How to write your UX design case study

Summary

In this video, the creator shares a practical guide for writing UX design case studies, focusing on overcoming procrastination and perfectionism. They emphasize starting with a ‘crappy first draft,’ prioritizing concise and scannable content, and showcasing your design process with compelling visuals. The creator advises against overly generic approaches, such as using personas, and highlights the importance of showing both breadth and depth in your design work. They also recommend polishing your portfolio with small design details like phone device mockups and gifs to enhance the visual appeal. The video aims to reduce anxiety around portfolio creation for aspiring designers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Writing a UX design case study can be overwhelming, but it's important to let go of the expectation of perfection from the start and focus on making progress instead.
• 😀 The process of writing a case study can be broken down into two parts: writing and designing. Focus on writing first, then determine which design artifacts to include.
• 😀 Your audience for case studies will mostly consist of design managers and recruiters, who are primarily looking for a demonstration of your design skills rather than a fancy website.
• 😀 Make your case study scannable by using concise paragraphs and minimal font styles. Avoid overwhelming your readers with too many design styles.
• 😀 To stand out as a junior designer, focus on having strong visual design skills, as many juniors lack this due to bootcamps often not teaching it well.
• 😀 Instead of following the cookie-cutter approach, focus on explaining the 'whys' and 'hows' behind your design decisions rather than just listing design artifacts like wireframes and personas.
• 😀 Avoid including personas in your case study if they don't add value. Personas are often too general and aren't typically used in real-world projects.
• 😀 In your case study, start by providing a product title, project overview, and a brief summary of the problem and solution. Then, dive deeper into goals and the design process.
• 😀 Use visual assets that help the reader understand your design journey better, but remove anything that distracts from the main storyline, such as unnecessary sketches.
• 😀 For better presentation, show your best designs at the top of your case study, and ensure 80% of the mockups are high fidelity to showcase your design output more clearly.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of writing a UX design case study?

The main purpose of writing a UX design case study is to showcase your skills and process to potential employers or clients. It allows you to demonstrate your design approach, problem-solving abilities, and the impact of your work.

Why do many designers dread writing case studies?

Many designers dread writing case studies because it can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to make the study perfect from the start. The process of documenting the work in a compelling way can feel like a chore.

What is the significance of 'crappy first drafts' in writing case studies?

'Crappy first drafts' emphasize the idea that it's okay to start with something imperfect. This allows you to get your ideas out and refine them over time, making the process more manageable and less stressful.

Who is the primary audience for UX design case studies?

The primary audience for UX design case studies are design managers and recruiters who are looking to assess whether a designer has the skillset they need. They are not looking for the fanciest websites, but for a clear demonstration of design skills and problem-solving ability.

How can junior designers stand out in their case studies?

Junior designers can stand out by showcasing strong visual design, which is often lacking in bootcamp graduates. Additionally, avoiding cookie-cutter approaches and focusing on the 'whys' and 'hows' of design decisions can help differentiate their work.

Why should designers be cautious about using personas in their case studies?

Personas are often generic and may not add value to the case study. They are less commonly used in real-world projects, and beginners sometimes feel compelled to include them, even though they don't always contribute to the project narrative.

What are the key components of a UX design case study?

A UX design case study should include the following components: product title, project overview, role and duration, problem and goals, design process (with iterations), results, and success metrics (if available). Each section should be concise and clear.

Why is it important to separate the writing and designing portions of a case study?

Separating writing and designing helps keep the process organized and reduces overwhelm. Writing first allows you to focus on the content, structure, and narrative, while designing afterward helps you decide which visuals to include.

How can designers improve the visual appeal of their case study designs?

Designers can enhance the visual appeal by placing phone devices over their screens for a more polished look, rounding corners, and adding shadows to make the mockups more aesthetically pleasing. These small adjustments help create a professional, high-quality presentation.

What is a recommended format for showcasing mockups in a case study?

It is recommended to show high-fidelity mockups at the top of the case study to grab attention. Designers should aim for 80% of their mockups to be high fidelity, balancing between showing design process and the final output.

How can animation or prototypes improve a case study?

Including animations or prototypes, like GIFs, can enhance the case study by providing a dynamic, easy-to-view demonstration of interactions. GIFs are preferred as they auto-loop and offer a smoother experience compared to clickable prototypes or videos.