Teamwork in your portfolio why it matters

Teamwork in your portfolio why it matters.

In a recent post on Threads I shared the 3 key areas that make up a great design portfolio. Below is a link to the post.

To break it down, the key areas I talked about in the post where:

1. Focusing on the details
2. Showing your step-by-step process
3. Sharing your collaboration experience

That last area is what I get the most questions about from designers: teamwork and collaboration.

Here are some of the questions I often hear:

" Why is it important I mention collaboration? "
" Do they really care about what teams I've worked on? "
" How do show my collaboration experience in my portfolio?"

Most designers ignore this key area in their portfolios, and to be honest it's a big one.

Let's break down the importance of collaboration and how to show it in your portfolio.

Teamwork is what they are looking for

As a former hiring manager I was hyper focused on good design team collaboration – and with cross-functional teams as well – working with people from different departments or teams within the organization.

Team collaboration breaks down silos, improves problem solving, increases productivity and creates a more positive and supportive work environment, leading to higher job satisfaction.

It also demonstrates crucial soft skills like communication, empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution.

The importance of good team work skills can not be understated.

If you look at any designer job posting requirement they often mention the different team members you work and collaborate with on a daily basis.

This is why it's important to show how you have worked with others effectively. And, your portfolio is a great place to showcase that.

How to show collaboration in your portfolio

For each project, define your specific role within the team. This helps the viewer understand your individual contributions versus the collective effort.

Use phrases like:

• "As the lead UX designer, I..."
• "I collaborated with the visual designer on..."
• "My responsibilities included..."

Describe the collaboration process
Briefly explain how you collaborated.

Examples might include:

• "We held regular cross-functional meetings to align on project goals."
• "I participated in design critiques, providing and receiving feedback to iterate on solutions."
• "I worked closely with engineers during the implementation phase to ensure design feasibility."
• "We used collaborative tools to share progress and gather input."

Highlight your contribution
Show how your collaborative efforts contributed to successful outcomes.

Examples:

• "By participating in user research sessions with the research team, I gained valuable insights that informed our design decisions."
• "My ability to effectively communicate design rationale to stakeholders led to buy-in and project approval."

Collaboration section
Some designers may add a separate section in their portfolios highlighting their teamwork philosophy and providing specific examples across different projects. This can be added to your About section.

Final thought

By consciously showcasing your collaboration experiences in your portfolio, you're not just demonstrating your design skills; you're proving you're a valuable team player ready to contribute to collective success.