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.

💎 How To Get Your Work Recognized (+ free Notion templates). How to record your accomplishments, small and big wins and the impact you've made with your design — to build confidence and better progress in your career ↓ We often assume that good work speaks for itself. If we just work hard enough, our work will get noticed and we will be elevated across our career ladder. Yet more often than not, your achievements will get lost somewhere between reorg efforts, new priorities, abandoned initiatives and urgent deadlines. Managers change all the time. You might have a strong relationship with your manager already, but never get a chance to move up the ladder because they have already moved to another team. A new manager, despite all your efforts, often won’t be able to promote you as an internal policy might block any new promotions in their first 6 or 12 months. So you’ll have to start over again. A good way to push back is to have a “brag document” (https://lnkd.in/ekntJPYU) — a running document that lists your small and big achievements, feedback from your managers and colleagues, screenshots of your appraisals and recommendations, along with lessons you’ve learned. It also builds confidence in your abilities and helps you better see your career trajectory. Useful things to include: – New skills you’ve acquired – New certificates from UX training – Projects that saved teams time – Workshops you’ve organized – Onboarding sessions you helped with – Team-wide changes you’ve initiated – Endorsements you’ve received – Mentoring sessions you’ve coached – How you successfully changed culture – How you’ve dealt with design debt – Proposing, getting buy-in, delivering – Coordinating complex comms – Lessons you’ve learned – Conflicts you’ve resolved Useful pointers to keep in mind: 🚫 Don’t update in huge and bulky batches. ✅ Update it regularly, weekly or bi-weekly. ✅ Set a recurring event on your calendar. ✅ Accumulate concrete evidence and results. ✅ Work also happens outside of actual design work. 🚫 Don’t forget to include the outcomes of your work. Also, as Stephen Kernan noted, whenever possible, try linking your accomplishments to the career ladder one level above your current role. If you can prove that you’ve been performing at the next level for past 3-6 months, you will make the case for your promotion strong and more obvious. Useful resources: Get Your Work Recognized: Write A Brag Document, by Julia Evans https://lnkd.in/eQEhZTqr Brag Doc Template (Notion), by Stephen Kernan https://lnkd.in/ekntJPYU Keeping Track of Your Accomplishments (+ Notion template), by Jeff Humble https://lnkd.in/eZcYAiD6 How To Track Mistakes and Lessons Learned, by Sally Lait https://lnkd.in/eEhrY9A7 BragDocs Template Generator, by Jonny Burch, Neil Cameron https://www.bragdocs.com/ [continues in comments]

We all know we're supposed to "show instead of tell." But most design portfolios fail to do this and here's why. 👇 Designers love showcasing their raw work in their portfolios including outputs or deliverables such as: → Sketches → Diagrams → User flows → Wireframes → Sticky notes → Journey maps But to be honest, 90% of the time, I have absolutely no idea what is going on in those images. For example, I'll often come across a screenshot or picture of 25+ sticky notes, but: → They are too zoomed out. → If I zoom in, they're too blurry. → Even if I can seem them, they're too overwhelming. Then I start asking myself questions such as: → Am I supposed to read every sticky note? → What's important about these sticky notes? → Is this worth my time and attention to decipher? This is where storytelling comes in. What if instead of showing a raw zoomed out screenshot of sticky notes, we instead pulled out the key highlights and takeaways? Then we can guide the reader's attention to what's actually important, and optionally include a link to the original raw image afterwards. This creates a far more compelling narrative for our audience (hiring managers and recruiters), and ensures we're showing the right level of detail that is necessary to understand the story. Now to be clear, I'm not saying you should entirely avoid raw images or assets (or even raw Figma files). For example, these can be effective during the interview process because the designer can use their voice to guide their audience through the image. But when it's an online written case study submitted with an application, then you won't be in the room when a hiring manager first sees it. In that moment, your story will need to stand on it's own. It will need to communicate the right level of clarity and detail to compel the hiring manager to offer you an interview. In summary, when we want to "show instead of tell", that doesn't mean slapping a raw screenshot or image in our portfolio. It means reflecting on how we're using our words and images to give context, clarity, and tell an impactful story. Use it effectively to your advantage. What are your thoughts? #ux #design #portfolio #casestudy #storytelling

Don’t Just List Tasks—Showcase Your Value on Your CV Your CV should not be a list of the jobs you’ve held—it should demonstrate the unique impact you’ve made throughout your career. Yet, so many CVs end up being little more than task lists. Take a look at this. 👉 Instead of saying, “Managed social media accounts,” Say, “Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months through targeted campaigns.” See how one focuses on tasks and the other highlights results? Employers want to see the value you bring, not just what you were told to do. A Client’s Success Story: I recently worked with a client who was in marketing. Her CV initially read like a job description: “Created email campaigns” and “Collaborated with sales teams.” While this is great for using key works and incorporating the job description, it just doesn't have any impact. We reframed her experience to focus on results: ✅ “Launched email campaigns that boosted open rates by 25%, contributing to a 15% increase in sales leads.” ✅ “Developed cross-departmental strategies with sales, resulting in a streamlined funnel and increased conversion rates by 10%.” The result? Not only did her CV stand out, but it led to interviews where she could discuss her real contributions. Here are some ways you can showcase value on your CV: 1️⃣ Use numbers, percentages, or metrics to quantify your achievements. 2️⃣ Highlight the outcomes and benefits of your work, not just the actions. 3️⃣ Start bullet points with strong action verbs like boosted, increased, reduced, streamlined, or led. Make it clear why you’re the one who can deliver results. www.joanneleecoaching.com 👉🏻Employers - let us know in the comments what you are looking for on a CV in 2025. #cvwriting #careercoaching #careerdevelopment #jobsearchtips

"My work is self-explanatory" is the most common creative portfolio mistake. If you want potential clients to trust you, show them your work process, not just the final result. I recommend choosing your top 5 projects and turning them into case studies. Great case studies share the same five elements as a blockbuster movie: 1. POSTER The thumbnail on your website. It should include: – Visual: Something that will make people click. – Name: The title of your idea, campaign, or project. – Hook: Describe it in one line. 2. ACT I: SETUP Set the scene and explain: – Who was the project for? – Who was the client? – What was the challenge? – Who was the target audience? – Any cultural or professional references people need to know to understand the idea? 3. ACT II: ADVENTURE Show your process: – Insights that led you to your solution. – Sketches. – Mood boards. – Failed attempts. 4. ACT III: RESOLUTION Show your outcome: – The final outcome: copy, visuals, or whatever you created for the brand. – Results: revenue, clicks, views, shares, subscribers, awards, comments. 5. END CREDITS Mention and link to all contributors. If you have any questions about portfolios, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments. I promise to reply to every single one :)

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.

I rejected 47 portfolios yesterday. All beautiful websites. All great craft. All are getting rejected for the same reason. They're using websites for the WRONG thing. Let me be clear: Websites are PERFECT for your landing page. But for CASE STUDIES? That is where you are losing us. Why? You can't control the narrative when I control the scroll. Think about it: You spent 60 hours perfecting that case study ON YOUR WEBSITE. I spent 60 seconds scanning it. → Scrolled past your impact metrics → Skipped your process → Never saw your best work → REJECTED 🫠 Sound familiar? The designers getting $20K above asking? They split their portfolio strategy: Landing page → website (style, aesthetic, brand) Case studies → decks (narrative, control, story) "But Lena, everyone puts everything on their website!" Yeah. Everyone also gets rejected. Your website should be your gallery. Your first impression. Your vibe. But case studies need something different. After reviewing thousands of portfolios, I can tell you: Pitch wins for case studies. Every time. Here's why: 1️⃣ Total narrative control One slide = one message. Better narrative flow. Those "transition slides" with just "CONTEXT" or "IMPACT"? They reset my brain. They build anticipation. They control the story. 2️⃣ Analytics that actually matter Finally see if companies opened your work. Which cases they viewed longest. Where they dropped off. No more guessing - just data. 3️⃣ You're in the room (without being there) Record yourself presenting each case. Right there on the slides. Update typos without breaking links. Add missing metrics on Sunday night. Same link works Monday morning. The designer I hired at 20% above budget? STUNNING landing page on their website. Every case study? Linked to Pitch. They understood the game: Website = Your design gallery (set the vibe) Pitch deck = Your case narratives (land the job) See the difference? Different tools for different jobs. Together, they change everything. 🖤 #PoweredByPitch

You’re an architect, you pour your soul into a projectl. Then you post it online, expecting… what? Recognition? New clients? I learned the hard way that nobody cares about your architecture projects online in the way we architects think they do. Not really. Because most potential clients aren’t looking for your portfolio. They’re looking for answers to three very specific questions: — Do I like how it looks? — Is it in my budget? — How much headache will this be? If you’re struggling to connect with the right audience on social media, it’s probably because you’re showing them what you care about, not what they care about. It’s time to stop treating your social feed as a digital portfolio and start treating it as a conversation. A space where you address those core client concerns, openly and honestly. So, how do you build a presence that actually resonates? It’s about balancing value. About showing, not just telling. About guiding, not just presenting. Think about this mix for your content strategy, it’s not a magic formula, but it’s a starting point for thinking clearly about what works in real practice: — Education (50%): Help them understand the process, the value, the possibilities. Demystify architecture. — Entertainment (20%): Engage them. Make them smile. Show personality. — Behind the Scenes (10%): Build trust. Show the effort, the craft, the human element. — Aesthetics (10%): Yes, show your work, but in context. Show the impact of good design. This isn't about dumbing down your craft. It’s about being an informed curator, a facilitator who helps people navigate the complex world of design and construction. It’s about building ideas that survive across platforms, connecting those worlds that often feel so separate. If you’re an architect feeling unsure how your incredible design work actually connects with the practical realities of client acquisition online, this approach is for you.

Your portfolio case study can make or break your chances of landing your dream UX job. Here’s how to create a standout case study: 1/ Choose the Right Project Select a project that showcases your skills and impact. This is not the time to be modest. What project demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and creativity? 2/ Tell a Compelling Story Start with the problem and your approach to solving it. Structure your story to keep the reader engaged. What was the challenge? How did you tackle it? 3/ Show Your Process Detail your design process from research to final solution. Include sketches, wireframes, and iterations. What methods did you use? Why did you choose them? 4/ Highlight User and Business Outcomes Focus on the results your design achieved. Use metrics and testimonials if possible. What impact did your work have on users and the business? 5/ Keep It Concise and Visual Avoid lengthy text blocks. Use visuals to support your narrative. How can you make your case study easy to scan and understand? 6/ Reflect on Your Learnings Share what you learned from the project. Be honest about what went well and what didn’t. How did this project help you grow as a designer? 7/ Optimize for Your Audience Tailor your case study to your ideal role and company. Highlight skills and experiences that match their needs. What will resonate most with the hiring managers? 8/ Get Feedback Ask peers or mentors to review your case study. Incorporate their suggestions for improvement. What can you refine to make your case study even stronger? 9/ Keep It Updated Regularly update your case studies with new projects and insights. Stay current to reflect your latest skills and experiences. What new projects can you add to showcase your growth? ----- And that’s how to create a standout portfolio case study. I hope this helps!

How to Turn 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 Anyone can claim they get results. But case studies let you prove it. When done right, a case study isn’t just a portfolio piece. It’s a credibility multiplier. Here’s the formula I use: 🔹 1. Start with the challenge. Frame the exact problem your client faced. Make it something your audience relates to. 🔹 2. Show the process. Give a peek behind the curtain your thinking, your strategy, your unique approach. 🔹 3. Share tangible results. Numbers speak louder than adjectives. Use metrics that matter. 🔹 4. Add the human voice. A client quote or testimonial creates emotional proof you can’t manufacture. 🔹 5. Keep it short. Attention spans are limited. Clarity beats complexity. Done right, your case studies stop being “proof of work” and start becoming proof of trust. Because people don’t just buy results. They buy confidence that you can deliver them again.