If you’re a designer, your portfolio is your most important career tool — and it’s the thing that gets judged first, fast, and sometimes unfairly.
After 25+ years in this industry — reviewing hundreds of portfolios as a hiring manager, educator, and design coach — I’ve noticed a pattern.
Most portfolios are… fine. But very few are great.
If you're ready to stand out (especially in this job market), here are three key areas that can take your portfolio from good to great.
1. Sweat the details
Details aren't just minor elements; they are powerful indicators of your design approach.
Far too often, portfolios stumble on these seemingly small points.
I frequently encounter:
- Blurry images: Pixelated screenshots or low-resolution visuals that immediately detract from the perceived quality of your work.
- Inconsistent styling: Uneven visual styles across different sections or projects, can detract from overall professionalism.
- Type chaos: Too many typefaces or inconsistent font sizes can show a lack visual harmony.
- Preventable errors: Typos and grammatical mistakes signal a lack of attention to detail.
Here’s how to elevate your presentation:
Images
- Utilize high-resolution images throughout your portfolio. Experiment with PNG or JPG formats and various scaling options (1x, 2x, 3x) when exporting from tools like Figma to ensure clear visuals on every platform.
- Be mindful of how different portfolio platforms (Behance, Dribbble, personal websites, etc.) render your work.
UI Elements
- Maintain consistency in UI components: iconography, colors, typography, spacing. Use similar project templates throughout. Treat every project like a real product.
Proofread Everything
- Typos and grammatical errors can be a significant red flag. Always enlist a fresh pair of eyes to proofread your case studies before they see the light of day.
Ultimately, a polished portfolio speaks volumes about your dedication to your craft. It communicates pride and precision.
Anything less is a missed opportunity to make a powerful first impression.
2. Articulate your design process
Whether your expertise lies in branding, UX, product, or web design, hiring managers want to understand your problem-solving approach.
Each project in your portfolio should guide them through your thinking:
What was the core design challenge you were tasked with addressing?
- What user needs or business goals informed this project?
- What specific steps did you undertake to arrive at your solution?
- What different design avenues did you explore, and what rationale led you to the final approach?
- How did you measure or evaluate the success of your design solutions?
“Your portfolio should tell a story. If I can’t follow your process or understand your decisions, I can’t assess your fit.”
– UX Hiring Manager, IBM
Don't assume that your designs alone will communicate your thought process. They won't.
By clearly articulating your process – the challenges you faced, the steps you took, and, most importantly, the reasoning behind your decisions – you provide the crucial context that elevates your visuals.
The level of detail you provide can be tailored to the complexity of the project and specific role you're targeting.
3. Showcase teamwork
Design is rarely a solo act. Most roles involve collaborating with a range of professionals, including fellow designers, product managers, engineers, marketers, and clients.
Demonstrating your ability to work effectively within a team is crucial.
Showcase your collaborative skills:
Clearly outlining your specific role and responsibilities within the team dynamic.
- Detail the methods and tools you employed for effective collaboration, such as specific design software, communication platforms, or in-person workshops.
- For solo projects, emphasize how you embodied collaborative principles through user research and user testing. Frame these activities as demonstrating a user-centric approach and an understanding of iterative design – this underscores your ability to understand and advocate for the end-user, a crucial aspect of teamwork.
- If collaboration yielded quantifiable results (e.g., improved user engagement metrics, accelerated development timelines), mention these achievements to show the impact of your teamwork.
Final Thought
A beautiful portfolio grabs attention.
A thoughtful, polished, collaborative portfolio gets interviews.
Take a fresh look at yours — where can you level up this week?
Anthony Faria
the Designer's Roadmap
Helping designers navigate the path to success
When you're ready, here are few ways I can help you:
- Portfolio Review Laser focused 1:1 portfolio review where I evaluate all aspects of your work; visuals, storytelling, overall approach recommending key improvements to help your work stand out.
- 1:1 Career Coaching Session My 1:1 coaching sessions are designed to help you overcome challenges, set clear objectives, and develop a personalized roadmap for success.
- Job Hunting Checklist The exact steps I use to help designers successfully improve their job search all in a free checklist! Stay organized, focused, and prepared throughout your job hunt (free).
- Job Posting Sites for Designers Over the years I've collected job boards exclusively for design jobs. 100+ active links (free).
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