+ UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

UX DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

UX Portfolio
10 Step Plan

1
 + UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

Developing Portfolio In 10 Steps

As we will discuss throughout the program, design decisions are more impactful when they are guided by a
deeper meaning - one that is rooted at the emotional level. Knowing yourself as a designer, and keeping
track of who you are and what you aspire to be is a powerful driving force that will motivate you through
your journey at RED and beyond. Below is a detailed step-by-step process that will help you prepare for job
search in the design eld.

Step 1. Week 2: Inspiration Gathering

A big part of the design process is to look around for inspiration. There are a lot of great designers out
there who have outstanding ways to present themselves and their work online. While you seek inspiration,
pay close attention to three aspects of portfolio design:

1. Personal Branding: this includes design choices with the elements of the visual language and how they
come together to create layouts, typographic composition, colour palettes, images, interaction design,
etc. but also the choice of words and the storytelling of the designer. Start thinking about how you want
to portray yourself.
2. Website Design: how is the website structured? What are the different sections on the website? Whats
on the home page? How is the navigation set up? Start thinking about how you want to set up your
website.

3. Case Studies: pay close attention to the case studies, what content is included and how its presented.
Note the tone, the length, and the structure of the written content. Start thinking about what you think is
most impactful and how you want to write your own case studies.
Tip: you can use Medium to create a post with a list of those websites with their respective URLs and any
comments and remarks you have. You dont have to publish it, instead save it as draft and use Share
option in the header.

Add link with minimum of 10 portfolio examples to your Trello Website card.

Step 2. Week 3 - 4: Keywords, Mood & Intent

Use the design inception worksheet provided here. Fill in the why section rst - this is the core essence
of you and you as a designer. Some of these questions can help you:

- why do you love design?

- what attracted you to this industry? why?

2
 + UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

- if money wasnt a factor, what would you want to do with your design skills?
- what motivates you the most?
- what kind of designer do you aspire to be?
Take a photo and post to your Trello Website card.

Step 3. Week 5-6: Mood Board

With the insight that you gathered from the inception worksheet, create a mood board in Invision to capture
the mood that you would like your portfolio website and personal visual identity to convey.

Post a link to this mood board in your Trello Website card.

Step 4. Week 7: Styleguide

Take a look at the mood boar d you crated in week 4. Draw inspir ation from this and star t exploring with
typography, colour and visual elements for you personal visual identity and website.

Create a rough style guide and attach a jpg version of it to your Trello Website card.

Step 5. Week 8 - 9: Choose Your Portfolio Platform

Choose which platform you want to use for your portfolio based on the options presented to you in class.
Create an account and select a theme for your portfolio.

Post a link with a staging URL to Trello Website card.

Step 6. Week 10: Resume & Cover Letter

Gather the resume and cover letter content that you currently have, and with the insights youll get from the
PPD session and Resume lesson, edit and rene your approach in writing and structuring them.

Attach your rough resume and cover letter in your Trello Resume card.

Step 7. Week 11: What Kind of Designer Do You Want to Be?

Its important for you to know your strengths as a designer and areas of design you enjoy the most. Look
back at your journey through the last 6 weeks and 3 projects. Answer the following questions:

3
 + UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

- What phases of UX design have you conducted so far?

- List all the UX tools you have used so far at RED.
- Which design phases & UX tools have you enjoyed the most?
- Does that make you want to focus on certain design processes when you graduate? If so, which ones?
Post your answers in Trello POPP card.

Step 8. Week 12: Where Do You Want To Work?

Do some research and get to know the different job options that will be available for you to apply to once
you are ready. List out agencies, startups and other companies in your Trello Companies I Want to Work
For card.

Step 9. Polishing Your Brand

Finalize your resume and your portfolio. Post updated le and URL to your Trello Resume and Portfolio
cards.

Step 10. Applying for Jobs.

Look back at the list of jobs & companies you created in Week 12. Check their websites for any available job
postings. Remember to customize your Cover Letter and Resume to reect the keywords that are listed in
the job ad.

Tip: gather feedback on your portfolio from your classmates & instructors. Ask Placement Manager for
advice on cover letter and resume if you are stuck.

4
 + UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

Getting More Projects

It is not uncommon for the job search to take a while - do not be discouraged if your rst applications yield
no results! It is crucial for you to stay relevant and keep developing yourself as a designer. Here are few
ways of how you can continue to stay relevant and expand on your portfolio:
1. Polish your rst projects: Make sure to review your rst 3 projects from the program and polish the
deliverables. For example, you can take your P1 to high-delity.

2. Work on a mock project. Use your imagination and nd a project to apply your design thinking to.
Redesign Craigslist. Create Uber for puppies. Improve usability on your favourite app.
3. Help a Charity. There are many companies in need of design solutions that dont cost an arm and a leg.
Find a company, who's mission you can relate to and help them nd a solution that works for their
business and their users.
4. Work with REDs community partners. Unfortunately, we arent able to complete all the projects that
come through our doors. Contact our Program & Community Manager to not only add valuable work to
your portfolio, but to support socially impactful initiatives in your community.

5
 + UX DESIGN PORTFOLIO 10 STEP PLAN

Design Inception
Worksheet