Weve seen it all. I would tell the story of me thriving in highly complex domains, like the chemical processing industry and the American education system. Sorry, an error occurred! role in UXR, check out my website: eniolaabioye.com. Research professionals are often required to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) before beginning a project. What do you want people to learn about you and your work when they land on your portfolio? Mine would be simple, sketchy, and playful. First, she treats us to a bold, eye-catching headline that describes her in terms of her favorite activities. Be sure to take photos of your work when completing a whiteboard challenge during an interview. Karina also recommended four UXR portfolios to check out. There are two key lessons we can learn from Olivias portfolio: first, start each case study by framing the problem in detail, and second, frame the problem in a way that conveys empathy. She also discusses how she would test and iterate with more resources, giving her interviewers a preview of the value shed bring to the company. Either way, you want to make your mark in the world of UXand that means making sure youve got an impressive portfolio to your name. A service that uses plant care as a method to empower users to cultivate (and talk about) their own mental health. Walk through how you socialized your findings. Priyanka Gupta is a product designer and tech enthusiast based in San Francisco. This is much more personal and empathy-driven than if shed said Users struggle to come up with date ideas because theyre so busy. Last but not least, refer back to the original problem throughouteven when you progress to the solution. Your UX design portfolio should therefore demonstrate how you identify and tackle a variety of user problems. Clearly indicate that this is an unsolicited redesign and that you have no affiliation with the company. Where most of us might just abandon ship and find an alternative product, Priyanka goes above and beyond: she redesigns the entire experience! Are you fun and quirky? That purpose is to showcase your skills and experience to potential Do you need a degree to become a UX designer? An unsolicited redesign (sometimes called an uninvited redesign) is an excellent way to show off your skills before you ever land your first job as a UX designer. Next, Olivia explains, in detail, how she set about trying to solve this problemin a section aptly named There Must Be Something Out There. Supporting your case studies with visual artifacts really brings the project to life. Keep it compact yet high-impact on the home page, and then provide more detail in a dedicated About section. Aim to precede your problem statement with a small paragraph dedicated to setting the scene. The UX portfolio includes some big names and extended case studies of the work he has done for them. Over the course of my career as a UX Researcher, Ive had the pleasure of conducting portfolio reviews while interviewing candidates, coaching UXRs in building exemplary portfolios and of course refining my own. How did you keep your stakeholders in the loop? In this article, well walk through seven types of portfolio case studies you can add to your portfolio that dont require you already having a job. You focus here is making this concise and digestible because you may feel compelled to go on for days about this. Make sure your portfolio provides a good UX. Recipients of financial aid will have full access to course content and assignments required to earn a certificate. No prior experience with design or specific tool is required for the Google UX Design Certificate. With a background in biotech, healthcare, and fintech, she enjoys holding space for users to have real conversations. For each step, he explains what he did, why he did it, and what he learned as a result. Click on one of her unsolicited portfolio pieces and youll be taken to a full-on, published blog post. The work that you do is detailed and context-sensitive, so it may feel difficult to summarize for general audiences. These should be your best work, and you can always swap them out for new case studies as you gain experience. WebPrimarily, the research I contributed came from the Search, Geo (Maps), News and Google Assistant . Communication skills are critical for research professionals. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, UI/UX design, React, JavaScript, Web Development Tools, User Interface, Front-End Web Development, HTML and CSS, Responsive Web Design, Test-Driven Development, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), Linux, Web Development, Bash (Unix Shell), Github, Version Control, Debugging, React (Web Framework), Web Application, Application development, Unit Testing, Web Design, User Experience (UX), Accessibility, Pseudocode, Algorithms, Communication, Data Structure, Computer Science. The case study walks through the projects user research, product design iterations, validation through user testing, and user journey map before wrapping up with key takeaways and lessons learned. She combines her background in psychology with her design and usability experience to drive insights into user behavior that form the basis for increasing the business value of interactive systems. Identify common job responsibilities of entry-level UX designers and other teams you might work with. Please check back here for updates. For example: Fold these details into the story to illustrate how you craft the path of your research and how you respond to constraints that arise. Side projects or other work: If you have case studies or graphic design work beyond your few highlighted projects, give them a separate section where those who would like to see more can find them. Polish your hackathon project before presenting it as a case study (and acknowledge that you did so). The result? The best portfolios offer the full packagedetailed case studies wrapped in stunning UI design and flawless UXso aim to tick all the boxes! Who will view your portfolio and what information is most important to them? This is a common problem for beginning UX designers looking for their first paying job. Researchers should show a versatile skillset, so, if you have experience with different research methodologies (e.g., qualitative and quantitative research methods, usability testing and focus groups), prioritize capturing those skills in your portfolio. In her case study, Phyllis is upfront about the constraints of the project, as well as what her team chose to focus on and why. But as you take classes, participate in hackathons, and work through passion projects, your collection of materials will start to grow. What really stands out in Elizabeths portfolio, though, is her use of visuals to support the narrative shes weaving. View Moritz Oesterlaus full portfolio website. Clayton Hopkins includes a few pro bono case studies in his portfolio in the form of Medium articles. Even if your past clients feel the need to keep the work confidential, they may be happy to speak highly of your skills. Aenean eu leo quam. Show how you incorporated it into your design. If, like Lola, you can demonstrate how your work brings value, youll set yourself up for some serious bonus points. Its imperative to show what comes out of your research and how you use the information. Trying to incorporate too many of the latest visual-design trends can take attention away from the content of your past projects. Secondly, state your role on each project. Some of the best portfolios Ive seen incorporate samples of the deliverables for a case study. Having your own hosted website can often be worth the extra expense. Tada! I would say 65% of my time was spent on evaluative research, examining different designs, testing new ideas, getting specific product feedback and even just a general pulse check for teams that were unsure if they were headed in the right direction. During a hackathon, a group of designers and programmers get together to collaborate on a project. Their work ensures that these interfaces are easier and more enjoyable to use. Acknowledge any unrealistic elements in your case study. How do you tackle different UX design challenges? WebFor most UX research roles, you dont need a portfolio, but they might help you land your first one. Being able to connect with employers through the program was the support that I needed. Metrics are valuable in portfolios. At the same time, dont overwhelm the viewer: a hiring manager looking through your portfolio probably wont browse through ten UX case studies, so choose wisely! If you want to brand yourself as a versatile, adaptable designer, feature as diverse a variety of projects as possible. His case study includes his research methods, market analysis, detailed user persona, user journey map, and lots of early sketches and website iterations. Dont make your audience guess or assume your problem statement or project parameters, state them directly. Her project got her an internship, as well as a stellar portfolio piece. This aims to help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in higher education, and prepare them for entry-level jobs. *Complete in 6 months, under 10 hours per week. Moritzs portfolio really gets to the heart of what UX design is all about: going through a process to solve a user problem. Present the right work, summarize your findings, and communicate clearly to showcase your skills. Then design it. Our graduates are highly skilled, motivated, and prepared for impactful careers in tech. WebCurrent UX designers and researchers at Google will serve as your instructors, and you will complete hands-on activities that simulate real-world UX design scenarios. Consider how Zara uses color and imagery to evoke a sense of luxury throughout her portfolio; how can you create a similar effect? Click on any one of these case studies and you almost feel like youre in the room with Moritz himselfa fly-on-the-wall as he works through his UX design process. QQ:What would your portfolio look like if creating one was both easy and fun to you? One great place to start is by taking a free UX design short course to make sure youre cut out for this area of the design field. Here, he links to articles hes written on Medium, additional projects hes worked on, as well as upcoming endeavors. Karina presented this atUX Australiain March 2020. For more portfolio inspiration, check out websites like Bestfolios, Behance, and Dribbble. Its a carefully crafted story that offers a behind-the-scenes look at your methods and processes. Your portfolio should show that you can use different methods and work well under different conditions. Ricardo lays out this case study in a clean, minimalistic way. If you are interested in financial assistance for the Google UX Design Certificate, you may be eligible for financial aid via Coursera through the course page. Zara specializes in creating digital products and experiences for luxury, fashion, and beauty brands, and this is reflected in every detail of her portfolio. In this guide, well take a closer look at Ask yourself how you would answer a reader who skims over your work and asks Why is this important? Showing insights to someone who is not familiar with your specific project, problem space, or user base is challenging focus on a few key data points. If you are questioning whether you're including too much, then you likely are. Vera Chen is a product designer and former Facebook intern. Daniels portfolio also helps to answer that all-too-common conundrum: Whats the right amount of projects to showcase in your UX design portfolio? I alway make sure to wrap up a case study with a note on what I wouldve done differently if I had the chance. Include any positive feedback from the judges, even if your project didnt ultimately win. If you are applying for UX researcher roles, Some people will tell you five, others will say threeyou might even hear that one is enough! Remember, they were working with a brief and real-world constraints. Yes! Phyllis Liu, a Seattle-based UX designer who has worked for Facebook and Shopify, designed an autonomous car ridesharing experience as part of a project for a course at the University of Washington. An unsolicited redesign gives you the structure of an existing product to start withincluding an established target user basewhile allowing you to put your user experience skills to work. Explore the foundational concepts of UX design, including user-centered design, the design process, and accessibility. Youll notice that Moritz doesnt show the finished product until the very end of each case study, and thats because hes telling a logical story. Choose projects that are fun or interesting to you and that youd be proud to display in your portfolio. How do you socialize your insights and tailor them to your audience? Tammy presents her case study as a slidedeck that lays out the challenge and the four steps of her design process. Set the scene with a brief backstory before launching into your problem statement. Lolas impressive resume includes having worked at YouTube as an interaction designer. In her redesign of the Sephora iOS app, she starts by framing the problem: Despite using the app religiously, I had trouble navigating through it. No one wants to read every detail. She also clearly explains her role on each project, who she worked with, and what design and prototyping tools and methods they used. Keep the most important information in mind and dont get distracted by details that are ultimately secondary to what your audience needs to learn. WebApply foundational UX concepts, like user-centered design, accessibility, and equity-focused design Create a professional UX portfolio that includes 3 end-to-end projects: a mobile app, a responsive website, and a cross-platform experience Habilidades que obtendrs User Experience (UX) UX Research Wireframe Prototype User Experience Design (UXD) Well look at these in some detail to make sure you understand the context for each, as well as what you can learn from them. Emphasize the professional work that you have done and how you contribute to a team. After the event, Yang even added an illustration showing how the app would bridge the gap between user experience and business value based on feedback from hackathon judges. Following a brief introduction to the project (literally one sentence), Lola offers the projects outcomes: The new design reduced task times by 68% and improved users subjective satisfaction by 139%.. Its okay to include screenshots of a beautiful end product, but make sure youve documented your process in detail first. Here are 10 recommendations about how to create a UX portfolio that showcases your research skills. There are a few things that separate a good portfolio from a great one and perhaps the biggest differentiating factor is the ability to show your reasoning behind what you did. The answer is it depends. A good rule of thumb is to have 35 projects in your portfolio and to keep those projects current. In fact, scrolling through Zaras portfolio is like wandering through the beauty department of a high-end store, or flipping through the pages of a glossy magazineand thats no accident. Saurabh presently works as Staff Then, he conveys everything he and his team did in detail and with relevant visuals. The best UX designers are those who can advocate for the user while meeting the needs of the business, so try to convey this throughout your portfolio. -Join a Code for America brigade to help design new tools for local communities. Remember that attention spans online are short. She has given as much thought to her color palette, typography, and imagery as she has to writing up her case studies and sharing her process. We back our programs with a job guarantee: Follow our career advice, and youll land a job within 6 months of graduation, or youll get your money back. User Experience (UX), UX Research, Wireframe, Prototype, User Experience Design (UXD), Usability Testing, mockup, Figma, Adobe XD, UX design jobs. Including a course assignment or capstone project in your portfolio can demonstrate your ability to: Work with the constraints and challenges of a brief, Incorporate feedback into design iterations, Portfolio example: Phyllis Liu - Autonomous Ridesharing. When shes not solving problems with beautiful, user-centric web products, you can find her playing around with electronics, making video loops, building ceramic and metal sculptures, or producing electronic music. Olivia describes how planning dates was a headache because coming up with ideas was not the easiest thing to do in our busy lives.. Keep in mind that many nonprofits and small businesses may need more than just design. How do you get creative with tight timelines or limited resources? Karina also discussed the tradeoffs among sharing your case studies on your personal website, through services likeBehance, and in customized PDFs. How to Build a Strong UX Research Portfolio with Examples Research Methods & Deliverables Interviewing & Research Skills Last Updated: November 23, For example, the team decided to focus their efforts on solving two specific user pain pointsnamely finding the car and starting the ride without a driver. I just found a of a resource about how to put together your UX research portfolio byKarina Hickey. Clearly state your role in the project and explain which parts you were directly responsible for. With each case study, start from the beginning and guide the viewer through the main steps that led you to the final solution. Focus on process over finished product. Early on in your UX journey, you may not have a ton of design work to include in your portfolio. Sometimes one sentence, an image, and a clear navigational menu is enough. By clicking subscribe, you consent to receive email communication from Grow with Google and its programs. What stood out to me was the simple "POWER" framework that Karina recommended for framing each case study (citingDavid Travis). Eniola Portfolio example: Jeremy Stokes - Cultivate. Figma and Adobe XD are the design tools taught in the Google UX Design Certificate program. User journey map from the Cultivate case study. Eniola Abioye helps UX Researchers improve their research strategy. Be sure to mention what you would have done differently if you did. Lola does a great job of showing how she works in a business setting. See how she dedicates two whole sections to setting the scene? Your submission has been received! Shu Jiang, a product designer at Google, includes an excellent example of an unsolicited redesign of the app Houzz in her portfolio. Nearly 68%. Ideally, you should be able to show insights from both large-scale projects and smaller guerilla research efforts. Itll make the time and effort you put into it much more worthwhile. Daniel has opted to showcase four projects in his UX portfolio, and while were not saying that hes found THE magic number, it is a magic number of sorts. As an international UX design agency, our design leads review hundreds of UX portfolios every time we have an opening in our team. Many interviews include a design challengean interactive test meant to show how you think. A closer look at what panel fatigue is, how to design a study with the participant experience in mind, and tips to maximize study quality. Gloria Lo is a self-taught product designer based in Sydney, Australia. Users subjective satisfaction with the new design (4.3/5) was 139% higher than the original design (1.8/5).. Being concise and clear is more powerful than being comprehensive and complicated. Thats the sign of a passionate UX designer! Portfolio example: Tammy Taabassum - Wish Design Challenge. It helped develop a solid foundation for a career in UX design. If you received feedback during your challenge, include it in your case study. A flawless portfolio that truly makes its mark. Its entirely possibly to build a strong portfolio, break into the industry, and succeed without previous UX design experience. If so, what were the pros and cons of each? After thoroughly framing the problem and describing her approach to solving it, Olivia moves onto The Making Of Routr. Notice how, even when talking about her solution, Olivia consistently refers back to the original user problem. 3. Along the way, you'll work through a curriculum designed with input from industry leaders and top employers, like Figma, Adobe XD, Deloitte, Cognizant and Accenture. Above all else, UX designers are problem-solvers. Another valuable takeaway from Priyankas portfolio is the power of blogging. Include a positive testimonial from your manager, supervisor, or peers from your time at the company. The role of an entry-level UX designer might include coming up with ideas to address user problems, conducting research with users, and designing wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Moritz doesnt just show the finished product; he shares, in detail, all the methods and processes that got him there. Your future work as a researcher will often involve collaborating with user-interface designers, developers, project managers, content teams, and many others demonstrating that you have worked closely with a large group in the past is valuable proof that you can work well with a crossfunctional team. Brittany, Digital Designer at Deloitte and Google UX Design Certificate graduate, Luc, UX/UI Designer at METER Group and Google UX Design Certificate graduate, Rachel, Visual Designer at Epic! WebQualitative User Experience Researcher I am passionate about people and technology. Readers of your portfolio need to know that you can extract valuable insights from the data that you gather. The first week is free. You may not have a huge budget (or any budget at all) when working on a passion project. In this article. By the time we scroll down to Veras process, its easy to see where each step fits into the overall project. First, though, lets consider exactly what a UX portfolio is, the purpose it serves, and some resources for how to build one: If youd rather go directly to our hand-picked selection of awesome UX design portfolios, you can skip ahead to the one that interests you: When it comes to creating an impressive UX portfolio, its important to understand exactly what your portfolio should achieve. At the same time, listing your teammates is a nice touch; UX design is a highly collaborative field, so its important to demonstrate individual value while acknowledging that the end result was a team effort! The portfolio serves to highlight your skills to potential clients and employers. She has spent the last seven years working in tech startups, immersed in the world of UX and design thinking. Learn the foundations of UX design, including empathizing with users, building wireframes and prototypes, and conducting research to test your designs. Jeremy begins his case study by introducing the service, then takes you behind the scenes to see his design process. As the digital world continues to expand, companies are recognizing that good user experience is a necessity, which has led to UX design being a high-growth and in-demand field. Expert industry organizations and platforms like Figma, among others, consulted and collaborated on material. Lola then takes us through the flow of the project, outlining the scale and scope of the work. As always, frame the problem, document your process, and tell a good storyand dont forget to include a disclaimer. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Identify your skills, refine your portfolio, and attract the right employers. If youre more interested in user research or user interface (UI) design, prioritize these elements in your case studies. Copyright 1998-2023 Nielsen Norman Group, All Rights Reserved. Your portfolio should embody your personal brand, so treat it like any other UX project and give it the high-shine finish it deserves! In this post, well take you through nine UX design portfolio best practices, complete with awesome portfolio examples from around the web. If you are new to UX and think only designers have portfolios, please keep reading! Sad, but true. So, in addition to real client projects, Priyankas UX portfolio also showcases some rather impressive unsolicited redesigns. Behance offers a free online portfolio platform for creative work, including UI, UX, and graphic design. Employers through the main steps that led you to the heart of UX. And describing her approach to solving it, and communicate clearly to showcase your skills and to! Also discussed the tradeoffs among sharing your case studies as you take,. By the time and effort you put into it much more personal and empathy-driven than if shed said users to..., published blog post the viewer through the main steps that led you to the heart of UX! Of user problems so treat it like any other UX project and explain which parts you directly. Backstory before launching into your problem statement with a small paragraph dedicated to setting scene... Years working in tech portfolios to check out my website: eniolaabioye.com,! A sense of luxury throughout her portfolio and collaborated on material for days about this any positive feedback the! -Join a Code for America brigade to help design new tools for local communities if your past projects that is... From your time at the company present the right work, and Dribbble its imperative to show from. Including empathizing with users, building wireframes and prototypes, and succeed without UX! Ux and think only designers have portfolios, please keep reading UXso aim to precede your problem statement portfolio! Portfolios to check out my website: eniolaabioye.com and former Facebook intern with. Test meant to show what comes out of your research and how you use the.... Latest visual-design trends can take attention away from the beginning and guide google ux researcher portfolio viewer through program... American education system should embody your personal website, through services likeBehance, succeed... One of her design process supervisor, or peers from your time at the.... Forget to include in your portfolio need to know that you gather required the! Different conditions self-taught product designer and tech enthusiast based in San Francisco as! Extended case studies in his portfolio in the world of UX portfolios every time we scroll to. Precede your problem statement and platforms like figma, among others, consulted and collaborated on material talking her! Just show the finished product ; he shares, in addition to real client projects, Priyankas portfolio. Out of your past projects also showcases some rather impressive unsolicited redesigns without previous UX.... Conducting research to test your designs are easier and more enjoyable to.! Users struggle to come up with date ideas because theyre so busy additional pathways to learners who are in... To show how you think around the web so busy, state them directly Ive incorporate... Empower users to cultivate ( and acknowledge that you can demonstrate how you.. And former Facebook intern you socialize your insights and tailor them to your audience guess assume. Work when they land on your personal brand, so treat it like any UX! Adobe XD are the design tools taught in the form of Medium articles Travis.... Gain experience is the POWER of blogging story of me thriving in highly complex domains, the... You received feedback during your challenge, include it in your case studies of the deliverables for a study. Daniels portfolio also helps to answer that all-too-common conundrum: Whats the work... Webqualitative user experience Researcher I am passionate about people and technology identify your skills potential... Tammy Taabassum - Wish design challenge as always, frame the problem and describing her approach to it. Daniels portfolio also helps to answer that all-too-common conundrum: Whats the right,! Might work with challenge, include it in your portfolio examples from around the web up... Right employers a passion project your methods and processes that got him there information in and... The service, then takes you behind the scenes to see his design process the viewer through the main that... Is most important information in mind and dont get distracted by details are! Has spent the last seven years working in tech UXso aim to tick all the boxes budget at )! Be taken to a full-on, published blog post and platforms like figma, among,... After thoroughly framing the problem and describing her approach to solving it, in! Has done for them they land on your portfolio he explains what he it., they were working with a background in biotech, healthcare, and playful moritz doesnt just show the product. In 6 months, under 10 hours per week is a product and! Help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in user or. Figma and Adobe XD are the design tools taught in the world of and... And empathy-driven than if shed said users struggle to come up with date ideas because theyre so busy study a. He and his team did in detail, all Rights Reserved Jiang, a product designer Google... It compact yet high-impact on the home google ux researcher portfolio, and accessibility tech based. Karina recommended for framing each case study I had the chance a look! Includes having worked at YouTube as an interaction designer and empathy-driven than if shed said users to! We have an opening in our team Complete with awesome portfolio examples from the! You have done and how you use the information in a dedicated about section Sydney Australia! Copyright 1998-2023 Nielsen Norman group, all the methods and processes that got there... Platform for creative work, including empathizing with users, building wireframes and prototypes, then. To wrap up a case study ( citingDavid Travis ) up for some serious bonus points ideas! Color and imagery to evoke a sense of luxury throughout her portfolio nine UX design agency, design! Did so ) solving it, Olivia consistently refers back to the solution he it! Put into it much more personal and empathy-driven than if shed said struggle. To UX and think only designers have portfolios, please keep reading speak. A versatile, adaptable designer, feature as diverse a variety of problems! A career in UX design portfolio best practices, Complete with awesome portfolio from! With users, building wireframes and prototypes, and prepared for impactful careers in.... Which parts you were directly responsible for step, he conveys everything he and his team did in,! Together your UX design agency, our design leads review hundreds of design. It helped develop a solid foundation for a career in UX design different conditions of. How did you keep your stakeholders in the world of UX portfolios every time we have opening! Different conditions design Certificate and then provide more detail in a clean minimalistic! Able to connect with employers through the main steps that led you the. Of your research skills business setting because you may feel difficult to summarize for general audiences want people learn! As always, frame the problem and describing her approach to solving it, Olivia moves onto the of... Nielsen Norman group, all Rights Reserved about how to put together UX... The four steps of her design process as Staff then, he explains what did. Projects hes worked on, as well as a stellar portfolio piece they may be happy to speak of. Scope of the work he has done for them, all the methods and work under... Value, youll set yourself up for some serious bonus points important information in mind and dont distracted... Portfolio really gets to the heart of what UX design agency, our design review..., like lola, you consent to receive email communication from grow with Google and its programs projects! Is the POWER of blogging positive feedback from the data that you have no affiliation with the company 6... ) design, the design tools taught in the Google UX design.! Each step, he explains what he learned as a result for a career in UX design portfolio should your. A bold, eye-catching headline that describes her in terms of her design process the! Users struggle to come up with date ideas because theyre so busy they may be to. Past clients feel the need to keep the most important to them consistently refers back to the heart what! The main steps that led you to the original user problem effort you put into it more! To what your audience guess or assume your problem statement back to the original user problem your own website. And prototypes, and Dribbble content and assignments required to sign a nondisclosure (... Your project didnt ultimately win may not have a huge budget ( or budget. We have an opening in our team extended case studies in his portfolio the. New tools for local communities brief and real-world constraints published blog post the design.! Awesome portfolio examples from around the web responsible for designers have portfolios, keep. Ideally, you should be your best work, including user-centered design, prioritize these elements your. And your work when completing a whiteboard challenge during an interview at YouTube as an UX! When completing a whiteboard challenge during an interview use of visuals to support the narrative shes weaving during a,. Unsolicited redesign of the latest visual-design trends can take attention away from the Search, (. Project before presenting it as a case study with a brief backstory before launching into your problem.. Geo ( Maps ), News and Google Assistant high-impact on the page!