Elizabeth Alli

A UX designer’s portfolio is important and there is endless advice on how to create the perfect one. But what’s most important is how you approach its creation and distribution. Here are some tips: 1. Keep a work journal as you work on your project(s). Make an entry everyday and explain your thoughts, feelings, struggles and triumphs. 2. Imagine you’ll have memory loss tomorrow. Would you be able to follow it and pick back up where you left off? Be detailed. 3. The final presentation of your case study should be packaged for distribution depending on the audience. Don’t send a generic link. Edit ruthlessly and only leave in what makes sense for the intended audience. Each case study you send out should be a perfect match for them.

Learning from online courses is a double-edged sword. It’s important to do a thorough assessment yourself and be clear on your goals and learning style before deciding. For instance, do you prefer a fast-paced, live cohort-style program or a self-paced model that fits with your daily schedule? Also, be aware of courses that are only ‘curated’ rather than ‘created’. And lastly, keep in mind that the curriculum of many popular bootcamps are not always kept up-to-date or designed with the working reality of what is happening in the industry in mind. While you may gain some theoretical knowledge, it’s worth considering smaller courses by trained teachers that you like and trust for a more practical and tailored approach.

It really is important to remember that the design isn’t about ‘you’ or your skills or your talent. It’s about the client and their audience. If you’ve stated your case, articulated your design decisions and are still getting resistance or criticism on your work, make sure to have the client confirm their decisions, note your objections and measure the results. You can always refer to it later as a reference. But do your best not to take it personally.

Seeking feedback is important, but so many designers miss out on gaining ‘useful’ feedback because they fail to ask in the right way. To combat this, here is my simple formula: Who + Stage + Context + Goals + Constraints + Ask 🔸Who-Decide who you’re asking and be specific. 🔸Stage-Describe what stage your design is in. 🔸Context-Explain what the purpose of your design is and who it is intended for. 🔸Goals-Outline what you are trying to achieve and what your intended outcome is. 🔸Constraints-include any possible constraints or requirements. 🔸Ask-Request the type of feedback you’re looking for. Avoiding general or vague requests can help you get feedback that you can derive meaningful actions from!

Understanding the source of your indecision is definetly key. For me indecision is often rooted in resistance of some kind. When I’m not clear on my purpose and intention, when I am not able to envision the big picture or when I have not scoped the task at hand properly. It can even be a sign that you are burned out on the project or task and need to tend to your well-being before committing to the next course of action. Take a step back to identify your resistance points, refuel yourself and ask for help or another trusted opinion if you need it. Remember, just because you feel stuck and unsure now, doesn’t mean it will stay that way. Trust your overall experience and instincts to guide you!