A short presentation to the Pratt UX/IA student group on what makes a good UX portfolio and how to make one.

1. Building a UX
Portfolio
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Prof. Craig M. MacDonald
Pratt UX/IA Monthly Meeting
good
^
Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA 10/30/2014

2. Two Questions:
Q1:
What does a good
UX portfolio look like?
Q2:
How do I make a good
UX portfolio?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

3. Q1:What does a
good UX
portfolio
look like?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

4. A1:It should show
that you know:
1. Principles
2. Processes
3. Tools
4. Experiences
5. Stories 10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

5. 1. Principles
Do you know basic UX/usability
principles? Can you use UX terms/
jargon appropriately?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

6. 2. Processes
Are you comfortable with the UX
process? Do you know the basic
methods and how they fit?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

7. 3. Tools
Are you familiar with some UX tools?
Are you competent/proficient with at
least one of them?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

8. 4. Experiences
Do you know how to make intuitive,
engaging, and memorable
experiences?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

9. 5. Stories
Can you use visual/written
communication to tell a good story?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

10. Q2:How do I
make a good
UX portfolio?
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

11. A2:If only we had
a process for
this…
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

12. Creation
Sketch/Make
Assessment
Evaluate/Measure
Research
Understand/Learn
Practice what you preach!
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

13. Step 1: Research
§ Make a list of all your content:
what do you have to show?
§ Look at other UX portfolios: what
do they do well?
§ Look at job descriptions: what are
hiring managers asking for?
§ Think about how you want to sell
yourself – what are your strengths?
How do you want to be seen?
(Hint: NOT as a student!)
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

14. Step 2: Create/Assess
§ Sketch out what you want it to
look like - show it to other people
for feedback
§ Draft your written stories – show
them to other people for feedback
§ Put it together into a web-based
format – show it to other people
for feedback
§ Continue iterating/revising as you
add projects and get feedback
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA

15. Useful Resources
10 UX Portfolios Done Right
http://www.creativebloq.com/ux/product-portfolios-61412126
10 Steps to a Better UX Portfolio
http://uxmastery.com/10-steps-to-a-perfect-ux-portfolio/
Portfolio Tips for UX Professionals
http://betteruxportfolios.wordpress.com/
UX Portfolios: How to Tell Your Story
http://www.slideshare.net/usabilitycounts/ux-portfolios-how-to-tell-
your-story
10/30/2014Prof. Craig M. Macdonald | Pratt UX/IA