with UX bootcamps projects you won't find a job

Summary

In this video, Ines discusses how to create UX design portfolio projects that make business sense, emphasizing the importance of solving real-world problems. She explains how projects based on actual business problems, such as improving YouTube’s user engagement, are more valuable than fictional ones like a nanny-finding app. Ines offers advice on improving portfolio projects, particularly those from bootcamps, by adding usability tests and focusing on UI design. She stresses the need to balance fictional projects with real-world business solutions to showcase both creativity and problem-solving skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Generic portfolio projects often lack real-world business relevance and don't impress hiring managers.
• 😀 A portfolio should showcase projects that solve real-world problems and meet business needs, not just focus on pixel-perfect designs.
• 😀 Instead of creating generic projects, design for existing businesses with clear challenges, such as improving an app or service.
• 😀 Analyzing products from competitors can help you identify opportunities for improvement and craft a business-driven project.
• 😀 As a UX designer, much of your work will involve improving existing products, rather than creating something from scratch.
• 😀 Bootcamp projects are often generic and serve to practice core UX skills, but they don't have the business sense needed for a strong portfolio.
• 😀 If your portfolio contains fictional projects, focus on showcasing your visual design skills and the execution of best practices.
• 😀 Real-world apps often have compromises, which can be useful for demonstrating your ability to work with constraints and make design decisions.
• 😀 Adding usability testing to your portfolio can enhance the perceived value of fictional projects by showing that you've tested your designs with real users.
• 😀 Balancing your portfolio with both real-world projects and well-executed fictional ones can demonstrate your versatility and design proficiency.
• 😀 Don't be discouraged if your portfolio lacks business sense—there are ways to improve it, including adding usability tests and refining design execution.

Q & A

Why should UX designers avoid creating generic portfolio projects?

Hiring managers want to see if designers can solve real-world problems, not just create aesthetically pleasing or generic projects. A portfolio project needs to demonstrate an understanding of business challenges and how design can address them.

What makes a UX project 'business sensible'?

A project that is rooted in real-world problems, ideally tied to an actual business. It should demonstrate that the designer understands which problems are important to solve and has tackled those with a clear user-centered approach.

Why is designing a nanny-finding app for English speakers in Berlin not a good portfolio project?

While the idea may seem feasible, it lacks a solid business foundation. A real-world business problem should be at the core of the project, and without a business context, the design becomes disconnected from actual user needs and market dynamics.

How can aspiring UX designers demonstrate their ability to work with real businesses in their portfolio?

By analyzing existing products like YouTube and identifying areas for improvement, designers can create projects based on real companies and their existing challenges. Even if not formally employed by the business, designing with real-world products in mind adds value.

What type of projects should junior designers focus on when building a portfolio?

Junior designers should include a mix of real-world projects and well-executed fictional projects. The key is to showcase the ability to improve an existing product and demonstrate a comprehensive design process that includes user testing and problem-solving.

How can bootcamp projects help or hinder a UX portfolio?

Bootcamp projects often focus on learning the basics without real-world constraints, which helps build foundational skills. However, these projects may lack business sense or user context, making them less impactful in a portfolio unless carefully framed and improved.

Why might real-world projects with compromises still be valuable in a portfolio?

Real-world products often have limitations and constraints, so demonstrating how a designer can work within these challenges, making compromises and delivering a functional, user-centered solution, shows the ability to work in complex, real business environments.

How should a designer approach showcasing fictional projects?

Fictional projects should be treated as a chance to showcase creativity and technical execution, focusing heavily on user interface design and branding. They should be positioned as experiments to highlight a designer’s skill in delivering beautiful, functional designs without real-world constraints.

What role does usability testing play in improving UX portfolio projects?

Usability testing adds realism to portfolio projects. By testing designs with real users, designers can demonstrate their ability to identify issues, iterate on designs, and improve user experiences, adding credibility to fictional projects.

How can a designer balance fictional and real-world projects in a portfolio?

Having a balance of both fictional and real-world projects helps demonstrate a versatile skill set. Real-world projects show the ability to solve actual business problems, while fictional projects highlight creativity and design capabilities without constraints.