How to improve and what to include in a UX portfolio.

1. Personifying Your Portfolio
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83
Making your portfolio speak for itself

2. Personifying your portfolio?
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

3. Why??
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

4. 1.Times have changed
- Clients always ask for portfolios
• More people know what they are looking for – not just UXers
• More dedicated UX people in the market – point of
differentiation – can’t just rely on your CV
• As well as core UX roles there are also a number of hybrid roles
that require more than just UX experience/knowledge – this
needs to be shown
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

5. 2.Representation of yourself
- Showcasing
• Define who you are, what you can do and what you
specialise in – again, don’t rely on your CV
• Potential to show cultural suitability – don’t be afraid to
add a touch of character or your own style to your
portfolio
• Set the expectation (show your calibre) – prove yourself
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

6. 3. How you work
- Not just where you worked
• So important!
• Proof that you can do the graft and thinking that comes
before the pretty pictures
• Again – setting the expectation – showcasing your
potential
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

7. 4. Adds depth to your CV
- Convince the client
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83
• Anyone can call
themselves a UX
designer on their
CV

8. How??
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

9. 1. Show the approach
Most important of all – saying this at the start rather than leave till the
end so if anything sticks at all it should be this!
• Process / Methodology / Show them how
you work – not just picture of a few
wireframes and a screen shot from the
web – it’s the how that makes you a UX
designer
• Don’t be afraid to show the dirty work
• Show your work – don’t rely on output
your team has done
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

10. School science projects - stages
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83
• Walk the reader
through your
work/project

11. 2. Tell its own story… everyone loves a
story!
• Don’t forget to annotate – but don’t make too text
heavyNick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

12. 3. Button up your shirt, button up your
presentation, whatever your style
• Consistency – make sure page 3 matches with page 10
• Represents your attention to detailNick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

13. 4. Engage
- Not graphic design but do your best
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

14. 5. Show ‘em what you got
• Deliverables – sketches, wireframes, low to high-fi
prototypes, user journeys, research
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

15. Additional!!!
1. Don’t forget the CV
2. Case Studies
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83

16. Any Questions?
You can contact me on
Email: nick@wearesource.co.uk
Linkedin: uk.linkedin.com/in/nickgrantham/
Twitter: @nickgranthan83
Telephone: 020 3116 6727
Nick Grantham
Specialist UX Recruiter
@nickgrantham83