💼 Ditch the UX Case study templates

👋 Happy Tuesday. Let's talk portfolios...

Look, we've all been there—pouring hours into UX case studies that somehow don't get the attention they deserve.

After mentoring hundreds of designers through portfolio reviews, I've seen what works and what falls flat. The designers who land interviews aren't necessarily the most talented—they just know how to showcase their work effectively.

Here are the exact portfolio strategies I share with my mentees who go from being overlooked to getting callbacks. No magic tricks or design jargon, just practical approaches that actually work in the real world.

🧠 Think like a hiring manager

Let's get real: Hiring managers scan hundreds of portfolios per role and won't read every word. Take a look at yours through their eyes.

Would YOU stop scrolling?

📖 Tell a story people can't ignore

👉 Context → Journey → Results.

It's as simple as that. Humans are wired for stories, not process documentation. Make them care about the problem before you show how clever your solution is.

Here are 3 great story examples:

🔍 Show your unique perspective

Your case study should reveal YOUR thinking style.

Are you visually-driven? Research-obsessed? Metrics-focused?

How are YOU overcoming the real obstacles?

How are YOU navigating complexity / politics / conflicts / constraints?

Don't hide what makes you different.

📕 Imagine your case study is a book in a bookstore

Will your book COVER stand out? Will the case study TITLE be catchy? Nobody has time to read your "book" at the bookstore. Hiring managers check the cover and flip through it.

Start at the END: show the final design, business impact, and intriguing challenge, and only then the story.

📝 Optimise for titles & infographics. Not process & screenshots

Your section titles should tell the complete story. Each insight should naturally lead to the next. If it doesn't move the story forward, it doesn't belong in your case study.

*https://www.olivierifrah.com/job-card-redesign*

🎯 Leave them wanting more

The goal isn't to document every decision—it's to get them interested enough to call you. Save some juicy details for the interview.

And if you’re feeling stuck or need guidance from design leaders (like an ex-Google UX director Chris Abad), the IntoUXdesign community is here to help you review your portfolio and keep you motivated.

💪 You've got this,

Anfisa

❓ Which tip stood out to you most today?

🧠 Think like a hiring manager

📖 Tell a story people can't ignore

🔍 Show your unique perspective

📕 Imagine your case study is a book in a bookstore

📝 Optimise for titles and infographics

🎯 Leave them wanting more