Why Your UX Portfolio Sucks: 5 common mistakes and How to Fix them

Are you a UX designer struggling to get hired? Are you spending countless hours designing and perfecting your portfolio, only to be met with rejection after rejection? As a hiring manager in the UX design field, I've seen it all - the good, the bad, and the downright terrible. And let me tell you, most portfolios I come across fall into the latter category.

But fear not, dear reader, for I am here to help. In this post, I'll be sharing the top 5 common mistakes I see in UX design portfolios and how to fix them.

Mistake 1 - Not Showing Your Design Process

One of the biggest mistakes I see in UX portfolios is the lack of showing the design process. As a hiring manager, I want to see how you approach a design problem, how you conduct research, and how you arrive at your final solution. Don't just show me the end result, show me how you got there.

How to fix it:

Include your design process in your portfolio. This can be in the form of case studies, where you walk the reader through your process step by step. Show sketches, wireframes, and prototypes, and explain the decisions you made at each stage.

Mistake 2 - Overcomplicating Your Portfolio

Your portfolio should showcase your design skills, not your ability to create a flashy website. I've seen portfolios with so much animation and interactivity that it takes forever to load and navigate. Remember, the hiring manager is looking for content, not bells and whistles.

How to fix it:

Keep your portfolio simple and clean. Use a design that is easy to navigate and doesn't distract from the content. Avoid adding too many unnecessary elements that slow down the page load time.

Mistake 3 - Lack of Context

Another common mistake I see is the lack of context. I want to see how your design work has impacted the real world, not just how pretty it looks. Show me the problem you were trying to solve and how your design solved it.

How to fix it:

Include context in your case studies. Talk about the business problem, the user problem, and the impact your design had on both. Use metrics to show how your design improved the user experience or increased revenue.

Mistake 4 - Lack of Diversity

Having a diverse portfolio is important, not just in terms of the types of projects you've worked on, but also in terms of the people you've worked with. A portfolio that only showcases one type of project or one type of user won't be as impressive as one that shows a range of experience.

How to fix it:

Include a variety of projects in your portfolio. Show that you can design for different industries, different user groups, and different types of interfaces. If you've worked on projects with a team, highlight the collaboration and teamwork that went into the project.

Mistake 5 - Not Paying Attention to Detail

As a UX designer, attention to detail is key. Your portfolio should be no exception. Spelling and grammatical errors, inconsistent formatting, and poor image quality can all detract from the overall quality of your portfolio.

How to fix it:

Proofread your portfolio thoroughly. Use a consistent format and style throughout. Make sure your images are high quality and optimized for web viewing.

In conclusion, your UX portfolio doesn't have to suck. By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the fixes I've outlined, you can create a portfolio that showcases your design skills and lands you your dream job.