⚡️Catchy Portfolios

🚧 NOTE: THIS PROJECT IS STILL WORK-IN-PROGRESS

How to Design a UX Portfolio that Highlights Your Problem-Solving Skills And Catches Your Readers Attention

Tired of getting rejected from companies?

Landing a design job in 2024 is not the same anymore

Thousands are applying, and the competition is fierce. It's tough, especially when you don't know why you're being rejected.

After reviewing numerous portfolios from designers who are just starting out, I’ve identified the problem:

If you’ve been learning through a bootcamp or are a self-taught designer, It’s possible that your case study doesn’t represent how design problems are typically approached in the industry.

You learn principles, yet lack depth in understanding and applying them. In the end your portfolios don't resonate with hiring managers.

Meet Aswin

I’m a design manager at Deliveryhero with almost a decade of experience in this field. In my role, I oversee products used by millions of users globally.

Early in my career, I faced rejection from hundreds of companies, including Deliveryhero, where I now lead a team of designers.

My journey through roles at Grab, Housing, and various startups brought me a crucial realization: My portfolio lacked depth in understanding.

Specifically, it didn’t show how the design process contributed to the final solution, and how it was different from simply starting on Figma.

I could improve its visual appeal to draw more attention, but in interviews I struggled to adapt those concepts to a novel problem.

That was the reason for all those rejections.

I’ve taken all these learnings and crafted them into a format that not only makes your portfolio stand out, but also equips you with the knowledge to apply these concepts to any design challenge.

The Alternate Approach

In this course, we'll tackle problems like entrepreneurs, diving deep into first principles. Forget the jargon; we’ll focus on the few repeatable processes that drive most design projects.

We'll use the latest, most impactful problem-solving methods to build case studies that will resonate with any design leader or manager.

Less theory, more practice.

Our focus will be to make UI design less about visuals, more about problem-solving.

We'll show you how to prototype and test effectively.

And, for the finale, we'll make your portfolio pop.

This Is Not Another UX Bootcamp.

This course is not about explaining every detail of design and confusing you. Rather, it’s about setting you on a path to develop solutions fast from a problem statement.

What's included

The course is covered in 4 modules and each module will tackle a specific part of your design process.

Module 1: Problem Area Mastery

• Research like an indie-hacker
• Benchmark to set the baseline
• Find user-centric solution gems
• Compile findings with a storyteller's flair

Module 2: Innovative Solution Crafting

• Learn to Imitate, then innovate
• Find edge cases like a detective
• Mix and match ideas through explorations

Module 3: Design Refinement and Testing

• How to prototype, FAST
• Test ‘em on Usability Hub's real-world arena
• Present insights with a captivating twist

Module 4: Portfolio Storytelling

• Weave into an engaging narrative
• Optimise for an impactful '5-Second Glance'
• Top it off with your unique design signature

Ready to Make Your Portfolio Stand Out?

Commit to the next 30 days to rework your portfolio and significantly increase your chances of getting hired.

FAQ

Can I Guarantee a Job?

Obviously not. I can't predict market trends or the demand for junior designers. What I can do is share industry best practices and provide the knowledge and guidance you need.

Will This Process Work?

I've repeatedly used and refined this process in successful product launches. It's tried and tested.

Can I Apply This to Any Design Challenge?

Absolutely. The principles are versatile and applicable to most challenges.

Is Prior Design Knowledge Required?

Yes, a basic understanding of design is necessary to grasp these concepts. This isn’t a traditional UX course; treat it as supplemental material if your UX course didn’t equip you with the skills to solve real-life design problems.

Would I Need to Redo My Entire Portfolio?

Not necessarily, but your solutions may change if your initial process wasn't clear or legitimate. Depending on your approach, you might need to overhaul your portfolio. So, the short answer is – it depends.

Will I Receive 1:1 Feedback and Support?

Once you join, you'll receive a link to a discord server, where every designer can post their work and get feedback from myself or one of the mentors in the group.

What If a Friend Says This Method Won't Work?

I welcome criticism and am open to discussing any concerns and adapting the content if necessary. Feel free to reach out to me at me@aswin.sh.