👀 The crucial first impression: What hiring managers look for in product design portfolios

With the recent wave of layoffs, many product designers, myself included, have found ourselves faced with the daunting task of revamping our portfolios and preparing for interviews. As someone who has been both a hiring manager and a product design leader, I truly understand the importance of making a lasting impression during the job search process. I’ve witnessed firsthand two distinct scenarios: designers with stunning portfolios who struggled to articulate their work effectively, and others with less visually striking portfolios who shined when it came to sharing the problems they tackled and the creative solutions they developed.

Now, as an eager candidate in the #opentowork community, I’m fully immersed in the process of creating a brand-new portfolio. Drawing from my experiences and lessons learned, I’m determined to craft a compelling showcase of my skills, experience, and unique personality. I firmly believe that a portfolio is a powerful tool, and I’m excited to bring together all that I’ve learned to create a captivating presentation that truly reflects who I am as a design leader.

I’m writing to share some insights on what hiring managers really look for. So, let’s dive in and discover what makes a portfolio shine!

Visual and interaction design

Ok, let’s start with the visuals. Hiring managers absolutely love to see strong design skills in action. Show off your understanding of the basics, like killer typography, rock-solid colour theory, and how to create designs that just look good. And don’t forget to highlight your knack for interaction design — they want to see how you make interfaces intuitive and user-friendly.

Solving problems like a boss

Design is all about solving problems. Hiring managers want to know that you’ve got what it takes to tackle complex challenges head-on. Make sure your portfolio showcases your problem-solving skills. Share those case studies that reveal the problems you faced, the creative process you went through, and, most importantly, the impact your brilliant solutions had.

Putting users first

User-centred design is the name of the game. Employers want to see that you care about users and their needs. Talk about the user research methods you’ve used, explain how you incorporated user insights into your design decisions, and let them see just how passionate you are about creating delightful experiences.

Collaboration and communication magic

Design isn’t a one-person show. Hiring managers want team players who can effectively communicate and collaborate. Show off your collaboration skills by sharing stories of successful projects where you worked with different teams, stakeholders, and clients.

Making an impact

Numbers speak louder than words. Employers love to see the tangible impact of your work. Highlight those projects that brought measurable results, like increased user engagement, improved conversion rates, or positive user feedback. And don’t be shy about sharing the numbers that back up your achievements. It’s all about showing them the value you bring to the table.

Embracing versatility

Being adaptable is a huge plus. Employers want to see that you can handle different platforms, devices, and design challenges. Show them your range by including a variety of projects in your portfolio. Let them see that you’re ready to take on anything they throw your way.

Letting your personality shine

Here’s where being your authentic self comes into play—more on that in my recent article, “Finding Authenticity and Empathy in the Corporate World”. Employers want to know who you are beyond your design skills. Don’t be afraid to infuse your portfolio with a bit of personality. Share your passions, values, and interests. Give them a taste of what it would be like to have you on their team.

Putting it all together

Next up, create something tangible to showcase all of what you learned and your work. A good rule of thumb is to spend about 45 minutes on your presentation, and then 15 minutes for discussion and questions. Here’s a sample outline of 6 steps to consider including in your presentation, slide by slide.

Step 1: Introduction (1–2 min)

• Briefly introduce yourself and your background as a senior product designer.
• Mention your experience, expertise, and any notable achievements in the field or something interesting about yourself.

Step 2: Design Process (1–2 min)

• Explain how you approach ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.
• Highlight any specific methodologies or design thinking frameworks you employ.

Step 3: Case Study 1 (20 min)

• Provide an overview of the company you’re interviewing with.
• Present a concise and compelling problem statement related to the company’s product or industry.
• Highlight the importance of addressing this problem and the potential impact on the business and users.
• Discuss your approach to user research and insights gathering.
• Present key findings from user research studies, highlighting pain points, user needs, and motivations.
• Share relevant user personas or user journey maps to demonstrate your understanding of the target audience.
• Outline your design process, emphasizing your ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Discuss the challenges you faced, your design solutions, and the outcomes achieved.
• Showcase your expertise in UX and UI design.
• Demonstrate the range of products and platforms you have worked on.
• Present examples of how your designs have positively impacted previous products or companies.
• Use metrics and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your design solutions.
• Share your vision for the future of product design and how it aligns with the company’s goals.

Step 4: Case Study 2 (20 min)

• Same information as above.

Step 5: Closing the Loop (1–2 min)

• If your case studies did not give opportunities to show your visual design and craft, include other examples that you personally worked on of icons, illustrations, motion, or any other ways you’ve found to show visual delight in experiences.
• Wrap up the presentation by summarizing your key strengths and why you’re an ideal candidate.

Step 6: Questions (10–15 min)

• Reserve a slide for questions you may have for the interviewers.
• Make sure to practice active listening during the discussion phase so you can adequately speak to the questions from the panel.

Be sure to tailor the presentation to the specific job requirements and company culture, and practice delivering it confidently before the interview. Crafting an impressive product design portfolio is all about making that killer first impression. So, show off your visual and interaction design prowess, demonstrate your problem-solving skills, put users at the forefront, rock those collaboration and communication skills, illustrate your impact, embrace versatility, and let your personality shine.

Remember, this is your chance to show the world what you’re made of. Good luck with your portfolio and those upcoming interviews!

If you have more to add on how to make a compelling first impression with a portfolio, I would love to hear from you in the comments! Stay awesome.

Interested in Learning More?

Connect with me on Linkedin, or learn more about me at www.kileyrundle.com.

If you are looking for design mentorship, I’d be happy to connect on ADPList.