calendar. AND YES, this is off the back of my post last week, where I shared why I no longer read resumes and gave tips on how to stand out in the interview process. Most of you loved it (thank you!), but a few strongly disagreed... STRONGLY disagreed. Who knew people would be so passionate about resumes? I get it. People have different perspectives. However, a resume and job application alone aren’t enough to stand out from the crowd. I promised a few in the comments that I would follow up with tips on making your LinkedIn profile stand out. So let's do it. Start with the Headline: Avoid default titles like “Marketing Manager at XYZ.” Instead, showcase your value: “Driving Revenue Growth through Data-Driven Marketing” or “Empowering Teams to Create Scalable Strategies.” Spend Time on the About Section: This is your elevator pitch. Highlight your skills, achievements, and passions in 3-5 paragraphs. Make it you, not just a resume dump. Add Key Achievements to Your Experience Section: This is one of the most effective and least used. Use bullet points that emphasize results and impact. Quantify whenever possible (e.g., “Increased MQLs by 50% through revamped campaigns”). Keep it concise, but USE NUMBERS. Don't Ignore the Featured Section: Add links to your portfolio, blogs, presentations, or standout projects. This is the place to shine a spotlight if you’ve published articles or spoken at events. Keep Your Profile Active & Current: Update your profile with every new role, project, or milestone. Stale profiles give the impression of inattention. Set a calendar block or invite every other month to update your profile. Start there. Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume because who wants to read a resume? It’s your chance to tell your story, highlight your skills, and make someone want to talk to you. Go forth and conquer.

Your Resume Isn’t a List of Responsibilities—It’s a Highlight Reel 🎬 If your resume reads like a job description, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Hiring managers don’t just want to see what you did—they want to see the impact you made. Here’s how to turn your resume from a boring list of tasks into a job-winning highlight reel: 1️⃣ Focus on Achievements, Not Duties ❌ Wrong: "Managed social media accounts for a B2B company." ✅ Right: "Increased LinkedIn engagement by 75% and grew followers by 20K in 6 months through targeted content strategy." 💡 Tip: Use the [Action] + [Result] + [Context] formula to frame your achievements. 2️⃣ Quantify Your Impact Numbers grab attention and help hiring managers understand the scale of your contributions. ✔ Sales Example: "Exceeded quarterly sales target by 35%, generating $2.5M in new revenue." ✔ Tech Example: "Optimized backend processes, reducing system downtime by 40%." ✔ Marketing Example: "Launched an email campaign that boosted conversion rates by 18%." 💡 Tip: Even if you don’t have exact numbers, estimate based on trends or improvements you contributed to. 3️⃣ Tweak Your Resume Summary (if not an "obvious" fit for the role) Your resume isn’t one-size-fits-all. Align your experience with the job you’re applying for. This doesn't have to take more than 5 min max. ✔ Mirror the language in the job posting in your resume summary & skills section. ✔ Highlight the most relevant experience at the top of each section. 🚀 Bottom Line: Your resume should showcase what makes YOU stand out. Ditch the generic job descriptions and turn your experience into a powerful career story.

I've interviewed 50+ senior designers in the last quarter. Two alarming trends emerged: 𝟭. Portfolio paralysis: They can't showcase their best work. 𝟮. Memory fog: They struggle to recall project details from mere months ago. The result? Panic-induced all-nighters piecing together fragmented case studies. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬% 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 👇 Implement this habit now: • Dedicate 10% of your week to documenting your design journey. • That's just 4 hours for a standard work week. • The payoff? Weeks of future stress eliminated. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁: 𝟭. Daily Micro-Journaling (5 minutes) • Capture key decisions • Note stakeholder feedback • Record "aha" moments 𝟮. Weekly Summaries (30 minutes) • Outline sprint accomplishments • Highlight major pivots • Archive key artifacts 𝟯. Project Milestones (1 hour) • Synthesize learnings • Curate a "greatest hits" collection • Record quantitative & qualitative impact 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Set up a Notion template or FigJam board. Make documentation frictionless. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 👇 Imagine this: 6 months from now, you have: • 26 concise weekly summaries • 130+ daily entries • A curated showcase of your best work You're not just prepared for job hunting. You're primed for: • Promotions • Speaking engagements • Mentorship opportunities Remember: Your future self will thank you. Your future hiring manager will be impressed. Don't let your best work fade into memory. Document, curate, and shine. ----- I've posted about this issue recently & had some great feedback & conversations. 💬 ----- #design #tech #ux #productdesign #careers

Recently I reviewed 100+ design portfolios. Here is what surprises me the most. 👇 Designer’s tend to hide their impact, results, and achievements. But why? 🤔 If you have measurable outcomes and results, be proud of them! Highlight them. Promote them. Make them easy to find. Don’t bury them in a large paragraph at the end of a 10 minute case study. These metrics are often what sets you apart from a crowd of applicants. The reality is every applicant is claiming to be “passionate” and to have the same skills (research, design, collaboration, etc…) But not every candidate can claim the specific impact and results that YOU have achieved. This is often what sets you apart. Here are some easy ways to promote them: → Put your biggest achievement in the title or subtitle of a case study. → Highlight your results in a quick summary at the top of the case study. → At the end of your case study, use visual hierarchy to highlight and promote your impact instead of burying it in a thick paragraph of text. In addition: → Add your accomplishments in your resume bullet points. → Add your accomplishments on your Linkedin profile. If you don't have measurable results, that's okay too. But if you do, be proud of them! Thoughts? 👀 #ux #userexperience #design #portfolio #resume

After reviewing 2,000+ LinkedIn profiles, I keep seeing the same credibility gap. And honestly? I had this problem too. Three years ago, a recruiter told me: "Your profile sounds impressive, but I can't see any proof you actually built these programs." That feedback stung—but it was right. You list impressive roles. You describe major responsibilities. But without concrete evidence, hiring managers move on to candidates who can prove their impact. The job search game changed in 2025. "Published platform policy" sounds great—but where's the framework you built? The presentation you gave? The measurable outcome? Here's what I learned: credibility requires evidence, not just claims. The 3-step system I wish I'd known earlier: 1. Recommendations That Actually Matter Forget generic "great team player" endorsements. Reach out to 3-5 specific people:   • A manager who saw your strategic thinking   • A peer who collaborated on a complex project   • Someone you trained or mentored   • Someone you provided mentorship to during your job Send them a template with concrete details: "Could you mention how we reduced fraud losses by 40% through the risk framework we built together?" Pro tip: Gather recommendations that focus on different aspects of your profile to create a complete picture. 2. Your LinkedIn Credibility Portfolio Most experienced professionals overlook LinkedIn's best features: → Features section: Upload case studies, frameworks, or research papers → Job experience media: Add slide decks, reports, or presentations directly under each role → Projects section: Highlight key initiatives with measurable outcomes → Courses: Link to capstone projects or certifications with portfolio work Even better? Create a short Loom video or document giving a high-level overview: What problem were you solving? What was your approach? What were the results? Show your work.  Conference presentation on AI governance? Add it. Risk assessment framework you developed? Upload it. 3. Consistent Expertise Signals One strategic post or comment weekly proves you know your field: Post practical frameworks: "What are the trade-offs on age verification?" Comment with insights: Add value under industry leaders' posts—don't just say "Great post!" Share learnings: "Redesigned our moderation workflow and cut escalation time 35%—here's what worked" (no confidential details) Key takeaway: Don't worry about friends or your network judging you. The truth is, most people are too focused on their own journey to critique yours. And building an audience takes time. The reality: At the experienced level, you're competing with people who have similar years and titles. What separates you? Proof that you can do the work. ♻️ Share with someone actively job searching who has the experience but isn't getting the response they deserve.

After reviewing thousands of design portfolios over the years, I’ve noticed a critical mistake that 90% of designers make: they don’t demonstrate the impact of their work. It’s not enough to showcase polished visuals or detail your design process. What truly sets a portfolio apart is highlighting the difference your work made. And remember, impact isn’t always about boosting revenue or hitting business KPIs. It comes in many forms: • A Success Story from a Single User: Maybe your redesign of an app feature helped a user complete tasks twice as fast, reducing their frustration and improving their experience. Sharing that story shows empathy and real-world impact. • Influencing Strategic Decisions: Perhaps you presented user research that convinced stakeholders to pivot the product strategy, leading to a more user-centric approach. That’s impact at a strategic level. • Enhancing Team Dynamics: Did you introduce a new collaboration tool or workflow that made your team more efficient and cohesive? Improving the way your team works is a significant contribution. Tips to Showcase Impact in Your Portfolio: 1. Tell the Story Behind Your Work: Go beyond the final design. Explain the problem, your approach to solving it, and the resulting positive change. 2. Include Testimonials or Feedback: If possible, add quotes from users, team members, or stakeholders who benefited from your work. 3. Highlight Diverse Impacts: Show a range of impacts—user satisfaction, team improvements, strategic influence—not just business metrics. 4. Use Before-and-After Comparisons: Visuals or data that illustrate the difference your design made can be very compelling. By clearly demonstrating your work's impact, you show what you did and why it mattered. This makes your portfolio memorable and sets you apart from many others that focus solely on aesthetics. Remember, your designs can make a difference—in people’s lives, your team, and your organization. Make sure your portfolio tells that story. Have you highlighted the impact of your work in your portfolio? I’d love to hear how you’ve showcased it!

I recently worked with a designer who had experience across branding, social campaigns and digital projects. She was talented but wanted to shift into product design and we focused on making that clear for anyone viewing her work. Here’s what we did: 1. Portfolio focus: Highlighted her UX/UI and SaaS projects while keeping branding work visible but secondary. Example: Featured a SaaS dashboard redesign with before/after screens, user flows and design decisions. 2. LinkedIn & resume: Headline became: “Product Designer | UX/UI | SaaS & Digital Experiences.” Summary shared her pivot story. Example: Added: “Transitioning from branding and digital campaigns into product design, focusing on intuitive user experiences for SaaS platforms.” 3. Skills & tools upfront: Figma, ProtoPie, user research. Recruiters filter for specific skills; listing them clearly ensures she appeared in searches. 4. Location & availability: Clearly listed city or remote flexibility. Example: “Based in NYC | Open to remote opportunities.” 5. Highlight niche experience: Side projects or small SaaS experiments. Example: A side project redesigning a booking app included as a full UX case study to showcase product thinking. Why it matters: Clarity helps recruiters and hiring managers see your strengths and focus, and positions you as a specialist in the roles you want.