How to Make the Best UX Designer Portfolio

If you are a talented web designer or UX designer - you know that your UX designer portfolio is one of the most valuable things you need to show to your potential clients. It is even more important than your resume - it will be there to show your clients how your mind is working, how tech-savvy you are, and how you combine both creativity and functionality. 

A great UX designer portfolio is like your own business card and an entry ticket for many future and successful projects. If you are new to freelancing, we will help you craft your best UX designer portfolio that will help you land new gigs.

Even if you don’t have experience - we can help you set the stage for your further growth and help you represent your ideas in the right way. However, if you are a senior UX designer - remember that there is always room for improvement. 

With this in mind, let’s explore where to begin making the best UX design portfolio.

Why is your UX portfolio an absolute necessity in today’s market?

Times have changed drastically, and we are witnessing a significant growth of job openings for UX designers. UX designers are a unique anomaly on the market. 

To be a UX designer, your education doesn’t play a significant role. You don’t need to write a prospective cover letter. Your portfolio is there to solve that for you. You will let your work speak with your potential customer way before you reach an HR manager.

It would be best if you stood out from the crowd. And is there a better way than providing the best UX designer portfolio? To stand out, you can also show that you worked on the different aspects of the projects, which, for example, included UI design, decision making, or working closely with the web development team. 

Also, your portfolio will review your style and personality way better than the regular resume will. It is all about the personal touch, something your potential clients will like. 

What should you include in your portfolio?

Of course, this part will expand several factors. It depends mainly on the companies you want to reach, your experience levels, and the markets you want to reach.

But what does the best UX designer portfolio have in common with others? First, they are not just about polished results. They actually show your creative process. Everything that comes before excellence.

Try showing how you come up with all these ideas. Include things such as sketches, mood boards, style guides - everything you find important. Yet, you want everything to look concise. There might be creative chaos in your head, but you need to explain it in your portfolio to give it a bit of context. 

Make sure to include the following:

• Explain the challenge you’ve encountered.
• Say who you worked with.
• Which problems were there? Which tools did you use to tackle these?
• How did you solve them?
• Explain your train of thought, and then include your sketches and all the details. 
• In the end, the outcome of your work.

Storytelling is a great way to add a brand new dimension to your portfolio, and your client will have a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of what is in your mind. Of course, they will want to see more!

Great tips to boost your UX portfolio even more

Of course, you want to show all the projects you are proud of. But remember that it could be a bit overwhelming. Clients would like to see a glimpse of your personality through your works. Remember that sometimes things don’t need to be perfect. Maybe you can show your works that didn’t work well, but you are still thinking that the idea behind it was great and that it is just waiting for its moment.

Motivation, determination, and a different angle will bring something different to the table. Of course, everyone wants to show the highlights of their work, but sometimes thinking outside of the box can help you land your new gig.

Best UX portfolio tips for senior freelancers

Suppose you are a UX designer for quite a while now. You also need to adjust your proposal when you are pitching your ideas to a potential client. You’ve probably worked in big teams and on larger-scale projects. 

So as a senior, you need to talk about the results. What is the project you are exceptionally proud of? Did the project live up to the expectations, had a fantastic ROI, and improve the user experience? What was the final outcome of the UX projects? How did you delegate the tasks?

Remember to back everything up with the data from these projects and show the results. 

How to make a presentation for your UX portfolio?

Remember that humans are beings attracted to visually appealing things. Pay attention to all the visual details and make sure your portfolio looks great. Avoid large chunks of text or any inconsistencies when it comes to visuals. Find the right color palette and find the fonts that will match your style.

Should you use video to present your UX portfolio even better? It could be a great idea. First, it can be a short introduction video to make a brief guide to your website. Second, it can be a great tactic to keep your potential client a bit longer and more engaged to explore more of your works. 

How many projects should you include in your UX portfolio?

We know that you cherish all your works, and you want to show all of them to the world. But when it comes to numbers - three is the best number. 

We think that you already know which ones. Maybe the ones that were the most challenging? Or where you had the most significant impact? 

If you worked on a few projects from one niche - it would be great to show. But, when the portfolio is out of place, you still haven’t found your niche - that could be more of a disadvantage than advantage.

Where should I host my brand new UX design portfolio?

You should create a personal website and build it from scratch. It will showcase your unique style to your potential customers. You are responsible for your brand, so you need to practice what you preach. If you are crafty with both copyright and SEO practices, you will help people find you easier.

In conclusion

It is not an easy task to build the best UX designer portfolio - but it will be worth it in the end. We want to assist you automate your processes to keep your creative flow and energy going. 

We can back you up with winning business proposals that will highlight your achievements in the right way.