Building a kick-ass Design Portfolio from Scratch🔥

Published in

Bootcamp

8 min readMar 18, 2023

Portfolio Tips that will land you a High-Paying Job!💰

Imagine this: You’ve just finished designing a stunning website for a client. You’ve poured hours of hard work and creativity into the project, and the end result is something you’re proud of. Now, it’s time to add it to your portfolio so potential employers can see what you’re capable of.

But how do you make sure your portfolio stands out from the rest? How do you showcase your skills and creativity in a way that captivates your audience?

The answer lies in creating a portfolio that tells a story — your story. A story that showcases your design process, your strengths, your personality, and your passion for UI/UX design. A story that grabs the attention of potential employers and leaves them wanting more.

So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive into the world of UI/UX design portfolios. In this article, we’ll share some precise tips and tricks on how to create a portfolio that showcases your unique story and sets you apart from the competition.

Bonus in the end! Read from start to get that 🎁

1. Define your objective

Imagine that you’re lost in the woods without a map. You don’t know where you’re going, and you don’t have a plan to get there. Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? The same goes for creating a UI/UX design portfolio without a clear objective. It can be overwhelming and directionless, and you may end up with a portfolio that doesn’t align with your goals.

To avoid this, take a step back and define your objective before you start building your portfolio. Ask yourself what kind of job you’re looking for, what skills you want to showcase, and what kind of work you want to attract. This will help you stay focused and create a portfolio that aligns with your goals.

For example, if you’re looking for a job as a mobile app designer, your objective should be to showcase your mobile design skills. You should include examples of your work on mobile platforms, such as iOS or Android, and highlight your experience with user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design for mobile.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a job as a web designer, your objective should be to showcase your web design skills. You should include examples of your work on desktop and mobile platforms, and highlight your experience with UI and UX design for web.

Defining your objective will also help you tailor your portfolio to the specific job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a job at a startup, you may want to showcase your ability to work in a fast-paced environment and your entrepreneurial spirit. On the other hand, if you’re applying for a job at a large corporation, you may want to highlight your experience working on complex projects and your ability to collaborate with a large team.

2. Showcase Your Process, Not Just the Final Product

When it comes to creating a UI/UX design portfolio, it’s not enough to just showcase the final product. Employers want to see your design process and how you approach problem-solving. Including sketches, wireframes, and prototypes in your portfolio can demonstrate your design process and highlight your problem-solving skills.

Sketches are a great way to show how you ideate and brainstorm different design solutions. It gives potential employers insight into how you think and approach a design problem. Make sure to include sketches that show your thought process and the different iterations of your design.

Including your design process in your portfolio can set you apart from other candidates. It shows your creativity, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail. Potential employers want to see how you approach design problems and how you come up with solutions. So, make sure to include sketches, wireframes, and prototypes in your portfolio to showcase your design process and highlight your problem-solving skills.

3. Highlight Your Strengths

While it is important to show a range of skills, it is also essential to highlight your strengths. If you excel in mobile design, make sure to include some of your best mobile projects. If you are a great visual designer, include examples of your best work in that area. Highlighting your strengths will help potential employers understand where your expertise lies.

4. Tell a Story with Your Portfolio

Your UI/UX design portfolio is not just a collection of your best work, but it’s also an opportunity to tell a compelling story. By sharing the story behind your projects, you can help potential employers understand your design thinking and decision-making process.

Start by explaining the problem you were trying to solve. Describe the challenge you faced, the constraints you had to work within, and the user needs you had to consider. This will help potential employers understand the context of your work and the importance of the problem you were trying to solve.

Next, share your design process. Explain the steps you took to solve the problem, from research to ideation to prototyping. Show how you gathered insights, brainstormed ideas, and refined your designs. This will help potential employers see how you approach design challenges and how you work through the design process.

Finally, showcase the solution you came up with. Highlight the key features and functionality of your design and explain how they address the problem you were trying to solve. Show examples of how users interact with your design and the benefits they experience.

Telling a story with your portfolio not only helps potential employers understand your design thinking, but it also makes your work more compelling and memorable. It shows that you have a deep understanding of the user’s needs and can create solutions that are not only functional but also visually appealing and engaging.

5. Keep it Concise and Easy to Navigate

Photo by Karthik Balakrishnan on Unsplash

Employers will likely have many portfolios to review, so it is crucial to keep your portfolio concise and easy to navigate. Only include your best work and organize it in a way that makes it easy for employers to find what they are looking for. Use clear headings, labels, and categories to make it easy for employers to navigate your portfolio.

6. Showcase Your Personality

Your UI/UX design portfolio should not only showcase your skills and work, but it should also reflect your personality. Including a brief bio, a photo, and any personal projects that showcase your interests and skills can help potential employers get to know you better and understand your personal brand.

Start by creating a brief bio that highlights your professional background, skills, and interests. This will give potential employers a quick overview of who you are and what you have to offer. Be sure to keep it concise and focus on the most relevant information.

Next, include a professional photo of yourself. This can help humanize your portfolio and give potential employers a face to associate with your work. Choose a high-quality photo that accurately represents your professional persona.

Finally, consider including any personal projects that showcase your interests and skills. This could be a side project you’re currently working on, a design challenge you completed, or a passion project that you’re proud of. Including personal projects can demonstrate your creativity and passion for design and can help potential employers get a better sense of who you are as a designer.

When including personal projects, be sure to explain why you chose to include them in your portfolio and how they relate to your professional goals. This will help potential employers understand the relevance of your personal projects to your overall brand as a UI/UX designer.

7. Keep it Up to Date

Your portfolio should be a living document that you update regularly. As you complete new projects, make sure to add them to your portfolio. Also, make sure to remove any outdated work. Keeping your portfolio up to date will show potential employers that you are actively working and growing in your field.

In conclusion, building an outstanding UI/UX design portfolio takes time and effort, but it is a crucial step to landing a good job in the industry. Focus on your objective, showcase your process, highlight your strengths, tell a story, keep it concise, showcase your personality, and keep it up to date. By following these tips, you will be on your way to building an impressive UI/UX design portfolio that will set you apart from the competition.