In the ever-evolving field of UX design, your portfolio isn’t just a collection of past work—it’s your passport to new opportunities. Yet, if you’re anything like me, keeping a portfolio up to date can feel like a daunting task. Over the past three years, I’ve transitioned between platforms—Adobe Portfolio, Medium, Notion, and now WordPress—without consistently maintaining a polished portfolio. Still, the importance of having one can’t be overstated.
🤔 Why a Portfolio Still Matters
1. Demonstrates Your Process
UX design is all about the “why” and the “how.” Your portfolio gives potential employers or clients a window into your problem-solving process. It’s not just about the final deliverables but the journey: research, wireframes, iterations, and insights.
2. Showcases Growth
Even if your portfolio features older projects, it can reflect how your skills have evolved. Annotating older work with updated commentary shows your ability to reflect and improve—an invaluable trait for any designer.
3. Opens New Doors
While resumes list skills and experiences, portfolios prove them. They’re especially crucial if you’re transitioning industries or looking to highlight specific expertise, like moving from healthcare UX to entertainment design.
📝 Lessons From My Journey
Switching platforms multiple times taught me that the tool matters less than the content. Whether on Adobe Portfolio, Medium, Notion, or WordPress, the core elements remain the same:
- Clarity: Explain your role in projects and the outcomes clearly.
- Curation: Showcase a mix of your best work. Quality beats quantity.
- Consistency: Even a few polished projects go a long way.
- Copy: Keep a record of your detailed work in a text document so that you can move platforms easily and not start from scratch.
🌱 Starting Fresh
If you haven’t maintained your portfolio for years, don’t stress. Start small. Choose 1-2 standout projects and focus on making those shine. Use the platform you’re most comfortable with to avoid technical distractions.
Your portfolio is an evolving artifact of your career. It doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to exist. So if you’ve been procrastinating, take this as your sign to get started again. After all, your next big opportunity might be just a link away.
Have you experienced the struggle of maintaining a UX portfolio? Share your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
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