The UX/UI portfolio

To learn a person's character and how they see the world, you have to talk to them. To understand how a designer thinks and how they approach their work, it is sometimes enough to look at what they have made. Some designers prefer to stay within one style; others are open to experiment. Some people's work is chaotic, while others calculate every pixel between the buttons. A UX/UI designer's portfolio is often the deciding factor when a candidate is considered — and it counts for more than the resume. So how do you present your projects in a way that wins you a good offer and sets you apart?

How a UX/UI portfolio differs from other designers'

A graphic designer needs to show which techniques they command, how well trained their eye is and how they work with visuals. UX/UI work is not only about aesthetics. It is also logic, analysis and even psychology, and every one of those should be legible in how the cases are presented.

What sets a UX/UI portfolio apart:

1. The designer shows not only the result but the decision-making. Why this composition? What lies behind the style?
2. A strong portfolio contains a customer journey map or user interviews. UX research demonstrates a professional approach.
3. The logic of an interface is shown through prototypes. An artist or a graphic or 3D designer does not need this. A UX/UI designer working on an interface adds interactive mockups and aims to show the project alive.
4. The portfolio carries more text than a motion or graphic designer's would. Visuals alone are not enough here; they need reinforcing with words — at minimum the project's goals, the problems stated and the results listed.

The main purpose of the document is to show that the designer does not merely draw attractive screens but can solve the problems set for them.

What a UX/UI portfolio should contain

One enemy of any presentation is sameness, and a portfolio should have none of it. To strengthen yours, show the range of skills you have. What to include:

• A case with UX research described in detail and users' problems solved.
• An improvement to an existing product — ideally a well-known one.
• A complete case in which you show the whole process of building a UX/UI.
• Add a project with interaction. It can be small, but animation and prototyping show that you command Figma or After Effects.
• Large companies usually have design systems. Show that you know how to work with components and guidelines.
• If you have worked on a real project, include that case without fail. Employers value that experience more, and adding a client testimonial and success metrics raises your market value considerably.

Our advice: write down which niches, products and styles you would like to work in. A portfolio should work for you rather than follow a set of prescribed rules. Include not only the work you like but tie it together with a common idea — one style in different formats, say, or one business sector across different products: a mobile application, a web service and so on. That is an excellent way to be remembered, to occupy your own niche and at the same time to show your range.

Advice on presenting a UX/UI portfolio

Prepare for a truth that shocks many beginners: recruiters spend only one to three minutes looking at a portfolio. How do you interest an HR specialist in that time? By making the work easy to scan and the needed information easy to find. A few recommendations:

1. Do not overload the design with visual elements that carry no meaning.
2. Make the navigation easy.
3. Show how you think — but briefly and concisely: here was the problem, here was my solution, here was the result.
4. Make the portfolio work on different devices. It may be viewed on a desktop, a tablet or a phone.
5. Bring your cases to life. If there are complex transitions, show the animation and show how your solution actually behaves.
6. Include only your best work. Quality, not quantity.
7. Do not forget your contact details. Add links to Behance, Dribbble, LinkedIn and other ways of reaching you.

What matters most in the presentation is logic. Step into the recruiter's shoes and look at your case through their eyes.

How to improve your portfolio

Your main document as a specialist has to stay current, which means updating it regularly and adapting it as things change:

• Get into the habit of adding new work every six to twelve months, even when you are not job hunting.
• Add testimonials from clients or colleagues.
• Sometimes a portfolio is a way of finding clients even without a resume. Put your work on Behance and Dribbble, or set up a professional social media account and share your cases there.

On the UI/UX Designer course at PASV you will gain more than the skills the profession requires. We help every student build a portfolio and prepare graduates for interviews — and that is not all. During the course our new designers work on real projects and add those cases to their portfolios, which improves their chances of getting hired.

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces of work should a portfolio have when looking for a first job?
Three to five is enough.

Which is better: one very detailed case, or several showing different skills?
Better to show a range of skills across several good pieces.

Where is best to host a UX/UI portfolio?
Behance or Dribbble.

Can you include coursework in a portfolio?
Yes.

Should you state which software the work was made in?
Yes — that tells an employer which tools you command.