Hey there, UX wizard! 🧙♂️ Looking to craft a portfolio that’ll make recruiters hit “contact” faster than a user bailing on a bad interface? You’re in the right place. Your portfolio isn't just a showcase—it’s your storybook of skills, creativity, and problem-solving superpowers. Follow these 10 fun steps to create a UX portfolio that'll shine like your favorite design tool on dark mode!
1. Start with the Basics—Your "About Me" Page
Let’s be honest: People want to know YOU, not just your wireframes! Write an “About Me” section that’s personable, quirky, and true to you. Avoid the clichés ("I'm passionate about design"—we know, we’re all here for that). Share your backstory, hobbies, or how UX sparked your curiosity!
👉 Fun Challenge: Use this UX Persona Generator to create a persona of your dream employer! Tailor your tone to match their vibe.
2. Choose Your Best Work—But Not Too Much
Your portfolio is like a playlist: no one wants to scroll through 25 average case studies. Pick 4–6 of your strongest projects that showcase a variety of skills—user research, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design.
💡 Pro Tip: Include projects that show real results. Did your redesign boost conversion rates? Include data to prove it!
3. Tell a Story with Case Studies
UX isn't just about screens; it's about problem-solving. Each project should tell a story:
The Problem: What issue were you tackling?
The Process: Research, ideation, wireframes, and iteration.
The Solution: How your design improved the user experience.
The Results: Concrete outcomes (metrics if possible).
🎮 Interactive Idea:
Embed a simple storytelling game! Something like a "choose your path" feature where users can navigate through your design choices.
4. Make It Visually Engaging
UX portfolios aren’t graphic design portfolios, but that doesn’t mean yours should be plain. Use modern typography, whitespace, and clean layouts to make content easy to digest. Think UX: Is your portfolio itself a smooth experience?
🖌️ Resource: Check out Dribbble’s UX Design Inspirations for layout ideas.
5. Show Your Process with Screenshots & Sketches
Don’t just slap the final designs onto the page like it’s a digital art gallery. Recruiters want to see how you think. Include sketches, early wireframes, research notes, and prototypes to highlight your workflow.
🎨 Challenge: Try out Figma Community Templates to create before-and-after sliders for your case studies.
6. Add a Research Showcase
Remember: UX isn’t just making things pretty—it’s solving real user problems. Show your research chops by sharing interviews, surveys, usability tests, and personas. Even better if you can show how insights influenced the final product.
📊 Mini-Game: Use Miro to create an interactive empathy map or user journey and link it to your project pages.
7. Demonstrate Collaboration
UX is a team sport. 🏀 Did you work with developers, product managers, or marketing? Share how you collaborated to achieve the final product.
🛠️ Resource: Add a project timeline using Lucidchart to visually show teamwork and milestones.
8. Create a "Secret Project" Area
Got NDA projects that you can't share publicly? Create a password-protected section with sneak peeks. It keeps you compliant while showing off sensitive work to trusted contacts.
🔐 Bonus Tip: Add a playful password riddle for extra engagement!
9. Include Testimonials & Feedback
Testimonials from clients, colleagues, or professors can add social proof to your portfolio. Sprinkle them throughout your case studies or on a dedicated “Testimonials” page.
📣 Pro Idea: Embed short video testimonials or interactive quotes (hint: hover effects!).
10. Add Personality to Your Contact Page
A recruiter loves a good CTA—so design your contact page like a pro. Make it fun and inviting! Add something interactive: a quirky form, a chatbot, or even an Easter egg!
📬 Fun Idea: Add a "Random Design Question Generator" to break the ice.
Bonus Round: Gamify Your Portfolio Experience
Why not take your portfolio to the next level with interactive elements like:
A clickable “UX journey” roadmap.
Easter eggs hidden throughout your case studies.
Micro-interactions, animations, or gamified buttons!
🕹️ Resource: Explore CodePen for playful UX effects and interactive animations.
Ready, Set, Publish! 🚀
Before you hit "publish," test your portfolio with friends, mentors, or other UX designers. Make sure it’s fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.
👀 Feedback Resource: Try UserTesting's Free Test Plan to get real user feedback!
TL;DR Cheat Sheet:
Craft a killer "About Me" page.
Showcase your best projects—fewer is better!
Tell stories through your case studies.
Design with clean, modern visuals.
Show your process—sketches, wireframes, research.
Highlight user research.
Demonstrate collaboration.
Use password-protected sections for NDA work.
Include testimonials for social proof.
Make your contact page fun and engaging.
— The Userly Digital Team
