💼 Case studies breakdown #8! | Special edition 💌

The breakdown of
my favorite case studies #8

Hey, UX friend. It's Anfisa: A senior product at MEWS, a mom, and a community mentor, helping designers in the job-hunting space.

☕️ A lot of designers think of their case studies as a detailed report, listing every step they took. But a case study is an experience too.

An experience designed to tell a story to busy, overcaffeinated, tired design managers. For them, prioritizing scanning UX is key. Therefore, rather than focusing on every single step, think about how you can guide them through the highlights that show what you can do.

💌 In this issue, I want to share some of my favorite storytelling portfolio case studies that took hiring managers by hand (and helped them land jobs). Let's do it?

Check out also the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh editions.

1. Ania

Ania truly nailed her project story, hitting every mark. I have to say, this case study impresses me on so many levels. What stands out, though, is the storytelling, craft, Framer skills, and creativity throughout the project. It's not just visually engaging—it also weaves in the research and design process so smoothly that you hardly even notice it. Ania makes it feel effortless to read, and that takes a lot of thinking.

→ Check the project here

Ania landed a job in June, 2024 at the Post Office LTD, UK.

2. Nhi

Nhi immediately stands out as an experienced designer. She nails her personal brand, IxD and UI design, and business sense—all within the first two sections. But she doesn’t just lead with her strengths; Nhi backs up her design choices with thoughtful design thinking, shown through storyboards.

Using Personas in a case study can be risky, but Nhi’s example shows how effective it can be in the right context. The same goes for harder-to-scan elements like user flows and documentation. What makes her case study different is its structure: rather than a rigid double-diamond template, she organizes it as stories, making it engaging and easy to follow.

→ Check the project here

3. Isaac

Issac cracked the code by showing just enough to cover design thinking, exploration, and a problem-solving mindset. What I love most about his case study is how easy it is to follow. The titles may not fully capture the story, but the overall layout has a great flow.

Using a rhythm of 1 title, 3 lines of text, and 1 image, it’s easy to scan—and inviting enough that you’ll actually want to read it. This case study tells a story through his design choices and explorations, showcasing Issac’s strengths in UI right from the start.

→ Check the project here

4. Joneil

Joneil may be a junior UX designer, but a quick look at her case study shows that her skills go far beyond that label. While she’s still growing in interaction and UI design, her critical thinking, openness to exploration, and ability to simplify complexity demonstrate a mature designer mindset. That’s something we really value in junior designers today, isn’t it?

Her maturity also enhances the portfolio experience. Each aspect of her work is explained thoughtfully, making it easy for anyone to understand her priorities. Overall, it’s a brilliant, straightforward, and self-explanatory experience that invites readers in.

→ Check the project here

Joneil landed a job in August 2024 at Fitcheck app

5. Anna

Anna put together a highly effective, straightforward case study. It’s low on flash but big on impact—and that’s what makes it so powerful. Just by scanning the titles, you can get a sense of the whole journey: the before and after, her design thinking, the “failures,” the iterations, and most importantly, the impact.

This case study is a perfect example of “less is more.” With just the essential story elements, Anna manages to check all the boxes without overwhelming the reader.

→ Check the project here

Anna landed a job she targeted in August 2024 at a scale-up Make.com

A few lessons we can learn from these case studies:

✔ They used storytelling techniques.

✔ They told a story with titles, prioritizing quick scanning.

✔ They used storyboarding to put managers into the user's shoes.

✔ They showed explorations and critical thinking.

✔ They had solid UI, but also business impact testimony.

✔ They were brief, yet showed personality.

✔ They showed reflection at the end - a growth mindset signal.

💜

This was a special review of the case studies from IntoUX.design community members. All of these members created the portfolio with the help of video courses, live reviews, Framer tips, and of course the support of the hearty community members.

If you want to learn how to make engaging case studies too

✨ Join us at IntoUX.design community ✨