Going Beyond Portfolios


Why UX Designers should go beyond portfolios? 

A portfolio is just not about drafting pretty screens or illustrating a seemingly obvious process and squeezing your design into a random template. The business world is well aware of design thinking methods, design processes and countless parallels of the solution most people present in design portfolios.

Portfolios are needed, taking you a few steps ahead, however they do not help you stand out as a leader. If you want to go high, go beyond basic design portfolios.

If you ask me, seasoned hiring managers sees beyond your design portfolio. Portfolios are a good start point, however I believe it only limits understanding a candidate's potential. Most design leaders can sense the merit of a portfolio within minutes. Templates don't work!

Well, so what should UX designers do? How should you go beyond a portfolio and stand out in the crowd?

You!

Your unique perspective and value addition makes you stand out. 

Go beyond the portfolio, start a blog, a podcast may be, stream a YouTube channel, speak at events, support your peers, volunteer for conferences, start design initiatives that clearly show your passion for the subject. You contribute to the industry and in turn gain from the experience of leadership in these initiatives.

A real portfolio is your thinking in various mediums and giving true meaning to your creative expression. Initiatives can't be superficial in nature as they eventually show in your attitude, thinking and work. Genuine passion is quite evident and always consistent.

If you can't create original content for some reason, do not hold yourself back due to lack of ideas, time or any other creative limitations. You could choose to be a curator. Curate the best stuff in the industry. Curators help themselves, creators and the entire community for greater good.

Nobody wants another designer sitting at a desk all day along. On top of your basic screen based design skills, companies want to hire design advocates, independent thinkers, mentors, business analysts, collaborators and change makers.

The world needs thinkers. 

Go beyond the portfolio. Be a thought leader at work!

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