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Ask yourself where you can add value
Designers should stop chasing perfect portfolio side-projects and instead reframe their in-house work by emphasizing business constraints, metrics, and measurable results.
What: Katie Cadwell suggests that the most effective way to refresh a tired portfolio is to update storytelling around existing projects, improve mockups, and focus on the business impact of the work rather than just the visual finish.
Why it matters: This underscores a shift toward valuing 'business-literate' designers who can explain their design decisions in the context of organizational goals.
Takeaway: Take 15 minutes to revisit one old project: rewrite the case study focusing on the specific business constraint you solved, and update the visual mockup to modern standards.
Deep dive
- Reframing Strategy: Move away from focusing solely on aesthetics; highlight the problem statement, brief constraints, and business outcomes.
- Portfolio Tactics: Use high-quality mockup libraries instead of outdated device frames; update introductory project copy.
- Iterative approach: Aim for 20% incremental improvement per project rather than massive, time-consuming overhauls.
- Value Proposition: In-house work is valuable; the key is positioning it by clearly stating the 'nitty-gritty' of budgets, deadlines, and success metrics.
Original article
Designers should stop undervaluing in-house work and instead showcase the business problems they solved, the constraints they worked within, and the measurable results they achieved. Rather than waiting to build a perfect portfolio, improve existing projects incrementally with stronger storytelling, updated visuals, and small enhancements, making steady progress in short bursts that fit around a busy schedule.
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