the quest for the ultimate ux portfolio

THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE UX PORTFOLIO

by Pradeep Nayar @designonmymind

Who am I?

THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE UX PORTFOLIO

1. Know Yourself 2. Prepare your work 3. Get out there!

What is your favorite car manufacturer?

NOTE: You are a BRANDYOU ARE A BRAND

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?

What do you want to do?

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

UX DISCIPLINES

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Problem Space Solution Space

OPTION 1

User Research Experience StrategyOPTION 2

Visual DesignOPTION 4

Interaction DesignOPTION 3

Deliverables

Interview Scripts

Moderation Guides

Key Findings Report

Experience Maps

Personas

Scenarios

Concept/Mind Maps

Journey Maps

User Flows

Sketches

Site Maps

Wireframes (Low fidelity)

Wireframes (High fidelity)

with annotations

Prototypes

Sketches

Visual Comps/Mockups

Style Guides

Prototypes

Where do you want to work?

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

WHERE CAN YOU WORK?

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IN-HOUSE

(Work for an organization)

Startup Mid-Sized Company

Large Corporation

What’s different?

Type of work

Duration of work

Level of engagement

Level of influence on direction

Complexity of the problem

EXTERNAL

(Work for a client)

Agency ConsultingFreelance

THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE UX PORTFOLIO

1. Know Yourself 2. Prepare your work 3. Get out there!

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

CONSOLIDATE YOUR WORK

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Collect everything! Pick the top 3 - 5 case studies Choosing the right case study is important Take pictures! Did I mention take pictures?

(What’s out there)ONLINE

(What you carry with you)OFFLINEVS

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio 17

ONLINE PORTFOLIO TIPS

Focus on breadth and not depth of work Mobile friendly (Responsive is a plus) Be brief (don’t get too wordy)

What problem did you solve? Your role Size of the team Design approach

Password protect (if necessary)

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

OFFLINE PORTFOLIO TIPS

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Focus on 3 - 5 case studies Be contextual (based on the position) Be a storyteller of your work Framing each case study

Problem/opportunity Your specific role Team you worked with The approach Key challenges Overcoming challenges Metrics of success Outcome

Sample deliverables Have a backup plan! (Murphy’s law) WOW your future boss! (create excitement)

How do I show confidential documentation?

CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTATION

DO NOT EMAIL Take it with you for your in-person interview Blur/Remove logos in sample deliverables Avoid posting online (If you do, password protect it) Be careful of legal implications

DON’T TAKE ALL THE CREDIT

Don’t forget C.R.A.P

Contrast

Repetition

Alignment

Proximity

Don’t talk about… Me, Myself & I !

Talk about Us… what we will gain and how you are going to help get there

THE QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE UX PORTFOLIO

1. Know Yourself 2. Prepare your work 3. Get out there!

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

BEYOND THE PORTFOLIO

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Your LinkedIn profile Keep it up-to-date Have a good picture Write a good summary Get some recommendations Get endorsed

Formal well-structured resume 1 - 2 page(s) depending on experience Check for typos & alignment

List of work references Check out local IXDA & Meetup UX events!

How do hiring managers think?

The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio

THE TYPICAL HIRING PROCESS

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Do you have the right hard skills? Do you have relevant experience? Do you present yourself well? How do you talk about your work? Do you have attention to detail? Do you have passion for UX? Are you worth my time?

Do you have the right soft skills? How are your communication skills? Do you know and use UX lingo? Do you have the right attitude?

Do you have the right skill set? Are you a good story teller? Are you a good cultural fit? Can I work with you? Will you add value to the team? Will you grow with the team?

CANDIDATE REVIEWRESUME & ONLINE PORTFOLIO

INITIAL SCREENINGOVER THE PHONE

FINAL INTERVIEWIN PERSON (OR VIRTUALLY)

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & FEEDBACK@designonmymind

Photos Credit: Flickr user @jdhancock

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode