Table of Contents
- This is not your average UX portfolio pep talk
- 5 examples of impressive portfolios
- 1. Jessica Hische
- Why it shines:
- Detailed analysis:
- Key takeaways:
- 2. Julie Zhuo
- Why it shines:
- Detailed analysis:
- Key Takeaways:
- 3. Dan Mall
- Why it shines:
- Detailed analysis:
- Key takeaways:
- 4. Sarah Doody
- Why it shines:
- Detailed analysis:
- Key takeaways:
- 5. Simon Pan
- Why it shines:
- Detailed analysis:
- Key takeaways:
- Building your own standout portfolio
- 1. Structure your stories
- 2. Visual and functional design
- 3. Focus on user-centric design
- 4. Include a personal touch
- 5. Keep it up to date
- Wrapping it up like a pro(ject)
Do not index
Do not index
Read time: under 12 minutes
This is not your average UX portfolio pep talk
Having a UX design portfolio is no longer optional. It’s your handshake, elevator pitch, and TED Talk all rolled into one.
And no, slapping mockups onto a Behance board won’t cut it anymore.
A truly outstanding UX portfolio doesn’t just show off pretty screens. It tells a story. It reveals your brain. It makes hiring managers say, “We need this person. Yesterday.”
So let’s look at 5 portfolio examples that don’t just pass the vibe check, they set the bar.
5 examples of impressive portfolios
1. Jessica Hische
✨ Not a UX designer. Still a masterclass in presentation.
Why it shines:
Jessica Hische is a letterer, illustrator, and type nerd. And her portfolio is a visual playground with clean structure, clever microcopy, and crisp navigation.
So even though she’s not a traditional UX designer, her site is stacked with design inspiration.
It’s what happens when branding meets usability, and gets it right.
Detailed analysis:
🔸 Design breakdown:
Jessica doesn’t just show the “after.” She walks you through the “before” and “during” too. As a UX designer, this is gold. Break down your process:
- Start with user research
- Show your wireframes
- Include your prototypes
- Talk about what changed after testing
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to show messy iterations. Employers love seeing how you think when things don’t go right.
🔸 Visual hierarchy:
Her content flows smoother than an onboarding animation.
Key sections pop. Supporting details fade just enough. There’s a rhythm that guides you without friction. Apply this to your portfolio by:
- Prioritizing readability
- Using contrast to direct focus
- Keeping your layout simple, but purposeful
Pro tip: Use UX writing techniques to guide users through your story, like microcopy, callouts, and smart labels.
Key takeaways:
✅ Borrow layout tricks from other disciplines
✅ Make your site feel like you, not a template
✅ Tell your process in plain English (not design-speak)
✅ Use visual hierarchy like a tour guide, not a traffic jam
✅ Break down projects like case studies, not highlight reels
2. Julie Zhuo
✨ Design queen. Storytelling pro. Simplicity sage.
Why it shines:
Julie Zhuo's portfolio doesn’t scream for attention, it earns it quietly with clean lines, thoughtful content, and narrative-style case studies that pull you in like a good book.
As a product design leader and author of The Making of a Manager, she gets that good design isn’t just about pushing pixels, it’s about telling a story that sticks.
This is storytelling in UX design done right: clear, human, and quietly powerful.
Detailed analysis:
🔸 Storytelling:
Julie treats each case study like a short story, not just what she made, but why she made it and what changed because of it.
This is where most portfolios fall flat. They show screens. Julie shows stakes.
- What was the problem?
- What approach did she take?
- What decision made the difference?
Pro tip: Don’t just show what you did, show how your thinking evolved. A good narrative reveals not just the “what,” but the “why it mattered.”
🔸 Simple interface:
No bells. No whistles. No hover animations that turn into fireworks.
Julie’s interface is clean and minimal, like a designer’s version of a blank canvas that lets the work speak for itself.
This mirrors a core UX principle: reduce cognitive load. The simpler the site, the more space there is for the content to shine.
Pro tip: Ditch that template-y portfolio and go custom if you can. Even small touches (fonts, spacing, voice) can make your site feel more you.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Strip the interface down to the essentials
✅ Let clarity, not trends, be your visual style
✅ Show how your thinking shaped the outcome
✅ Remember: attention is earned through story, not sparkle
✅ Frame your case studies as compelling stories, not feature lists
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3. Dan Mall
✨ The creative director who makes design systems feel like poetry, and portfolios feel like strategy.
Why it shines:
Dan Mall isn’t here to blend in, and neither is his portfolio.
A design system champion and creative director, Mall ditches the cookie-cutter format in favor of a thoughtful, strategic layout that feels more like a design philosophy than just a showcase.
His portfolio doesn’t just show you what he made. It shows you how he thinks. And that? That’s the gold.
Detailed analysis:
🔸 Professional narratives:
Dan weaves in professional narratives like a seasoned storyteller, clear context, real challenges, smart decisions, and meaningful outcomes. This isn’t fluff. It’s framing.
As a UX designer, writing about your work in a business context is what separates “I made this” from “Here’s how I moved the needle.”
Pro tip: Always highlight the impact of your work. Did it boost conversions? Increase engagement? Save dev time? Mention it. Own it.
🔸 Variety of work:
Mall’s portfolio is like a tasting menu, something for everyone. From startups to enterprise, mobile to complex systems, he shows that great design isn’t about niche, it’s about adaptability.
As a UX designer, this is your cue to include a mix of projects:
- One for a website? Yup.
- Case study for a mobile app? Check.
- A gnarly AI product or complex flow? Even better.
Pro tip: Don’t just show variety, explain how you adapted to different users, goals, and constraints. That’s the real flex.
Key takeaways:
✅ Highlight results, not just deliverables
✅ Include a mix of projects to showcase versatility
✅ Don’t just be a doer, show you’re a thinker, too
✅ Frame your contributions in terms of business value
✅ Use professional storytelling to give context and clarity to your work
4. Sarah Doody
✨ A researcher at heart, a designer by craft, and a portfolio that teaches while it tells.
Why it shines:
Sarah Doody is a UX researcher and designer whose portfolio is a masterclass in clarity and completeness. It’s especially strong for anyone wanting to showcase both UX depth and UI polish without getting flashy.
Her work strikes a balance between storytelling and substance, making it a standout for hiring managers looking for serious thinking, not just pretty pixels.
Detailed analysis:
🔸 Research focus:
Sarah doesn’t just include research, she leads with it. Her case studies highlight detailed user research, usability testing, and how those insights directly shaped design decisions.
UX designers should take note: demonstrating a user-centric design process, especially how you handled conflicting feedback, trade-offs, or pivots, is what makes your work credible and memorable.
Employers don’t just want to know what you made, they want to know why.
Pro tip: Include quotes or direct feedback from users (with context). It makes your work feel grounded and real.
🔸 Resources and insights:
Sarah’s portfolio goes beyond showing work. She shares resources, templates, and reflections that help others grow. And in doing so, she positions herself as a trusted voice in the UX community.
If you’re a UX designer trying to build credibility, this is a strong move. Consider contributing to the community through writing, speaking, or sharing learnings from your own practice.
Being generous with your knowledge builds trust, and trust gets you interviews.
Pro tip: Start small. Add a “what I learned” blurb to each case study, or drop a link to a short post you wrote. That’s enough to stand out.
Key takeaways:
✅ Make your portfolio helpful, not just impressive
✅ Show how user insights shaped your design decisions
✅ Emphasize user research and usability testing in your case studies
✅ Share resources and insights to establish yourself as a thought leader
5. Simon Pan
✨ A clear thinker with a sharp eye, turning design challenges into case study gold.
Why it shines:
Simon Pan’s UX design portfolio is one of those links designers quietly save and revisit when they need a reminder of how it’s done. His in-depth case studies are thoughtful, structured, and packed with insights.
Having worked with teams like Uber, Simon shows exactly how to tackle big, gnarly design problems, and come out the other side with clean, strategic solutions.
Detailed analysis:
🔸 Detailed case studies:
Simon doesn’t just talk about what he did, he shows the entire journey. His case studies take you through early research, pain points, design iterations, and measurable outcomes.
If you’re trying to stand out as a UX designer, this is the blueprint. Share your thinking, your problem-solving, and your outcomes in a clear, story-driven way.
Pro tip: Use visuals like before-and-after screenshots or quick metrics to make your results easy to understand at a glance. It’s a fast way to show your impact.
🔸 Visual and functional balance:
Simon’s portfolio nails the UX of… well, a UX portfolio. It’s clean, modern, and super intuitive, exactly the kind of site that quietly says “I know what I’m doing.”
Your portfolio should feel like an extension of your design philosophy. If you’re all about clarity and thoughtful flows, make sure your site reflects that too.
Pro tip: Keep the fancy animations to a minimum. Clear navigation and a logical layout go a lot further than visual gimmicks, especially when someone’s reviewing your site on a deadline.
Key takeaways:
✅ Treat your portfolio like a project, not a folder of screenshots
✅ Show how your work made a difference, use results, not just reflections
✅ Let your case studies speak for you, don’t make people dig for the good stuff
✅ Walk readers through your full design process, not just the polished final screens
✅ Design your portfolio the way you’d design a product: simple, clear, and easy to navigate
Your full guide to creating an outstanding portfolio and getting noticed.
Building your own standout portfolio
Looking at great portfolios is inspiring, but now it’s your turn. The goal isn’t to copy someone else's work, but to learn what works, adapt it to your style, and build a portfolio that feels uniquely you.
Here are 5 ways to bring it all together:
1. Structure your stories
A great portfolio reads like a great story. That means your case studies need structure, not just pretty mockups slapped onto a page.
Use this tried-and-true layout to guide readers through your design process clearly:
- Introduction: Set the scene. What was the problem? Who were you designing for? What role did you play?
- Research: Walk through your research process, what methods you used, and what insights you uncovered.
- Design and development: Share your sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and key decisions. Show how things evolved.
- Solution and outcome: What did you end up with, and did it work? Bonus points for real results or usability metrics.
- Reflection: Talk about what went well, what didn’t, and what you’d do differently next time. It shows maturity and a growth mindset.
Pro tip: Write like you're explaining your project to a curious friend: skip the jargon, keep it real, and make the story flow.
👉 How To Structure an Engaging UX Case Study:
2. Visual and functional design
Yes, your work matters. But how you present your work? That matters too. Your portfolio is a product, and you’re the designer. Keep it clean, clear, and easy to explore:
- Consistency: Stick with a cohesive layout, color scheme, and typeface throughout. It shouldn’t feel like five different designers built five different pages.
- Accessibility: Make sure your portfolio works for everyone. That includes contrast ratios, alt text, and keyboard navigation.
- Responsiveness: Test your site across screens. Desktop, mobile, tablet, your work should shine everywhere.
Pro tip: Treat your portfolio like a UX challenge. Ask: Is it scannable? Easy to use? Fast to load? If not, iterate.
3. Focus on user-centric design
Designers love to say “user first”, so make sure that applies to your own portfolio too.
Think about what your real users (recruiters and hiring managers) need when visiting your site:
- Empathy: Design with their time in mind. Make your best work easy to find, and make project overviews quick to scan. Here’s a hint: they’re not reading every word.
- Feedback: Ask for feedback from peers, mentors, or even past hiring managers. Then tweak, polish, and repeat.
Pro tip: Have someone outside of UX review your portfolio. If they “get it,” your storytelling’s on point.
4. Include a personal touch
Your portfolio doesn’t need to sound like a resume in disguise. It’s okay, encouraged, actually, to let your personality show. Add a bit of you:
- A blog about your design thoughts
- A page about your values or hobbies
- A section that shares your journey into UX
These things help you stand out in a sea of grayscale templates.
Pro tip: Your “About” page is prime real estate, use it to tell a short story about who you are, not just what you do.
5. Keep it up to date
The only thing worse than no portfolio? An outdated one. If your last project was uploaded during the pandemic, it’s time for a refresh. Make a habit of updating your portfolio regularly:
- Update results if a project evolved
- Add new projects (even internal or freelance ones)
- Remove work that no longer reflects your current skill level
Pro tip: Set a recurring calendar reminder (every 3–6 months), to check in and make small updates. Future you will thank you.
Wrapping it up like a pro(ject)
A standout UX portfolio isn’t just a digital trophy case, it’s a story about how you think, what you care about, and how you solve real problems.
Your work might speak for itself, but how you present it? That’s what makes people listen.
So take the time to craft it with intention. Make it easy to navigate, enjoyable to read, and memorable enough to stick.
Your portfolio should grow with you. Revisit it, refine it, and don’t be afraid to evolve it as you do.
Good luck, folks 🍀
Note: All portfolio links mentioned are based on real public examples available at the time of writing. Be sure to explore them directly for fresh ideas and updated inspiration.
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